passport photo issues

Do not use a photo booth that are in supermarkets. My photos that were said to be ok failed when uploaded.
We used a camera phone and kept retrying until the government website said yes

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Preferred it when (from a teenager) I could pop into the booth in the Co-Op, put in the money and have the pics taken

As I was (and still am) blonde, I would pull the dark curtain across the back.

When the curtain was removed some years later creating only the white background, I would look quite bald in the photographs!!

Ridiculous. Although at least you're allowed to smile now, which was forbidden in the past!
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23Doodledog

Thanks all. Yes, I could do it at home, if I had a white wall, but I have paid for the photos so don't want to.

Just a thought - could you hang a white sheet over a door to act as a white background? It is so frustrating having to do stuff online and then having g problems like this. 🤞You get it sorted.

I ignored the message about lack of contrast on the photos that I had taken in the photo booth. My new passport was still authorised and arrived safely in the post.

I did mine on Monday online and uploaded the photo. It did say my mouth was open but the shop said it had passed and said any problems come back. My explanation was no my mouth is closed which it was. I’d go back to the shop and see what they say. I had to send back my old passport which I did 1st class they recommend it be signed for and it cost over £5. I received a text message today to say they had received it.

I am very pale with light eyes and pale hair. I put on a lot of makeup and a bright lipstick and I was fine as it gave some contrast. I would never normally wear that amount but otherwise I seem to blend into the background. Hope you get it sorted.

If I was with you I could scan it into photoshop for you and change the levels to get better contrast. It might be worth asking someone if they can do that for you if you know anyone with those skills and relevant software on their computer. A young person might fit the bill - not that I'm one!!

That’s very kind, but the form says you may not edit the photo in any way. It’s rained all day so I didn’t go to the shop but I’ll be in town on Tuesday and will take it then.

I had my photo taken at the post office as they did it all for me.
I was quite shocked when the passport came back and the photo was in black and white.
I look absolutely horrendous and I thought b&w photos were old
I started getting paranoid and phoned passport office.
Yes it’s legal but they being phased out.
I would have preferred colour photo. Why on earth use a B&W one. I shan’t be getting another one as this one will see me out.

What an interesting thread this is - I don't know why
I do hope you are sorted easily.
What a palaver!

Doodledog I had a similar problem with taking and then uploading a recent photo….i didn’t take the photo well and just thought oh well! Continued to payment and waited for the knock back!

Imagine my surprise when my new passport arrived -they had simply used my old photo from 10 +years ago 😀

I used this passport in December 2025 and when going thru Immigration, I was nervous…they did the eye scan and thumb print and I was expecting to hear a question about my identity…but 😰 they didn’t - however they scan photos now I just don’t know how my old pic was suitable for new passport 🤔

So hopefully you will have it sorted out soon….🤞🏻

I had to have several photos done as I had a complaint that my eyes couldn’t be seen! Finally I went to a photo shop that solved the problem!

Warmglovesandsocks I have the same problem saying that my eyes could not be seen. I tried on different phones with different people taking the photo and none worked, including a photo booth.
I went to a photo shop who took photos but have not yet tried to use them (as I was so bored with the problems) and now realise from posts here that I cannot use them as they are too old.
I only want a passport for ID as I do not have a driving licence. Why is it so difficult?

I did my own against a magnolia wall. No problem getting it accepted.