Passport Size Photo: Easy DIY Steps and Pro Printing Tips
If you need a passport photo for a visa, ID, or any official document, you don’t have to run to a studio every time. With a smartphone, a plain wall, and a few minutes, you can create a passport size photo that meets Indian requirements.
What the Indian Passport Photo Must Look Like
The rules are simple but strict. The photo must be 2 × 2 inches (51 mm × 51 mm) with a white background. Your face should fill 70‑80% of the height, so the top of your head to the chin is roughly 1.2‑1.4 inches. Eyes need to be open, looking straight at the camera, and there should be no glasses with tinted lenses. Make sure there are no shadows on the face or background.
Step‑by‑Step DIY Process
1. Set up the space. Find a plain white wall, stand about 4‑5 feet away, and use a tripod or a steady surface for your phone. Good lighting is key – natural light from a window works best.
2. Take the shot. Turn off any filters, set the camera to its highest resolution, and use the rear camera for better quality. Keep the camera at eye level, keep your shoulders relaxed, and hold a neutral expression.
3. Crop to the right size. Open a free editor like GIMP or an online crop tool. Set the dimensions to 600 × 600 pixels (300 dpi) which translates to the 2 × 2‑inch print size.
4. Adjust the background. If the wall isn’t perfectly white, use the editor’s brightness tool to lighten it. Avoid heavy editing – the photo should still look natural.
5. Check the specs. Measure the head height in the cropped image. It should be between 1.2 and 1.4 inches on the printed photo. Most editors let you add a ruler overlay to confirm.
6. Save correctly. Export the file as a JPEG with high quality (80‑90%). Name it clearly, e.g., "passport_photo_2025.jpg".
7. Print or upload. For official use, the photo often needs to be printed on matte photo paper. A 300 dpi print gives a sharp result. If the authority accepts digital uploads, just follow their file size limit.
Common mistakes to avoid: smiling, tilting the head, using a colored background, or having hair covering the eyes. A quick glance at the final image with a friend can catch most errors before you print.
While DIY works for most cases, you might want a professional finish, especially for overseas visas that scrutinize every detail. That’s where Rio Photography Services steps in. We can take a quick snap in our studio, adjust it to exact specs, and print it on premium paper. Our prices are competitive, and turnaround is typically under an hour.
If you prefer to print at home, make sure your printer is set to photo quality and use glossy or matte photo paper. Test one print first to see if the colors and size match the requirements.
Bottom line: with the right setup and a few simple edits, you can create a passport size photo that looks professional and passes every official check. Whether you DIY or visit Rio Photography, you now have a clear roadmap to get the job done fast and cheap.