There is nothing special about a passport photo. It is a regular color photo, taken against a plain background and printed at an exact size. That is why you can make one yourself and pay only for a normal photo print.
What passport photos usually cost
| Where | Typical price | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Drugstore photo counter (Walgreens, CVS) | about $17 to $18 | 2 photos, taken in the store |
| Post office (USPS), where available | about $15 | 2 photos, often with an appointment |
| Warehouse or supermarket photo centers | about $8 to $15 | 2 photos |
| Your own photo printed as a 4 × 6 | under $1 | 2 US photos per print, or 8 for 35 × 45 mm formats |
Prices change and vary by store. They are listed here only to compare; check the current price before you go.
For a family of four, that is the difference between more than $60 and a couple of dollars.
Step 1: take the photo
- Stand about 2 feet in front of a plain white or off-white wall, facing a window for even daylight.
- Ask someone to take the photo from about 4 feet away, at eye level, with the main camera. No selfies, filters or portrait mode.
- Take off glasses and hats, look straight at the camera and keep a neutral face or a natural smile.
The full list of rules is in the US passport photo requirements.
Step 2: crop it to the exact size
Open the passport photo maker, choose your document and line up your head with the guides. It is free, and your photo never leaves your device. Download the 4 × 6 print: it holds two 2 × 2 inch photos with thin gray cutting lines.
Step 3: print it as a normal photo
- Upload the file to any drugstore, supermarket or online photo service as a regular 4 × 6 print, which usually costs well under a dollar.
- Turn off automatic cropping, borders and "enhance" options, so the print keeps the exact size.
- Pick it up, measure one photo with a ruler (exactly 2 inches for a US passport) and cut along the lines.
No printer? Same-day pickup is usually available. Printing at home on glossy photo paper also works for US passports; print the PDF sheet at 100% (Actual size).
Is it allowed?
Yes. The State Department does not require a professional photographer for US passports, only that the photo meets the rules. What it does not allow is editing your face or the background, so do not retouch the photo; cropping and resizing are fine.
Some countries are different. Canadian passport photos must be taken by a commercial photographer, and Australian photos must be printed by dye sublimation, not on an inkjet. See the Australian passport photo guide.