Photo Guide · 10 min read
ID Photo Guide: avoid rejections before you upload
Take passport photos that pass every time. Follow our expert guide or let PixID check 100+ compliance points automatically.
This guide shows the most common mistakes — and how PixID checks them automatically.
20,000+ compliant photos created · 100+ compliance checks per photo
Check our specific guides for Walmart, USPS, CVS, FedEx, Walgreens, and price comparison to save up to $15 on your prints.
Check My Photo for FreeJoin 10,000+ users who saved on passport photos this month
PixID focuses on compliance and consistency, not cosmetic or beauty edits. You get a Compliance Report and both the compliant photo and a printable sheet (4×6 in or A4) for home or lab printing.
ID photo guide — passports, visas, document photos.
📺 Video guide: How to use PixID
Step-by-step walkthrough: choose country → upload photo → get compliant result. Duration: 1:25
Written by the pixid.studio compliance team, verified against official government and consulate photo requirements as of February 2025. See country-specific requirements for official links.
Document specs: Home · US Passport · UK Visa · Canada Visa · Photo requirements by country (A–Z) · All countries
Quick Start: Take a Compliant Passport Photo in 5 Minutes
- Stand facing a window (10 AM–3 PM; overcast day is best)
- Remove glasses
- Wear dark clothing (not white)
- Keep head straight, neutral expression
- Take photo from 1.5 meters away
- Upload to pixid.studio
Need more details? Read the full guides below ↓
Ready to skip the manual process?
Upload your photo and PixID will check everything automatically. $4.99 only if you download.
Upload & get instant compliance feedback →Prepare for Your Photo Session
Set up correctly before you shoot — lighting, clothes, and framing.
Lighting Mastery How to eliminate shadows without professional equipment Dress Code & Accessories What to wear — glasses, head coverings, clothing by country Why Browser AI Is a Compromise for Visa Photos Client-side limits — why we use server-side AI so consulates accept the result Cloud AI vs Browser AI for Document Photos Why cloud AI is better than browser AI for compliance PixID vs PhotoAiD: Which Is Better? (2026) Comparison — pricing, compliance, output quality📄 After You Get Your Photo
Printing, retail options, and what to do if rejected.
Home Printing Guide Paper, settings, DPI — print at home that passes inspection How to Print at CVS, Walgreens, or Walmart Upload your file and get same-day prints — no home printer needed What to Do If Your Photo Is Rejected Why rejections happen — and our free redo guarantee Passport or Visa Photo Rejected — What to Do Next Step-by-step troubleshooting: find the reason, fix it, resubmit🇺🇸 US Passport & Visa Guides
Digital file specs, online renewal, DS-160, at-home photos, retail options.
US Passport Photo Requirements Full specs — 2×2 inch, printed and digital, head size, background US Passport Online Renewal Photo Digital JPEG for travel.state.gov — file size, no AI edits, ready to upload DS-160 Visa Photo Requirements US nonimmigrant visa (ceac.state.gov) — file size, dimensions, background How to Take a Passport Photo at Home Step-by-step: lighting, background, distance, expression, camera settings Passport or Visa Photo Rejected — What to Do Next Find the rejection reason, fix it, and resubmit without losing your fee Passport Photo Size Requirements — US & All Countries Exact dimensions, head size, DPI, file size — one table for 60+ countries CVS Passport Photo — Cost, Hours, How It Works $16.99 process, what to bring — plus cheaper digital alternative Walgreens Passport Photo — Cost, Hours, How It Works $17.99 process, store hours — plus digital option for online renewal Passport Photo Comparison — Price & Speed (2026) Walmart $7.64, USPS $15, CVS/Walgreens $16.99 — where to get 2×2 photos🌍 Country-Specific Guides
Exact specs — head size, glasses, background, rejection reasons.
Document guides: Jordan Visa · Chile Visa · Argentina · Georgia · Serbia · Venezuela · Iraq · Nepal · Morocco · Sri Lanka · Belarus · Dominican Republic · Lebanon · Armenia · Mongolia · Ecuador · Azerbaijan · Turkmenistan · …all 60+.
High-Volume Corridors
More countries:
Tips for a perfect ID photo: distance, straight head, even lighting, neutral expression, plain background.
Tips for Taking the Perfect Photo
1. Get the distance right
Hold your front-facing camera about 16–20 inches (40–50 cm) from your face. If you're using a rear camera, stand 4–6 feet (1–2 meters) away and prop up your phone or use a tripod.
2. Keep your head and body straight
Face the camera directly. Do not tilt your head to the side, up, or down. Keep your shoulders level and your body facing forward.
3. Use good, even lighting
Natural daylight is best — stand near a window on a bright day. Make sure your face is evenly lit with no shadows on your cheeks, nose, or forehead. Avoid harsh overhead or side lighting.
4. Keep a neutral expression
Do not smile broadly. A relaxed, closed-mouth expression is required for most documents worldwide. Keep your eyes open and looking directly at the camera.
5. Choose the right background
A plain, light-colored wall works best. Don't worry too much — pixid.studio will remove or replace the background automatically. Just avoid busy patterns, dark colors, or anything cluttered.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Wearing glasses
Many countries require glasses to be removed for official photos. Check the requirements for your specific document. pixid.studio will flag any issues during the compliance check.
Tilting your head
Your head must be perfectly upright. Even a slight tilt can cause your photo to be rejected.
Smiling
A big smile is one of the most common reasons photos are rejected. Keep your expression neutral and relaxed.
Wrong distance or framing
Too close or too far from the camera leads to incorrect face-to-photo ratios. Use the distance guidelines above, and let pixid.studio handle the final cropping and framing.
Shadows on your face or background
Shadows are a common rejection reason. Position yourself in even, natural light and avoid standing too close to a wall behind you.
Hair covering your face
If you have long hair, move it aside so your entire face — including forehead, eyebrows, and ears — is clearly visible.
Poor image quality
Make sure your photo is sharp and well-lit. Avoid blurry or grainy images. Use a steady hand or a tripod for the best results.
Avoid all these mistakes automatically
You don't need to remember every rule, distance, or lighting condition.
PixID checks framing, background, lighting and geometry before generating your final photo. Upload once — get a ready-to-submit result.
Check My Photo for FreeHow We Check Your Photo
Technical details: how we check your photo and why our approach differs from others.
Why Cloud AI vs Browser AI Technical comparison for document photos Compliance Anatomy (100+ tests) What we check — geometric, photometric, biometric, file format pixid.studio vs Photo Studios Why algorithms are more accurate than people PixID vs PhotoAiD — Which Is Better for US Passport? Price, AI editing, compliance with 2026 rules, online renewal & DS-160