or How to stop overpaying money for the passport 2”x2” photos.
C’mon – we all faced it – School/University/Workplace or Government requires us to submit these 2”x2” photos and usually, a first place comes to mind is to visit local photo studio where you’d get charged an arm and a leg for a that’s a really simple procedure and I want to show how I decided to defy the studios' regime and do it myself.
Tools required: Any point-and-shoot camera will do [shooting indoor most likely WILL require firing flash]
Any computer with any speed internet access – even dial-up will be enough
Optional tools:
Tripod for the camera if you shoot yourself
Steps:
Take the shot of yourself against a bright background – white doors will work well.
Transfer it to computer
Open your favorite web browser (any modern version will do) and go to http://www.epassportphoto.com/
Follow the steps and in end choose:
Download and Print –> Download the Passport Photo Sheet Image
Optional Step: Open the resulting image in your favorite image editor – any will do, my favorite is IrfanView since it’s free and lightning-fast.
ePassportPhoto will insert its own ad into a place of 6th photo which I rather see as a waste of 4”x6” photo sheet, so use simple select, copy and paste to make the sheet consist of only your photos.
Copy the result to USB Flash Drive or memory card [CF/SD will be probably more common]
Go to your nearest chain store Pharmacy [CVS/Wallgreens/Duane Reade etc..] and print this image on glossy 4”x6” – this is only placed where you actually have to pay money :)
CVS charged me about $0.29 while Duane Reade whopping $0.49. Bear in mind I'm not planning to use ether to print large collection of photos – I just needed to print the passport photos right away.
Use Scissors or if you are lucky and office has one of these.
Important P.S: For some forms filled with government organizations you’d be required to use a pencil to write on the back of photo some details like your name etc. In my personal experience, CVS uses Kodak machines and Kodak paper – it is impossible to use a pencil to write on the back of the photo – while Duane Reade used Sony photo printer and Sony Paper and it is perfectly OK to write with a pencil.
Minor update: Costco photo printing is even cheaper, but some stores no longer have a photo booth anymore. Online printing is still available, but shipping times would need to be considered.
C’mon – we all faced it – School/University/Workplace or Government requires us to submit these 2”x2” photos and usually, a first place comes to mind is to visit local photo studio where you’d get charged an arm and a leg for a that’s a really simple procedure and I want to show how I decided to defy the studios' regime and do it myself.
Tools required: Any point-and-shoot camera will do [shooting indoor most likely WILL require firing flash]
Any computer with any speed internet access – even dial-up will be enough
Optional tools:
Tripod for the camera if you shoot yourself
Steps:
Take the shot of yourself against a bright background – white doors will work well.
Transfer it to computer
Open your favorite web browser (any modern version will do) and go to http://www.epassportphoto.com/
Follow the steps and in end choose:
Download and Print –> Download the Passport Photo Sheet Image
Optional Step: Open the resulting image in your favorite image editor – any will do, my favorite is IrfanView since it’s free and lightning-fast.
ePassportPhoto will insert its own ad into a place of 6th photo which I rather see as a waste of 4”x6” photo sheet, so use simple select, copy and paste to make the sheet consist of only your photos.
Copy the result to USB Flash Drive or memory card [CF/SD will be probably more common]
Go to your nearest chain store Pharmacy [CVS/Wallgreens/Duane Reade etc..] and print this image on glossy 4”x6” – this is only placed where you actually have to pay money :)
CVS charged me about $0.29 while Duane Reade whopping $0.49. Bear in mind I'm not planning to use ether to print large collection of photos – I just needed to print the passport photos right away.
Use Scissors or if you are lucky and office has one of these.
Important P.S: For some forms filled with government organizations you’d be required to use a pencil to write on the back of photo some details like your name etc. In my personal experience, CVS uses Kodak machines and Kodak paper – it is impossible to use a pencil to write on the back of the photo – while Duane Reade used Sony photo printer and Sony Paper and it is perfectly OK to write with a pencil.
Minor update: Costco photo printing is even cheaper, but some stores no longer have a photo booth anymore. Online printing is still available, but shipping times would need to be considered.
