Mistakes to Avoid when taking Baby Passport Photos

Before you can travel with your baby internationally, your baby needs his or her own passport. I will share with your my experience and mistakes to avoid when taking baby passport photos.

No, I did not take the pictures myself. I went to a professional of course.

Below, I will be sharing with you the mistakes I made and how you can do better. So you will be smarter than me.

Here are mistakes to avoid when taking baby passport photos:

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Doing research

So when we took Baby K to have her passport photos taken, I was thinking to go to Costco. It’s cheaper and we can go grocery shopping while waiting for our pictures to develop. Little did I know that Costco does not take baby pictures. At least the one near us.

The staff there said that they need to be 3 and older where they can sit on a chair by themselves. I even asked what if we hold her (Baby K can support her own head). He still said that they can’t.

So, I went on my phone and started searching for other places who will take baby passport photos. Finally, I found Staples and it was close by. If I did some research beforehand, I would have seen that the baby forums mentioned that Costco does not take baby passport photos.

Not bringing a toy or shaker

When the baby is taking the picture, one person has to hold the baby. If you are going by yourself, then you will be the one holding the baby.

I thought to bring her toy so that she can focus on the toy near the photographer. Since you know your baby better, you’ll know whether a toy or just a familiar face will draw the baby’s attention to the photographer.

We had to take quite a few pictures so that we can find one that matches the requirements. I realized that if I shook the toy in front of her too much, she’ll get excited, which means she’s kicking and moving a lot (that is not good for pictures). I had to just hold it still and it worked for Baby K.

If I didn’t bring a toy, I could try to just call her name. But the toy makes it easier to draw her attention to the photographer taking her baby passport pictures.

Wearing white

The backdrop for taking the baby passport photo is white (in Canada). If the baby wears white, it might just look like a floating head.

Choose something that is nice because it’ll be your baby’s first passport picture. Just not white.

Colour Coordinate your baby’s outfit

We also gave Baby K a bib to wear because the inner onesie does not match the longer sleeve onesie. You can see the difference at the neck (which is a little interesting). However, the bib was covering her chin so we had to take it out.

So, coordinate your baby’s clothing colours so it will look nice, even without a bib.

Allowing the baby to cry right before

This applies to us as adults too. Crying before taking a picture will make us look awful.

Puffy eyes, red nose, and a tired look.

Not the best for a passport picture, for sure. So try not to let the baby cry before the picture. I know, sometimes it can’t be helped, whether the baby is just not having a good day, or is colic. There are so many reasons why a baby cries.

If it’s not a good day, maybe try another day or walk around to distract the baby from crying.

Not working out (poor M)

So, to take the picture, especially if your child cannot sit by themselves, you have to hold them.

You have to support them while not being in a picture at all. Your hands cannot be seen in any part of the picture.

When you have a wiggly baby, the photographer needs to take a few (or more than a few) pictures to get the perfect picture. While they do that, you need to steady your arms in the same position for a long time.

Yes, babies are not that heavy but they start to feel heavier over time. It will take a toll on your arms. Poor M, he had to hold her for the multiple picture-taking sessions.

So now that I’ve shared these mistakes with you, you will avoid them (maybe not the last one). Who has time to work out? Okay, maybe you do.

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