Photo Setup Guide · Last verified: January 2026

How to Take a Passport Photo at Home — Step-by-Step

You can take a compliant US passport photo at home using a smartphone — no special equipment needed. The result passes State Department requirements if you follow the setup correctly.

This guide covers: background setup, lighting, camera settings (including what to disable), framing, expression, and what to do after taking the photo.

Works for: US passport applications, US passport online renewal, DS-160 visa applications, USCIS forms.

Written by the pixid.studio compliance team, verified against U.S. Department of State photo requirements as of January 2026.

Passport photo at home: white wall, face a large window, 2–3 ft from wall. Disable beauty, portrait & AI features. Rear camera or tripod, 4–6 ft. Neutral expression. Ready in 10 minutes. Critical since January 2026.
Smartphone, white wall, natural light — ready in 10 minutes
Critical — January 2026

The State Department now rejects photos processed by AI, portrait mode, or beauty filters. Disable all AI/beauty camera features before taking the photo. Use standard photo mode only.

The setup — 6 steps

1
Choose your background
Find a plain white or off-white wall with nothing on it — no artwork, furniture edges, or patterns visible behind you. A white door, white wall, or even a large white bedsheet works. The background must be completely uniform when photographed.
Distance from wall: Stand 2–3 feet away from the background. This prevents shadows from falling on the wall behind you — one of the most common rejection reasons.
2
Set up your lighting
The best light source is a window with indirect natural daylight — not direct sun, which creates harsh shadows. Position yourself facing the window, so light hits your face evenly from the front. Overcast days are ideal. Avoid shooting with the window behind you (creates silhouette) or directly overhead (creates shadow under nose and chin).
Do
  • Face a large window
  • Use overcast daylight
  • Shoot 10 AM–3 PM indoors
  • Add a second lamp on the opposite side if needed to fill shadows
Don't
  • Direct sunlight on face
  • Overhead ceiling light only
  • Single side lamp (creates shadows)
  • Flash (creates harsh flat light and red-eye)
3
Configure your phone camera
This step is critical. Open the default camera app and check these settings before taking a single shot.
Enable / keep on
  • Standard photo mode
  • HDR (helps with even exposure)
  • Rear camera (not selfie/front)
  • Auto focus
Disable / turn off
  • Portrait mode / depth effect
  • Beauty / skin smoothing mode
  • AI scene enhancement
  • Background blur
  • Filters or color effects
  • Flash
iPhone users: Settings → Camera → Formats → set to "Most Compatible" (JPEG). Turn off Smart HDR under Camera settings if it adds processing artifacts. Portrait Mode must be off.
Samsung / Android users: In Camera → Settings, disable "Scene Optimizer", "Shot Suggestions", and any "Beauty" or "Skin Tone" sliders. Use default Photo mode.
4
Set up the camera position
Use the rear camera — it has better resolution and less distortion than the front-facing camera. Have another person hold the phone, or use a tripod with the self-timer (3–10 second delay).
Height: Camera should be at eye level, or very slightly above. Looking slightly up at the camera is fine; looking down is not. Place the tripod or ask the photographer to hold the phone at your eye level.
Distance (rear camera): 4–6 feet (120–180 cm) from the camera. This gives the correct head-to-frame ratio and avoids lens distortion that occurs at very close range.
Selfie (front camera): Not recommended by the State Department, but usable if done carefully. Hold the phone at arm's length, at eye level. The front camera distortion can cause head size issues — PixID corrects this automatically.
5
Posture, expression, and appearance
Face the camera directly. Keep your head straight — no tilting left, right, up, or down. Both ears should be roughly visible.
Do
  • Neutral, relaxed expression
  • Mouth closed
  • Both eyes open, looking at lens
  • Natural skin tone
  • Hair away from face (especially forehead)
  • Glasses removed
Don't
  • Smile or frown
  • Tilt head in any direction
  • Wear glasses
  • Wear hats (unless religious)
  • Wear white clothing (blends with background)
  • Wear uniform or camouflage
6
Take multiple shots — then select the best
Take 5–10 photos. Small changes in expression or head position affect compliance. Review them at full zoom before choosing — look for sharp focus, even lighting, no shadows, straight head position.
Quick self-check before uploading: Is the background white and shadow-free? Is your face evenly lit? Are your eyes fully open? Is your mouth closed? Is your head straight? If yes to all — the photo is ready to process.

After taking the photo — what PixID does

A good home photo still needs to be formatted for submission. The raw photo from your phone is almost never the correct size, format, or file size for a government application.

What PixID handles automatically

  • ✓Crops to correct head size (50–69% of frame) — fixes the most common compliance failure
  • ✓Sets compliant white background, removes any shadows
  • ✓Outputs correct file format and size for each document type (US passport, DS-160, USCIS, etc.)
  • ✓No AI face alteration — required by January 2026 State Department rules
  • ✓Generates printable 4×6 sheet for CVS, Walgreens, or home printing if needed
  • ✓Provides compliance report showing every check that was run

Taken the photo? We'll handle the rest.

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Frequently asked questions

Is a selfie acceptable for a passport photo?
The State Department advises against selfies. The main issues: front cameras have more lens distortion, the arm position creates an angle, and holding the phone close makes head size hard to control. If you use a selfie, hold the phone at arm's length at eye level and use portrait mode off. PixID can correct head size and background from a selfie, but if the expression or angle is wrong, a retake is needed.
What should I wear?
Wear everyday clothing. Avoid white or very light clothing — it blends with the white background and creates compliance issues at the edges. Avoid uniforms and camouflage (prohibited). Dark, plain clothing works best. No hats unless worn daily for religious reasons.
Do I need a tripod?
No, but it helps. The simplest setup: prop your phone against a stack of books at eye level, set a 3-second timer, and have someone press the shutter. Alternatively, ask anyone nearby — a neighbor, family member, coworker — to take two or three photos. It takes under a minute.
My background has a slight yellow or cream tint. Is that okay?
"Off-white" is acceptable. A slightly warm or cream wall is generally fine. Heavy yellow, grey, or beige will fail the background check. If you're unsure, upload the photo to PixID — we'll flag the background if it doesn't meet the requirement and can replace it with a compliant white background automatically.
How do I know if the photo is sharp enough?
Zoom in to your face at 100% on your phone screen before uploading. Your eyes should be sharply focused — you should be able to see individual eyelashes. If the face is blurry at 100% zoom, retake with steadier hands or use a tripod. Modern smartphone cameras (12 MP+) are more than sufficient for passport photos if the shot is in focus.
I don't have a white wall. What can I use?
A large white bedsheet, a white foam board from a dollar store, or even a white door work well. If nothing is available, upload the photo anyway — PixID replaces the background with a compliant white background automatically, as long as you're clearly separated from whatever is behind you.

Ready to submit your photo?

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Crop · background · file format · head size check. Ready for US passport, DS-160, USCIS, or online renewal — in 3 minutes.

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