infant passport/citizenship photos

Posted by funbobby (82 days ago)

There is alot of info in fairly old thread here on this subject. Can anyone offer up-to-date advice on photogs who will handle infant (2m) photos for passport/citizenship? We were made to jump through hoops for our daughter's China card photos (clothes weren't 'dark' enough, bkgd not white enough, not sharp enough) so I don't want to do them myself again. Our local Fotomax has no provision for laying her down, so what do you guys do?

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by ldsllvn (82 days ago)

in photomax in Prince's building i quite often see parents holding the baby up. presume the photos are for passport, cant see why they would do it otherwise... am not sure which passport you are going for - ours have 2 passports (UK and NZ) and we did the photos ourselves and that was fine for both...

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by crj (82 days ago)

The only place I found, was the little photo shop on the walkway at the bottom of the Escalator that went from Central Market to Heng Seng Bank Building... it's been a while, but if it hasn't been torn down, she is probably still there!

(I am based in Beijing)

Posted by Hen (82 days ago)

I had my sons UK passport photo done when he was 4 weeks old at the photo shop on Caine Road (5 min walk past the Wellcome) I was able to put my hand up his back and hold his head up. Guy was very helpful and knowlegable about requirements for various passports and visas.

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by smsm (82 days ago)

this is what we did...i think the backgroud required was white ( i think it was white but u can confirm it once again).....kept the baby on the white bedsheet and clicked some pics..got them developed from the kodak shop..and thats how her passport was made when she 2 mths old.

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by axptguy38 (82 days ago)

"kept the baby on the white bedsheet and clicked some pics"

That's the easiest way. Just bring a bedsheet to a photographer. Put bedsheet over mummy (like a ghost) and have her hold baby. That way the requisite background is achieved but your 3 month old doesn't have to stand on his/her own.


"in photomax in Prince's building i quite often see parents holding the baby up. presume the photos are for passport, cant see why they would do it otherwise... am not sure which passport you are going for - ours have 2 passports (UK and NZ) and we did the photos ourselves and that was fine for both..."

Many countries including the US do not allow anything extraneous in the picture and are very very picky.

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by smsm (81 days ago)

Hi..we clicked the pics at home with the white bedsheet and then took those to the shop and told them to develop it passport size.

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by funbobby (81 days ago)

thx ax, i like the 'ghost' idea...will give it a try. thx to everyone for their input

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by nativefil (80 days ago)

fotomax surely do it, my son was 3 weeks old when we do his passport and I hold him up, it was fine, they will normally ask what kids of passport and they have a list for sizes.

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by gum (80 days ago)

When I apply for bub's passport in my home country, I only had to take an electronic copy of her picture (my preferred one) to the studio who then used photoshop to cut and paste it on a blue background. I thought that was a brilliant idea. Can they not do the same here in HK?

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by cara (79 days ago)

canadian passpots are notorious for their requirments. it is IMMPOSSIBLE to take photos yourself. the photoshop MUST endorse the back of the photos.

there is a place behind world wide house that we use for the canadian photos.

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by funbobby (77 days ago)

yeah cara, i got the requirements page from the cdn imm. website...very specific...that why i was hesitant to do it myself...thank for the tip (i actually got my passport pics there when i first arrived in hk so i know the place)

(I am based in Hong Kong)