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Passport Photos

(38 Posts)
Nonu Wed 07-Nov-12 17:42:55

OMG , my passport runs out fairly soon . Went down town to photos taken .

They say the camera never lies ! It doesn"t help either that you are not allowed to smile .

DH remarked , well it is for I D , well we all know THAT , but I am stuck with looking like I don"t know what .

The previous one is not better . [grumpy emoticon]

Nonu Mon 12-Nov-12 13:00:01

Guess you realised I meant u ,, SEL.

Nonu Mon 12-Nov-12 12:57:12

Greaaaat , you have the best time . Lovely place . smile

Sel Sun 11-Nov-12 23:40:47

Nonu thanks for your good wishes smile Yes, the eye infection really messes up my mascara! It's a pleasure trip - my partner travels a lot on business, he's just back from Spain and off to the US in the morning. As it's my birthday next week he said 'why not fly out and join me, take the car and then we'll have a few days in New York' So I ummmed and arrhed for effect and then said YES! So although I won't be able to drive, I will be able to amuse myself somehow! He's got tickets for radio City Music Hall one night and a play, The Heiress (I think) with Mathew from Downton Abbey appearing in it. I'm excited!

annodomini Sat 10-Nov-12 14:38:13

If I need a photo for i.d. purposes I always do it on a day when I have just had my hair done and put on as much make-up as I can get away with. A good hairdo always takes a few years off - I look my age instead of five years older.

Nonu Sat 10-Nov-12 13:58:52

You can use your passport as photo ID . That is what we do as our driving licences are the old sort without photos .

Nonu Sat 10-Nov-12 13:56:08

Sorry about eye infection, they can be miserable .

At least though you have a back up plan , for your visit to the States .

Are u visiting friends or relatives , or just "going"

Whatever , you enjoy yourself . [Sunshine] not that there is much of that about.

Sel Fri 09-Nov-12 22:39:10

Greatnan I did ask that but NO! I asked if I could pay to get the licence express return: NO. I didn't have the most helpful PO clerk I've come across. All my own fault. Also in the US now when using a foreign credit card they want picture ID so the licence was good for that. Will have to carry my passport around which I don't typically do. Hey ho.

BlueSky Fri 09-Nov-12 22:14:12

Yes Ana and I look ten times better smiling, apart from the fact that I was 10 years younger...grin

Ana Fri 09-Nov-12 22:10:21

I've Googled and apparently toothy grins on passport photos were banned in the UK in 2004 - so before then it was presumably OK...hmm

Sel Fri 09-Nov-12 22:01:18

nonu I have a receipt for my application but that won't be good enough..leave Weds so DVLC can't move that fast. I'll just have to take taxis. Not a major problem on the scale of problems just could kick myself for not reading the form more thoroughly. Also, I have an eye infection which will now be on my licence for 10 years!

The underlying thing is, each photo, driving licence or passport just underlines the fact we're growing old. Ah well smile

feetlebaum hmmmm, stealing knickers off a clothes line? The mind boggles! Tell me the typical look and I'll be on my guard! smile

Greatnan Fri 09-Nov-12 21:56:17

Sel - can you get the post office to let you have a letter saying you have a current licence?

Ana Fri 09-Nov-12 21:54:08

I thought you were never allowed to smile in passport photos...confused

BlueSky Fri 09-Nov-12 21:52:40

I'll soon need a new passport and I'm dreading the new style photos where you are not allowed to smile! Why? Smiling is an instant facelift as we al know. I've got a a new photo for my bus pass and I look as miserable as sin! shock

feetlebaum Fri 09-Nov-12 19:37:11

I turned 70 and needed a new licence - my first with a photo. I was just out of hospital after a serious op., and staggered into a photographer's shop where he shot the requisite pose... I look just like someone nicked for stealing knickers off clothes lines...

Nonu Fri 09-Nov-12 14:48:44

OH dear , what you going to do , to get round it ?

Sel Fri 09-Nov-12 14:43:12

Just been to the Post Office where you can have your picture taken for your driving licence...thought it was all done instantly instead of sending off your licence. The clerk then asked for my current driving licence & counterpart and cut the licence in half. I didn't realise they confiscated the current licence when you applied through the PO. Bit of an issue for me as I'm off to NY & NJ next week and need to drive a rental car. Now I have no licence. A bit of a bummer and I could kick myself.

Maniac Fri 09-Nov-12 10:19:04

last year I wasted time and money on passport photo in photobooth and with professional.I hated them all .
I got my daughter to take several non-smiling shots of me against a plain wall,then printed off best one in 'passport size 'on my printer.-accepted ok by Passport Office.

crimson Thu 08-Nov-12 22:30:30

In the new passports the photo is so blurry I don't know how they recognise anyone from them. I spent a fortune last year going to photo booths but then went to Max Spielmans; if they don't accept the photo Splielmans will do another one free of charge. In fact, the Post Office in the next village does the same.

trendygran Thu 08-Nov-12 21:28:34

My Passport has just expired and I' ve been putting off renewing it by the thought of having to see the passport non smiling photos! Maybe I'll brave it now I know I'm in good company.Let's face it ( LITERALLY) the truth never lies------but how we wish it did!

Wheniwasyourage Thu 08-Nov-12 20:15:23

Greatnan, I always heard the saying was - if you look like your passport photo you're not well enough to travel!

Mishap Thu 08-Nov-12 17:30:46

I worked as a photographer latterly and people always hate photos of themselves (I do too!). It is very hard to say to them - but that is how you look!

I once took pics of a vicar poet for his book jacket - I could tell he didn't like them. Then the light dawned and I offered to photoshop out a tiny zit - he beamed!

annodomini Thu 08-Nov-12 16:33:20

absent - so do I!

Greatnan Thu 08-Nov-12 15:32:50

I thought I needed a new photo on my driving licence as mine was out of date, but I found out that I could keep it until I needed to renew it again at 73. (I won't, because I will change to a French licence which does not need renewing)
You all know the saying - if you look like your passport photo you really need a holiday!

goldengirl Thu 08-Nov-12 12:55:46

Heck! I've given up worrying. The only people to see it are the Customs bods and the occasionally need for additional ID. If they don't like it, who cares? They can see what I really look like grin

Sel Wed 07-Nov-12 19:52:55

I was shocked to find I need a new one for my driving licence - every 10 years apparently. Apparently most larger POs have a system where they photograph you and then submit the application digitally. Not sure you'll be given any options a la Tesco to keep re-posing. sad