I don't like my passport photo :S
By thatgirl13
@thatgirl13 (7294)
South Korea
September 18, 2011 7:25am CST
Ok I don't know about you guys but I look dreadful in the photo of my passport 
. It was taken couple years back and I look sooo different haha! I still remember the guy in the studio asking me to take off my earrings and tuck my hair behind my ears. He also made me change my tee top coz it was white.
We have a few rules here for while taking passport photos (I am not sure if it's the same in every country). So basically, we are supposed to show both our ears and there shouldn't be any jewellery hanging from the ears. And we aren't supposed to show our teeth and also not wear a tee top which is white. Any colour except white is acceptable.
So yeah I am not the prettiest in my passport photo. My friends crack up whenever they see it and we always talk about how hideous we look in all our passports LOL
So how about yours? How do you look in your passport photo? And are there any specific rules while taking passport pictures in your country? I would love to know 
. It was taken couple years back and I look sooo different haha! I still remember the guy in the studio asking me to take off my earrings and tuck my hair behind my ears. He also made me change my tee top coz it was white.
We have a few rules here for while taking passport photos (I am not sure if it's the same in every country). So basically, we are supposed to show both our ears and there shouldn't be any jewellery hanging from the ears. And we aren't supposed to show our teeth and also not wear a tee top which is white. Any colour except white is acceptable.
So yeah I am not the prettiest in my passport photo. My friends crack up whenever they see it and we always talk about how hideous we look in all our passports LOL
So how about yours? How do you look in your passport photo? And are there any specific rules while taking passport pictures in your country? I would love to know 9 people like this
22 responses
@bagarad (14283)
• Paso Robles, California
18 Sep 11
It's been almost 40 years since I've had a passport, though I may get one again in case I have a chance to visit Canada again. I limit my travels as much as possible to where I can drive. Back then, I don't think the photos were so bad. But back then they weren't as concerned about terrorism, since is was much more rare and hadn't really affected public transportation that anyone knew about. I think since 9/11 everything has changed and there may be more rules about passport picture requirements.
1 person likes this
@thatgirl13 (7294)
• South Korea
19 Sep 11
I had never thought of it that way but since you mentioned about the terrorisms, it does make a lot of sense now as to why there are certain rules about the passport pictures. Thank 
@secretbear (19448)
• Philippines
19 Sep 11
Hi thatgirl!
You're not alone! I don't like my picture in my new passport, too! I look so ugly and my nose looks big!!!! 
I had to remove my earrings, too when my picture was taken but I was never told to change my clothes. I was not wearing white then.
But in my first passport, I looked nice there. I was also told to remove my earrings then and expose my ears and I had to wear a tee with collar. I also did not smile with my teeth showing but I was not told to do that.
Anyhow, I prefer my first picture in my first passport rather than my new one.
I had to remove my earrings, too when my picture was taken but I was never told to change my clothes. I was not wearing white then.
But in my first passport, I looked nice there. I was also told to remove my earrings then and expose my ears and I had to wear a tee with collar. I also did not smile with my teeth showing but I was not told to do that.
Anyhow, I prefer my first picture in my first passport rather than my new one. 
@secretbear (19448)
• Philippines
19 Sep 11
A curse is possible! It would be frustrating if that's the case. We should look good in our passport since people from other countries would be looking at it.
I remember this is also true with our professional license. Most of us here in my work has terrible picture in it. When I got my license I wanted to give it back and redo the processing. @thatgirl13 (7294)
• South Korea
19 Sep 11
Hehe I wonder why all of our passport pictures turned out to be dreadful Is there a curse of some kind?? Hahaha
Thanks for the share and have a wonderful day
Is there a curse of some kind?? Hahaha
Thanks for the share and have a wonderful day 1 person likes this
@thatgirl13 (7294)
• South Korea
20 Sep 11
To be honest, I think I look much better in my driving license picture. There aren't any such rules for the driving license picture so I think I look fine and I had my make ups on that day too so yeah 
1 person likes this
@swirlz (3136)
• Philippines
19 Sep 11
I don't have a passport but most of my formal pictures/ids are awful! Like for example my college id and postal id. For me it's because it's awkward having to look serious while a friend is watching you behind the photographer's back. And what I find annoying is the tag you have to hold. I really do feel like I'm about to go to jail. That was the main reason my college id looks horrible. We have to stand with a line of other students who are taking the pic too, while holding a nametag. Like we're suspects or something. It was a depressing act.
For me it's because it's awkward having to look serious while a friend is watching you behind the photographer's back. And what I find annoying is the tag you have to hold. I really do feel like I'm about to go to jail. That was the main reason my college id looks horrible. We have to stand with a line of other students who are taking the pic too, while holding a nametag. Like we're suspects or something. It was a depressing act. @swirlz (3136)
• Philippines
20 Sep 11
Yes for the school id. It was in college at a state university so there are a lot of students. So as not to get all the pictures jumbled or misplaced, they had us hold a tag with our names and colleges. They did cut it out when they pasted the picture in our id, but the act of taking a photo with it seemed like a mugshot to me.
@jazel_juan (15747)
• Philippines
19 Sep 11
i also dont have a passport hahaha but i had similar experience when i had my picture taken for the Civil Service exams when they ask you to hold a tag with your name and numbers in it! soooooo bad 
1 person likes this
@daeckardt (6237)
• United States
30 Oct 11
On my last passport photo, I wore whatever I had on. It wasn't that great, but it was ok. I liked the previous one better, but it was stolen with my purse the night before I was supposed to fly last year so I had to postpone my trip for a month. This one doesn't look that great, but I guess I can live with it for another 9 years. I don't look the same as I did in that picture because of having lost my hair to chemo this year. At least I didn't have to get the picture taken while I was bald. Oh well...
@daeckardt (6237)
• United States
4 Nov 11
Fortunately, passports have to be renewed every 10 years or more often in some cases. I am doing well overall so I can't complain. Have a great weekend!!!
@thatgirl13 (7294)
• South Korea
3 Nov 11
Oh my! I am so sorry you had your stuffs stolen right the previous day of your flight. And so sorry to hear of your chemo too. I hope you are all better now and I hope you get healthier 
I really hate my passport photo but oh well I still got a few more years to stick to it!!
Have a wonderful day and stay strong
I really hate my passport photo but oh well I still got a few more years to stick to it!!
Have a wonderful day and stay strong 1 person likes this
@shadow41 (2351)
• Philippines
19 Sep 11
I look hideous!!! I really don't like it. I look like a criminal or a killer wanting to kill somebody. Hahaha. If only I can change my picture. Some people who have seen my passport actually laughed at my photo and said I llok scary there. Hehe. I can only laugh at it too.
shadow41
@thatgirl13 (7294)
• South Korea
21 Sep 11
Wow seriously?? Hahah that's cool then. I wish I could do the same but it was so funny I had to show my picture to them
@thatgirl13 (7294)
• South Korea
19 Sep 11
Haha don't worry shadow41, you are not alone! Most of us are in the same boat. My friends make fun of me every time they see that picture and I do the same when I see theirs haha
Thanks a lot for the response
@fashionfever (2200)
• Indonesia
18 Sep 11
Hahahaha I love your discussion, I dont like my passport photo too because my eyes was puffy when I made my passport. I had fight with my boyfriend days before I made the passport, so my eyes was a bit red and I look really chubby. I just renew my driving license, the picture is not too clear but not as bad as my passport picture. I look skinnier in my driving license picture, well I will be renew my ID card but I bet it wont look good because I have 3 pimples on my face. Arghhh I hate pimples.
@thatgirl13 (7294)
• South Korea
18 Sep 11
I can say I look a lot better in my driver's licence too Wow my passport photo is really something. I mean I look like a sick angry girl haha. And yes, I hate pimples too!!!! 
But if you wanna get rid of them, you can check tutorials on youtube and see what works for you the most. i have been following a few videos. And also drink lots of water. Hope them pimples go away before the photo shoot. Good luck
Wow my passport photo is really something. I mean I look like a sick angry girl haha. And yes, I hate pimples too!!!! But if you wanna get rid of them, you can check tutorials on youtube and see what works for you the most. i have been following a few videos. And also drink lots of water. Hope them pimples go away before the photo shoot. Good luck @thatgirl13 (7294)
• South Korea
19 Sep 11
Wow really?? I don't have even one friend whose ID card picture looks normal hahaha we look so different in each of ours 
Good luck for your photo shoot!!
Good luck for your photo shoot!!@fashionfever (2200)
• Indonesia
18 Sep 11
I forgot to tell, my friend's picture on ID card looks great, I kinda envy her she looks photogenic in any condition.
This is what I love from mylot, we can share and get advices from other members. I will try your suggestion, I still have few days left before the photoshoot or i will cover it with concealar
@KrauseHome (36448)
• United States
20 Sep 11
Well, I have never had a passport photo taken as I do not own a passport. Since you have to have a copy of your Birth Certificate here in order to get one, this is not something I can get. But I do know about taking pictures like for an ID card, etc. and know how tough it can be to get a picture that you are satisfied with. And then when the picture starts getting a couple of yrs. old it may no longer really look like you to where people would question that as well. But when everything seems to cost money these days, we just have to live with it and hope for the Best from there.
@thatgirl13 (7294)
• South Korea
21 Sep 11
Yes what you said is true. After a couple of years, the person in the picture starts looking like some stranger. Mine already does. I still have a good 7-8 years to go till I renew it again. But I am pretty sure, then I will like this picture of mine coz that will be me 10 years ago and much younger
Thanks for the response and have a wonderful day!
Thanks for the response and have a wonderful day!
@missybear (11391)
• United States
19 Sep 11
It's been so long since I had a new passport. I lost my old 1 in the year 2000 and it was good till 2992 but I never yet renewed it.
I really don't need it cause I don't travel anywhere.
I do know you have to put your hair behind your ears and you can't have any earrings and your shirt must have a collar.
@thatgirl13 (7294)
• South Korea
19 Sep 11
Oh thanks for the share. Here we don't need collared shirt but we need coloured ones. White is not accepted and they gave me some orange (really dark orange :S) coloured shirt to change in.
Thanks for the share
1 person likes this
@yspmyl (3435)
• Malaysia
19 Sep 11
Passport photos for me is always the worst one, in our country, the photo for our passport have to be at least 2/3 are filled with our head, so imagine, you can see a big head in that photos, and the background must be blue in color, and we must wear a collar shirt instead of non collar shirt and also it must be in dark color. No glasses are allow and of course no colored contact lenses.
But for children, they have exception, because for children, it is hard to make them stay in front of the camera for a moment, so they can accept any photos for a kids as long as it is blue in the background. My son have a special photos because I am the one who took the photo for his passport, just because he refuse to let the camera man in the studio to aim at him.
just because he refuse to let the camera man in the studio to aim at him. @thatgirl13 (7294)
• South Korea
19 Sep 11
There sure are quite a handful strict rules for passport pictures. Oh yes and we aren't allowed to wear glasses too.
Thanks a lot for the share
@tkonlinevn (6280)
• Vietnam
20 Sep 11
I don't like my passport photo, too. Because I look fatter and my face is very round
However, I think I still be cute on the passport, ha ha ....
However, I think I still be cute on the passport, ha ha .... @thatgirl13 (7294)
• South Korea
20 Sep 11
Hehe that's good if you look cute on your passport picture
Because i tucked my hair behind my ears, my face looks quite round too 
Because i tucked my hair behind my ears, my face looks quite round too 
@louievill (28851)
• Philippines
18 Sep 11
I once had a photo taken for a government valid I.D., I hated it so much because I looked like somebody under hypnosis or a trance, and you have to bear with it for a long time or until the I.D. expires
, and you have to bear with it for a long time or until the I.D. expires
@Michrisben (21)
• United States
18 Sep 11
I may be that one rare person that likes their passport photo. Well, like may be too strong a word. I appreciate the photo, because I look so young ! It was taken in college when I was about to go study overseas. I'm definitely not smiling, but I can show people what I looked like back then.
@thatgirl13 (7294)
• South Korea
18 Sep 11
@louievill: haha so true I still have a lot to go till I can renew my passport. And yes ID pictures can be a pain too. I hated my year grade 10's id picture so much. They took it in school and it was the worst picture of me hahaha i think my passport picture and my grade 10's id picture come in the same level
@michrisben: Wow it must be lovely to have a nice passport picture. That is one thing I have yet to experience. I still have a long way to go till I renew it so yeah I am forced to stick to it.
Anyway thanks for the response to you lovely people
@michrisben: Wow it must be lovely to have a nice passport picture. That is one thing I have yet to experience. I still have a long way to go till I renew it so yeah I am forced to stick to it.
Anyway thanks for the response to you lovely people 
@chicksdigscars (5483)
•
19 Sep 11
I don’t have a passport at the minute, BUT my drivers licence photo is awful! I was really skinny when it was taken and my face is all sunken in looking compared to now. And I have green eyes but in my drivers licence my eyes look blue lol! .. also my hair is blonde with brown in it and for some reason in this photo my hair looks brown all over.. and I’m wearing the ugliest top ever because I thought I was only going to the shop, I didn’t realise my mummy was going to throw me into a photo booth lol! .. people never believe me that its me haha!!
@thatgirl13 (7294)
• South Korea
19 Sep 11
Haha really?? I am surprised as to why your eyes look blue LOL this reminded me of my friend's alien registration card. She is from the states and is here for sometime. In her card she looks so different. Apparently there is this photo studio where they ask you if you want some photoshop to be done and they give you some face lifts and the sparks in your eyes LOL
Anyway thanks for the share
LOL this reminded me of my friend's alien registration card. She is from the states and is here for sometime. In her card she looks so different. Apparently there is this photo studio where they ask you if you want some photoshop to be done and they give you some face lifts and the sparks in your eyes LOL
Anyway thanks for the share 
@sheetal2900 (336)
• India
19 Sep 11
Ya its true while taking photo for passport we have to show our ear ... it is like that yet i have not take photo for passport then too i known because my sister took it for passport and she told her experience for the photo but it is not so bad also i think!!!
@thatgirl13 (7294)
• South Korea
19 Sep 11
I don't usually tuck my hair behind my ears often so maybe that is also why I look so strange in my picture. Anywya it's good that your sister still looks nice. Me on the other hand, i look really horrible haha.
Thanks for the share :)
@0CoOlGuY0 (103)
• Portugal
19 Sep 11
You are not the only one mate!!!On my National ID they make us look like criminals lol!!! Black&white photos and a sad face lol
@cream97 (29087)
• United States
18 Sep 11
Hi, thatgirl. I don't have a passport at all. I never have had one either. I do have a permit and state ID picture though. I don't like the way that I look on my picture at all. My photo does not look anything like me at all. It looks like someone else! It is a picture of me, but it looks nothing like me. I know how you feel because, my picture does not look like anything that I desire for it to.
@thatgirl13 (7294)
• South Korea
19 Sep 11
Hehe most of mylotters who responded here said they weren't so very pleased with their pictures too Seems like all of us are sailing in the same boat. I had this students ID when i was in grade 10 and it was such a hideous one too. And the worst part was, we had to hang it on everyday. Sooo embarrassing LOOOOL
Anyway thanks for the response
Seems like all of us are sailing in the same boat. I had this students ID when i was in grade 10 and it was such a hideous one too. And the worst part was, we had to hang it on everyday. Sooo embarrassing LOOOOL
Anyway thanks for the response 
@cerebellum (3863)
• United States
19 Sep 11
I don't have a passport but my driver's license picture is the worst. I have always heard that everyone hates their picture, but before the last one mine wasn't too bad. It is also so small that you can't see flaws. Now I know why everyone hates their picture. The woman that took it even asked if it was okay and would have done another one. I said no because I figured the next one might be worse.
@thatgirl13 (7294)
• South Korea
19 Sep 11
Hehe maybe it's the environment in the studio. Where I take my pictures, you can be seem by everyone in the mart while your picture is being taken. I feel so awkward, feels like everyone is staring at me
@hardworkinggurl (37063)
• United States
18 Sep 11
Sadly they don't allow us to pose and or smile all pretty in passport photos. I think the picture is intended to be taken very close up which makes us look all dreadful. Perhaps they are capturing certain features in case we try to do a make over that there is something that distinguishes us in case we are running from the law later.
@thatgirl13 (7294)
• South Korea
19 Sep 11
Yes that might be true. And one of our mylotters, bagarad, has brought it to my attention that all the rules about passport pictures might have been after the 9/11 and terrorisms. It does make a lot of sense to me though. Thanks hwg
@ravisivan (14079)
• India
18 Sep 11
thatgirl: Every country has rule regarding the size of photo. However in India we do not have condition like there should not be ear rings. Size of photo is prescribed. It should not be stamp size. It should be passport sized.
@thatgirl13 (7294)
• South Korea
19 Sep 11
Hey thanks for the response. We also have a different size for passports here. I think the size are the same everywhere though.
Have a wonderful day.
@edsss17 (4394)
• Philippines
18 Sep 11
Oh my. I hope I won't look dreadful in my passport photo soon (even if I already look dreadful naturally)
I don't have a passport yet but I'm going to have one in the first 5 months next year (I guess.) So then, I'll know how my passport photo looks like.
@thatgirl13 (7294)
• South Korea
18 Sep 11
Now now, don't lie. I know you are a pretty lady. Everyone is beautiful in their own way
Anyway I hope you look much much more better than how I look in my passport. I didn't have my make up on and I look like I was sick
Anyway do let us know how your photo shoot for your passport went hehe!
Anyway I hope you look much much more better than how I look in my passport. I didn't have my make up on and I look like I was sick
Anyway do let us know how your photo shoot for your passport went hehe!
@koperty3 (1876)
•
18 Sep 11
I did not hear about such strict rules. I hear about showing one ear but I did not know that earrings, white top, showing your teeth is forbidden also. That sounds a little bit weird. I hate my passport photo too. I don't like any of my photos and I don't like when my partner force me to take my pictures.
@thatgirl13 (7294)
• South Korea
18 Sep 11
Yeah it's quite strict here. When you go to the place where you make passports here, they have the photos of what is allowed and what is not, pasted on the table in the centre where all the forms are.
And most of the responses here said the rules are almost the same in their countries too.
Anyway and according to most of the responses, it seems that all of us have hideous looking passport photos
Thanks for the share and have a nice day!
Thanks for the share and have a nice day!