How can I make my passport photo more believable?

Posted by Ok-Apple-1878@reddit | AskUK | View on Reddit | 26 comments

No, I’m not impersonating anybody or committing fraud lol. My passport is my main form of ID. It expired in May and I’m in the process of sorting out another, but I have to take a new photo as per the new online application (you need a photo with a code). An issue I have had over the past 10 years is that *no one* ever believes it’s me. Idk why, but for some reason I always look so different in photos as opposed to real life. The photo in my passport was taken when I was 18 (now 28) and honestly, in the photo I look older; my hair’s pretty long and dark (has been since I was a teen, and quite a prominent feature) is tied up in the pic so everyone always thinks it’s short and I get a slew of sarcastic “wow, your hair’s grown”, I’m not wearing any make up, the actual photo is very cool toned, and I also look like a murderer on the run, whereas in person I’m very cheery and smile a lot which changes my whole face. I also think it doesn’t help that irl I look *a lot* younger than I am and I’m fed up of feeling like a criminal just because my ID doesn’t seem to match my face. The amount of times I’ve heard “make sure you give your older sister her Id back huhuhuh” really grates on me so I’m excited to get a new picture so I don’t have to scrape my hair back and look sullen every time I want to buy some baccy or booze lmao So, how can I make myself look my age more? I’m hoping that the photobooth pictures are a bit higher quality than 10 years ago so the likeness will be more apparent, and I’m going to keep my hair down (but obviously behind my ears and shoulders etc) so it doesn’t look like a crew cut, but is there anything else I can do to make my photo look more believable? TYIA

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26 Comments

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Illustrious-Divide95@reddit

If it's 10 years old, don't you need to sort a new one! Am i missing something?

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Ok-Apple-1878@reddit (OP)

Yeah, hence why I’m sorting it out now hahah. You can use it as ID (in shops) up to 6 months after it expires, and I haven’t been on holiday in about 7 years and I don’t think I’ll be going anytime soon so no rush 😅

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Original_Bad_3416@reddit

During Covid, I renewed my passport online. I wasn’t fully prepared to summit a digital photo along with the application. Anyways, during the government approved walk I accidentally had a joint. Came back and thought fuck it, let’s get this application done. I look somewhat stone in the photo, it was approved and now my passport photo.

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barriedalenick@reddit

I just did mine at home and took a few dozens pics until one I liked complied with all the blurb online...

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Ok-Apple-1878@reddit (OP)

I didn’t know that!! I just assumed I’d need the photo with the code, but having the time and photo limit pressure off would probably help. I was with a friend last time I got them done and I remember handing her the sheet to see which one she liked best. She was immediately just like “what the fuck are these” so I kinda just had to pick the best of a bad bunch

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mhoulden@reddit

Try the old-school analogue photo booths. No preview so you had to wait a few minutes for them to be developed to see how bad they were. You could get a rough approximation from a small mirror but the extra bright flash made everything look seriously washed out. The retro ones they have in clubs or art shops are actually a lot better than the old ones.

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Ok-Apple-1878@reddit (OP)

Ahh see that was my issue - I assumed it had to be a photobooth photo because online it says to take a booth photo and ask for a code to be printed out with it to use. So I actually thought that was my only option and an issue I had with taking my last picture is the whole time and photo limit, so finding out I can skip the booth is a massive relief 😅thank you though!!

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mhoulden@reddit

Timpsons will give you a code for the photo they take with their digital camera.

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VardaElentari86@reddit

Same. I still preferred 27 year old me, I couldn't seem to take a 'nice' picture of myself and I liked the old one.

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Kiss_It_Goodbyeee@reddit

This. It's relatively easy to do with a phone and the online service tells you immediately if your photo fails for whatever reason.

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Unfair_Original_2536@reddit

A tip is to hold a piece of white paper horizontally at chest level out of shot. It helps bounce the light about and gives you a better photo.

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Petrosinella94@reddit

I think the issue is that ten years between 18-28 is a lot of time for us to change. Mine runs out next year where I was 20 at the time I took the photo - my whole face and hair line have changed during my twenties. I have people double check my passport at the moment because honestly it doesn’t look like me now. I think having a good photo in a photo shop taken will help. Clean tidy hair, little make-up, and a simple top will keep it neutral for the next ten years.

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NightT0Remember@reddit

I renewed my passport earlier this year and i just took my own photo using my phone. Can take as many as you want and then choose one that you are happy with, the website will let you know if the photo is acceptable or not before you submit it. Ofcourse you could go to the shop and get your pboto taken that way but i preferred to do it nyself so that i didn't have to ask the photographer to retake my pboto over and over again if i wasn't happy with it.

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AnnaMargaretha@reddit

I've had Max Spielmann take the worst possible photos of me and I tried them twice. It's like my head just malfunctions as soon as I enter the shop. So I ended up re-doing them in one of those photo-me booths at a train station, which allowed me to take my time and get a picture that followed guidelines and made me happy.

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mhoulden@reddit

Timpsons and Max Spielman (part of the same group) use a digital camera and can take multiple photos until you're happy with it. You can even use your own camera if you prefer: https://www.gov.uk/photos-for-passports

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Ok-Apple-1878@reddit (OP)

Oo you know what I absolutely love Timpson as a business so would be happy to support them

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turingthecat@reddit

They even check that it’ll be accepted, as sometimes the passport office will reject photos

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goldenhawkes@reddit

I’ve assumed that if it’s a biometric passport, that scans your face, then they can do the same cross check on your new photo to check it’s a match.

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thebear1011@reddit

I really don’t think it matters that much. We got out daughters passport when she was 3 months old. That’s going to last till she is 5.

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Ok-Apple-1878@reddit (OP)

Oh I totally get that!! And I think there’s some leeway when it comes to children. I’ve never had any problems when it comes to travel or anything, it’s just the buying age restricted things where, because they have to check (thank you challenge 25), I think the shop keepers think I’m old enough, but not *that* old enough iygm hahah

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PsychologicalNote612@reddit

Employees at HMPO are trained at addressing passport pictures, I shouldn't worry too much about their competence. Worst happens, you'll just need someone to sign that your picture is of you

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2old2yng@reddit

I don't have an answer I'm afraid. You look younger now than you did ten years ago? I really want to see the comparative pictures.

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Ok-Apple-1878@reddit (OP)

I said I look older in the photo, not irl lol, but yeah I haven’t aged much lookswise - people tend to think I’m around 18/19, which is of course legal age but when people see 1996 in my DOB, it raises eyebrows.

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Jack_202@reddit

A pipe perhaps?

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Ok-Apple-1878@reddit (OP)

My dad actually smoked a pipe for 30 years and there’s a few kicking around so that could be a decent accessory tbh

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