Baby passport photo hack: How I took my son's picture on my iPhone for only 99 cents
Traveling with an infant is stressful enough, but getting a baby to sit still long enough to snap an acceptable passport photo presents additional challenges.
I am heading to Italy this month with my almost 5-month-old son, and I decided to apply for his passport when he was just 8 weeks old. That way, it had plenty of time to arrive, and I could save a few dollars by not paying for expedited shipping.
You can typically get your passport photo taken at your local Walgreens, Staples or post office, but I decided to look into how this photo would be taken. At 2 months old, my son couldn't sit up or hold his head up, and he slept most of the day.
According to the U.S. government website, the baby's passport photo must follow these rules:
- There should not be another person in the photo (that includes a person's hands).
- The child must face the camera and have both eyes open (the baby's eyes can be slightly open).
- The photo cannot have any shadows.
- The child cannot have his/her tongue out and/or be making an abnormal expression.
Since the passport photo requirements are specific, I decided to take his passport photo at home using my iPhone and an easy hack I saw on social media — and it worked. Keep reading to learn more about how to copy this hack for only 99 cents.
Related: How to take your baby's first passport photo
Hack: How to take a baby's passport photo with a cellphone
Having the flexibility to take your child's photo when they're not sleepy, hungry or just overall fussy made me want to give this social media passport hack a try. To take his photo, I got an off-white pillowcase and laid it on the ground. Then, as he stared at a toy I had in my hand, I started snapping away with my iPhone. I was able to take as many pictures as I wanted without feeling rushed or stressed because I didn't get the shot on the third (or even 10th) attempt.
Because newer iPhones let you "copy" a picture, I held down my finger on my son's photo and copied just his image without the pillowcase. Then, I opened up my email and "pasted" his photo into an email. Next, I took a screenshot of that photo and edited the picture, so I was just left with my son against a solid white background.
Through the Walgreens app (you can also go in-store), I ordered a four-pack of wallet-sized 2-inch by 3-inch prints for only 99 cents. At Walgreens, I picked up the prints and asked the salesperson to use their 2-inch by 2-inch cutter to cut the photo to the acceptable passport dimensions.
Ironically, another family was also at the store attempting to get their child's photo taken. The baby was placed on the counter on top of white cardboard and kept moving around, not looking at the camera. Safe to say, the parents looked a bit frazzled. Plus, to get your passport taken by the clerk at Walgreens, you'll pay $16.99.
It's important to note that while this photo hack worked for me, I made sure to follow the government guidelines when submitting a passport photo. I ensured there was enough white space above the top of his head, that there were no shadows in the photo and that it didn't look "edited." Plus, at the county clerk's office, I double-checked and asked if his photo would be accepted, and the person cleared it.
Related: 42 real-world family travel tips that actually work
Bottom line
Not only did I save myself $16, but I also enjoyed the process of taking my son's passport photo. I was able to adapt to his schedule, and I didn't have to force him to keep his eyes open or try to prevent him from crying long enough for the salesperson to snap a photo.
While not all social media hacks are created equal, I'd definitely recommend giving this one a try — especially since it might save you a few dollars and a lot of aggravation.
Related reading:
TPG featured card
at Capital One's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.
| 5X miles | Earn 5X miles on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel |
| 2X miles | Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, every day |
Pros
- Stellar welcome offer of 75,000 miles after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening. Plus, a $250 Capital One Travel credit to use in your first cardholder year upon account opening.
- You'll earn 2 miles per dollar on every purchase, which means you won't have to worry about memorizing bonus categories
- Rewards are versatile and can be redeemed for a statement credit or transferred to Capital One’s transfer partners
Cons
- Highest bonus-earning categories only on travel booked via Capital One Travel
- LIMITED-TIME OFFER: Enjoy $250 to use on Capital One Travel in your first cardholder year, plus earn 75,000 bonus miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening - that’s equal to $1,000 in travel
- Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, every day
- Earn 5X miles on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
- Miles won't expire for the life of the account and there's no limit to how many you can earn
- Receive up to a $120 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®
- Use your miles to get reimbursed for any travel purchase—or redeem by booking a trip through Capital One Travel
- Enjoy a $50 experience credit and other premium benefits with every hotel and vacation rental booked from the Lifestyle Collection
- Transfer your miles to your choice of 15+ travel loyalty programs
- Top rated mobile app