How to Take a Baby Passport Photo at Home

1. Why doing it at home is the best method

If you have ever tried to take a newborn to a local pharmacy for a passport photo, you know the struggle. Babies do not sit upright on stools, they hate camera flashes, and they rarely look straight at a stranger on command.

By taking the photo at home, you control the environment. You can wait until the baby is well-rested, fed, and happy. You can use natural light (which avoids the harsh red-eye inducing flashes of store cameras) and you can take as many shots as you need until you get the perfect compliant photo. Once you have the shot, you can use our Passport Photo Maker to crop it automatically to the required dimensions.

2. What are the rules for baby passport photos?

The US Department of State (and most international passport authorities like HM Passport Office in the UK and Canada) have strict biometric requirements, but they do relax some rules for infants and newborns:

• Eyes: Newborns' eyes do not have to be completely open. However, for older babies, their eyes should be open and looking generally at the camera.
• Expression: While adults must have a neutral expression, infants are allowed to have a slightly relaxed or non-neutral expression (a slight smile is usually fine, but crying or widely open mouths might be rejected).
• Support: No hands can be visible in the photo. You cannot hold the baby up by their shoulders or head if your hands are in the frame.
• Accessories: No pacifiers, no toys, no headbands, no hats, and no large bows. The face must be fully visible.

3. The Setup: The "White Sheet" Method

The absolute best way to photograph a newborn or infant is laying them down.

• The Background: Take a plain white or off-white bedsheet or blanket and lay it flat on a bed or the floor. Ensure there are no major wrinkles under where the baby's head will be.
• The Lighting: Do this during the day. Place the bed or blanket near a large window. You want natural, indirect daylight hitting the baby's face evenly. Turn off your camera flash. Flash causes harsh shadows and red-eye.
• Car Seat Alternative: If your baby has good head control but cannot sit up, you can drape the white sheet over their car seat and strap them in (hiding the straps under their clothing or out of frame). This keeps them upright and contained.

4. Taking the photo

Stand directly over the baby (if they are lying down) or crouch directly in front of them (if in a car seat).

Hold a toy or make a sound right next to your phone's camera lens to get them to look up at you. Make sure both of their ears (or the edges of their face) are visible to ensure they are looking straight on, not turning their head.

Take photos in burst mode. Babies move constantly, and burst mode ensures you will capture that split second where they are looking directly at the camera with their eyes open and mouth mostly closed. Leave plenty of white space around their head in the picture — you can crop it later.

5. Editing and printing

Do not use Instagram filters or heavy editing tools to remove shadows, as this alters the biometric data and will cause a rejection.

Instead, upload your best unedited photo to our Free Passport Photo Maker.

• Select your target country (e.g., United States, which requires a 2x2 inch photo).
• The tool will automatically detect the baby's head, center it, remove the background if needed, and crop it to the exact millimeter specifications required by the government.
• Download the digital file for online applications, or download a 4x6 print sheet.

If you need physical prints, you can read our guide on how to print a 2x2 passport photo on 4x6 paper at Walgreens or CVS for just $0.39.