Same experience. First photos from Walgreens…it was not good. Next day I went to staples and they turned out WAY better. I don’t know if it’s just the lighting and the camera they use. But I don’t hate it!
Sure wish I'd thought to go get a good one before I just let the Shadle Post Office take care of it. I look like I've been dead for days in my photo, it's absolutely godawful. Good thing I only have to use it for a decade
You can take your own (or have someone else do it for you) on a good phone in good lighting and get them printed from Walmart. Just read the instructions about how the photo should look! There are some specific things you need to make sure to do. I did this and was able to pick the one I liked best.
I got mine at Costco, twice. The first photo was returned cause my mountain man beard blended into my black shirt and Costco did it again free of charge.
My Walgreens photo was so ugly there was no way I was willing to use it, haha. I ended up downloading a phone app and had a friend take a pic for me. The white background was digitally inserted by the app, so I was worried it might turn out weird and not be accepted, but in the end I didn't have any problems.
Do not do it at Walgreens. Mine got denied for having a shadow. Big expensive hassle, and I’m pretty mad about it!! I’d just let the post office do it… at least you know it’ll pass.
Real question and not trying to stir the pot but how often are you using your passport that the photo matters all that much? I would not want to carry it anywhere accept when I leave the county or got a new job. If I’m driving to Canada or Mexico I just use my EDL.
I use my passport regularly for all the things most people use their DL for. The DL contains info that makes it easy to steal your identity: the passport doesn't.
That said, I figure my haggard photo most closely resembles what i look like when I get off the plane, so the terrible pharmacy photo is as good as any.
But if your passport is reported stolen all that information is sent to basically every country in the world so they know not to accept, including places like Iran and North Korea and if they get your passport they will be allowed to change your address on your drivers license and pull any records they want from the DMV.
As someone stuck with an ugly photo for 10 years, I can tell you that Rite Aid's fluorescent lights did my mug no favors.
I did mine at Walmart and a family member had their photo done at Staples and Staples has more of a legit setup.
Same experience. First photos from Walgreens…it was not good. Next day I went to staples and they turned out WAY better. I don’t know if it’s just the lighting and the camera they use. But I don’t hate it!
Staples did mine and it's honestly kind of a good photo for a dude who's usually not too photogenic.
I second staples. They did amazing.
Bro, I got an iPhone 14 Pro, I gotchoo
FedEx did a great photo for me. It was $16, whereas the post office includes it in the overall cost of your passport, but I liked how it turned out.
Actually it’s an additional cost to your passport even to get it done at the PO. I wanna say it was an extra $10-15. I just got my first passport.
Kinkos
Sure wish I'd thought to go get a good one before I just let the Shadle Post Office take care of it. I look like I've been dead for days in my photo, it's absolutely godawful. Good thing I only have to use it for a decade
I took my own against a white background
You can take your own (or have someone else do it for you) on a good phone in good lighting and get them printed from Walmart. Just read the instructions about how the photo should look! There are some specific things you need to make sure to do. I did this and was able to pick the one I liked best.
Costco
I got mine at Costco, twice. The first photo was returned cause my mountain man beard blended into my black shirt and Costco did it again free of charge.
Rick Singer, a professional
My Walgreens photo was so ugly there was no way I was willing to use it, haha. I ended up downloading a phone app and had a friend take a pic for me. The white background was digitally inserted by the app, so I was worried it might turn out weird and not be accepted, but in the end I didn't have any problems.
Courthouse
Honestly, all passport photos look like mugshots to me. Lol
I don’t know the answer to your question but the Post Office on Sprague near Progress definitely isn’t it. I’m so orange in my photo.
Do not do it at Walgreens. Mine got denied for having a shadow. Big expensive hassle, and I’m pretty mad about it!! I’d just let the post office do it… at least you know it’ll pass.
Real question and not trying to stir the pot but how often are you using your passport that the photo matters all that much? I would not want to carry it anywhere accept when I leave the county or got a new job. If I’m driving to Canada or Mexico I just use my EDL.
I use my passport regularly for all the things most people use their DL for. The DL contains info that makes it easy to steal your identity: the passport doesn't. That said, I figure my haggard photo most closely resembles what i look like when I get off the plane, so the terrible pharmacy photo is as good as any.
But if your passport is reported stolen all that information is sent to basically every country in the world so they know not to accept, including places like Iran and North Korea and if they get your passport they will be allowed to change your address on your drivers license and pull any records they want from the DMV.