How to Take a Passport Photo for a Newborn at Home
Learn how to take passport photo for newborn babies easily. If you are wondering how to take a passport photo with your phone (or how to take a passport photo on your phone) for yourself or an infant, following simple lighting and position guidelines helps you learn how to get passport photo approval without leaving home.
Step-by-Step Newborn Photo Setup
- The White Sheet Sheet Technique: Lay a plain white sheet or towel flat on the floor or bed.
- Positioning: Place your baby on their back on top of the sheet. Ensure no pillows, toys, or hands support their head visibly.
- Lighting: Use natural daylight from a nearby window to eliminate shadows on the sheet or face.
- Camera Angle: Stand directly over your baby, look straight down into their eyes, and snap multiple shots when they look forward.
Auto-Crop Baby Photos with AI
Upload your baby's photo and our tool will automatically crop to 2x2 inches, remove the sheet background, and check alignment.
Too complicated? Let our AI handle it.
Upload a selfie and our AI will automatically crop, size, and replace the background to validate against official government requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are official infant passport photo requirements?
Infant passport photo requirements specify that the baby must be facing forward with eyes open (or partially open for young newborns), mouth closed, no pacifier or toys, and no visible hands, fingers, or parent support. The background must be solid white or off-white.
How to take a passport photo for a newborn at home?
Lay your newborn flat on their back on a plain white sheet or blanket on a comfortable bed or floor. Position a soft light source from the side, stand directly above the baby, and capture the photo from eye level facing down. Alternatively, place the baby in a car seat covered with a white sheet.
How to take a passport photo with iPhone at home?
To take a compliant passport photo with an iPhone: stand 4-5 feet away from a light-colored wall facing a natural light source (window), use the rear camera (not selfie mode) with 2x optical zoom to prevent distortion, keep camera at eye level, and upload the photo to our AI cropper to automatically format to 2x2 inches (600x600 px) with a white background.
Can you take your own passport photo at home?
Yes! The US Department of State accepts homemade passport photos as long as they meet strict biometric rules: white background, neutral expression, correct 2x2 inch dimensions, 600x600 px digital file, and no glasses or shadows. Do not take a selfie; have a family member take the photo or use a tripod.
How to take photo of newborn for passport without showing hands?
Lay your baby flat on their back on a plain white sheet or blanket on the floor or bed. Stand directly above your baby and snap the photo from above, ensuring no parent hands or pillows are visible.
Does a newborn baby need to have eyes open in a passport photo?
For infants under 1 year old, state agencies (such as the US State Dept) allow some leniency if the baby’s eyes are partially open or closed, but having eyes open and facing forward is preferred.