Passport photo taking Guidelines in brief

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• Position subject 1 to 1 ½ metres from backdrop to reduce shadowing and maximise use of separation light.
• Allow 1 to 1 ½ metres distance between camera and subject.
• A good set-up to reduce background shadows and flash on face is to use an area with a low bright white ceiling and a hot-shoe mounted flash with rotating head to bounce light off the ceiling.
• Background colour must be constant. Use plain wall, colorama paper or plain material for a backdrop.
• Use red-eye reduction setting on your camera.
• For a baby photo, lay the baby flat on a suitably plain coloured sheet, which has been firmly fixed to a base or the ground. (Note: A crumpled sheet as background is not acceptable).
• Wearing of religious head covers, hats, headbands - refer to the images in the Department's photographic image requirements, these show what is acceptable.