Print your own passport photo: While Google searches for a local CVS to have my passport photos taken ($16.99). I found Walmart 'print your passport photo $7.64. So I set up my gears...

trinhqthuan Loc: gaithersburg

While Google searches for a local CVS to have my passport photos taken ($16.99). I found Walmart 'print your passport photo $7.64. So I set up my gears, took my own photos. Load the photos to Walmart to get it printed. Well the final cost was $7.64+$7.99 (Shipping). That was not $7.64 as advertised, so I uploaded my photos to CVS to print. It cost me $1.96 for 4.
Here are simple tricks.
1. Full frame (D750) with 28-85mm lens, on tripod eye level to lens .
2. Face to lens distance, around 5 feet. White background (my home white window shades).
3.Day time, flash on, take a series of photos from 50 to 75 mm. Using Nikon MC-DC2, orML-L3 remote control.
4. Cut a 2" transparency template strip (photo attached), based on the 2x2" photo size on page 5 of the form DS-82
5. Upload photo to computer. Open in Paint3D (came with Window... Windows 10, Window 11). Select 'Canvas' to resize your photo to 4x6 inch (use a pre cut 4x6 template)
6. Select any photo that -your face- matches the size on the 2" transparency strip. Upload to CVS https://www.cvs.com/photo/prints (print 4x6, 4 to 6 photos, around $2.00).
7. CVS will email you when it is ready. My own experience took less than 4 hrs to get my photos

Attached file:
(Download)

BebuLamar

I have walmart printed my passport photo for $0.15 each. I just make the shots, have them print in 4x6" and cut out the 2x2" section. Just have to scale my face correctly that's all. I don't really have to worry too much while taking the shots. Just resize them in PS. Total time from taking the pictures were less than 2 hours.

Picture Taker Loc: Michigan Thumb

Goto the Post Office. They do it with equipment just for PasPorts.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

trinhqthuan wrote:

While Google searches for a local CVS to have my passport photos taken ($16.99). I found Walmart 'print your passport photo $7.64. So I set up my gears, took my own photos. Load the photos to Walmart to get it printed. Well the final cost was $7.64+$7.99 (Shipping). That was not $7.64 as advertised, so I uploaded my photos to CVS to print. It cost me $1.96 for 4.

Sure was as advertised. The price of $7.64 was for the photos, alone, (shipping additional, as with any item on-line, unless they state free shipping....)
Why did you assume the $7.64 to be the total price?

If you buy other merchandise on-line, do you expect the total price to be just the item costs?

BebuLamar

I just did the renewal of both mine and my wife's passport. Cost me less than a buck. I have them made totally 4 prints for $0.15 each. Took me total time including taking the picture, do a bit of scaling in PS and go to the local Walmart have them printed and get the pictures home was about 2 hours.

Picture Taker Loc: Michigan Thumb

Save money or whatever every 10 years I take the paperwork and my old passport, go to the Post Office. They take my picture and paperwork etc and I get a new passport in the mail. One stop.

BebuLamar

Picture Taker wrote:

Save money or whatever every 10 years I take the paperwork and my old passport, go to the Post Office. They take my picture and paperwork etc and I get a new passport in the mail. One stop.

I don't care the cost but my wife prefer that I took the pictures of her than the people at the post office (so she can complain and makes me do it again to her liking)

Jimmy T Loc: Virginia

trinhqthuan wrote:

While Google searches for a local CVS to have my p... (show quote)

While the above is very helpful, you can find exactly (in almost all cases) what is required here: https://www.usps.com/international/passports.htm
Best Wishes,
JimmyT Sends

JohnSwanda Loc: San Francisco

The official passport site has a nifty tool for correctly sizing and cropping your own photo for a passport - scroll down to "already have a photo?":

https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/passports/how-apply/photos.html

canonuser25 Loc: Cardiff (Wales NOT England)

Not really useful but in the UK, fill in the on line form, take a photo attach the digital image and submit. If not suitable then you're told. You can then take a second image and resubmit. Simple and works a treat!

apacs1 Loc: Lansdale, PA

trinhqthuan wrote:

While Google searches for a local CVS to have my p... (show quote)

If the cost of passport photos is an issue, you don't need a passport because you can't afford the cost of the travel you need the passport for. Spend your time on more important issues.

JohnSwanda Loc: San Francisco

apacs1 wrote:

If the cost of passport photos is an issue, you don't need a passport because you can't afford the cost of the travel you need the passport for. Spend your time on more important issues.

For some, doing their own passport photo isn't a matter of cost, it's that they think they could make a better photo than a drugstore or post office. I wish I could take my own driver's license photo.

apacs1 Loc: Lansdale, PA

"Vanity, thy name is Photographer"

BebuLamar

JohnSwanda wrote:

For some, doing their own passport photo isn't a matter of cost, it's that they think they could make a better photo than a drugstore or post office. I wish I could take my own driver's license photo.

Yes that is why my wife wanted me to take her pictures instead of the post office. But after we received our passports she was disappointed because the picture in the passport itself is a lot poorer than what we sent them.

JohnSwanda Loc: San Francisco

BebuLamar wrote:

Yes that is why my wife wanted me to take her pictures instead of the post office. But after we received our passports she was disappointed because the picture in the passport itself is a lot poorer than what we sent them.

I assume you sent them a digital file. The thread is about printing your own, and you probably should have done that.