Passport Photo Photographer in New England / NYC?

[gr82bart]

OK, I have had my passport photo rejected by the Canadian government. I should have known, since it was taken at Fedex/Kinkos and thought, what the hey, if it's god enough for the US passport, it should be good enough for a Canadian passport, right? Wrong.

The Canadian government has very, very specific requirements for a passport photo: http://www.ppt.gc.ca/publications/pdfs/pptc318_eng.pdf

So, where can I find a photographer in New England or NYC that can meet these requirements?

Regards, Art.

 

[SuzanneR]

Art... you might try one of those Picture Place franchises in the mall. You'll be surrounded by screaming kids, but bring the requirements with you, and they may be able to help you.

 

[mooseontheloose]

Art,

Even the Canadian photographers have a tough time meeting those requirements.

When I was in Japan and needed a new passport the new regulations had just come into place, and the local camera store that did passport photos couldn't do mine because they had a grey background and I needed a white one. Anyway, I found a local photographer, gave her the dimensions, and got great photos from her (after three attempts). I'm sure anyone with a passport photo set up could do the same.

rachelle

 

[MartinB]

Art,

I had to renew my passport last fall and had the photos taken at the AMA (CAA) The first try was rejected at the passport office and fortunately had time to run back and have them reshot. So, even a place that takes many passport photos had trouble. It seems that the problems are avoiding glare on the cheek and hairline from the flash lighting up the background, and avoiding colour casts.

My advice is to be familiar with the technical requirements and get a couple of sets from different photographers as the passport office is very picky. Something to do with digitizing the photos for computer based facial recognition systems they are installng.

good luck

 

[Kevin Caulfield]

Our requirements here in Australia are quite similar. When we needed a passport for our then five week old baby, we tried five or six different places before I took the photos myself.

 

[Lopaka]

Even the Canadian photographers have a tough time meeting those requirements.

Really? They don't look that hard for someone who knows what they are doing. Years ago, in the studio, those are the kind of standards I worked with to do passport photos. The only requirement we did not have was the photographer's certification. In those days, the US did not accept Polaroid. I shot them on 4x5, had the ground glass marked for head size and made contact prints. Never had a reject.

 

[gr82bart]

Found a photographer in nearby Guildford. Sitting on Tuesday. Let's see how this goes.

It seems that passport photos are a bit of pain in the butt for Canadian ex-pats in general. The Canadian ex-pat forum has NUMEROUS posting / threads of rejects by the passport office. I also contacted the consulate in NYC and was given a listing of photographers whose photos successfully passed muster - not a long list. Fedex/Kinkos wasn't on the list - errr .... should have checked that first. At $97CDN a crack at a passport renewal, this was an expensive lesson.

Thanks, Art.

 

[mooseontheloose]

"It seems that passport photos are a bit of pain in the butt for Canadian ex-pats in general."

No kidding -- I had a terrible time in Japan and was the facing the same here in France (cost of application, plus trip to Paris, plus photos, plus paying for them to 'authentify' me, etc...) until I decided to go back to Canada indefinitely. Will make things a lot easier to do it on the home turf. Of course, we have to do this every five years, not ten, as is the case in most other countries.

Lopaka -- I hear what you're saying, but the last time I was in Toronto and got photos done it took several attempts by the photographer to get the exact head and shoulders dimensions right. They do it all the time, everyday, but still face problems. Of course, with digital, it's easy and quick to see where the problem is and to make the adjustment, so it's a minor issue.

 

[bdial]

Make a template in PS using the guideline and print it on a clear substrate, then check the prints, or else if the photographer is using LF he can also use it on the GG.