Further on my passport deal, here is a cheap self service for passport photos.
Take a picture with your main camera phone behind a white wall with plenty of lighting using the following passport photo requirements.
use an online service such as this to generate your passport photos https://makepassportphoto.com/
Print the photo at officeworks for 15 cents using self service or 20 cents at Kmart.
And there's no such thing as a free lunch right?
(👉 help me make my passport photo for free please you very kind website)
you are a true ozbargainer. thank you for this post
Taking your own Passport Photos are always hit or miss (refer to forum post)
Officeworks also offers compliant identification photo services with a Certificate of Compliance for $17.95
I agree, use the compliant service. Honestly most people would not have an eye for detail when it comes to photography they'd get all the dimensions and lighting wrong.
I did it. It's not rocket science. Showed it to the staff and they said it's acceptable.
The online service will centre your photo correctly. You just have to get the background and lighting right
There are also apps that set the white background and use AI to process the passport photo, if anyone can recommend any
I have been using this app for the past 8 years
https://apps.apple.com/au/app/passport-photo/id759142884
Got rejected a few times by Auspost but mainly due to minor issues like hair fringe covering face, or background is not "white enough"
the app itself has a guideline on head position so usually no issues for position
True, got this complaint fotos done recently
Make sure you select gloss.
This is how I do it, although I use GIMP to layout the photos.
You can save even more by printing three people on the same piece of paper!
Love how you think
I have a GIMP template with lines so that I can easily determine the correct size (32-36mm for face and 35-40mm x 45-50mm).
One the photo dimensions are correct I crop and paste into a new image with 150x100mm print size. The trick is to use the same X & Y resolution in template and destination image (900 pixels/in).
I just do mine directly in AusPost. they can't reject it and saves the trouble lol.
I saw my local Auspost do photos today. Based on my experience I'd go with Officeworks and their passport photo service. Officeworks have a proper photo booth with backlighting to remove shadows. My local post office had some dodgy backdrop and no photography lighting whatsoever.
My local post office had some dodgy backdrop and no photography lighting whatsoever.
Your local post office ones are unlikely to get rejected though…
Aus post guarantee their photos will pass.
But their photo lighting is so bad!
It's guaranteed to pass.
Immigration won't be swooning in and falling head over shoulders for you by how hot you look in your passport photo.
https://www.ozbargain.com.au/comment/15440167/redir
I also had my photo rejected at AU post which i took from a different post. The lighting was too bad. They retook my photo for free after showing the payment slip.
A family member had a photo taken by Australia Post rejected by the Passport Office.
The only benefit was Australia Post retook the photos for free.
For anyone that's in a hurry - FYI - I've used one of these. Passport office rejected my photo so it took longer than usual to get my passport.
Passport office will scrutinise your photos further and may ask that you resubmit or cancel your application. Just as bad is if they approve and facial recognition doesn't work because you've resized the photo and thrown off the biometric ratios ever so slightly and now your smart epassport is as good as an old school one from 20 years ago.
Good luck for those trying and I hope you meet the ICAO standards!
We just paid the $17.95 per person this week and got our family passports done properly.
Source: I worked in facial recognition biometrics in the past
Yeah this is not something to cheap out on and risk doing DIY.
Also, this doesn’t feel like a deal as the prints are regular price? Feels more like a forum post.
I did it the OP way and facial recognition worked in the airport immigration in march this year.
Have fun when they get rejected by the passport office…
AU post have a transparent template which they place over passport photo during receiving application. If the photo passes the template you don’t have anything to worry about.
you don’t have anything to worry about.
There are other reasons the passport office can reject them for, not just the size.
Also, what if they don't fit the template exactly and Australia post don't accept them?
Go back and try again ??
That applies to photos taken from AU post as well. Lighting and white background is definitely better than the backdrop AU post uses which are filled with flashes and shadows.
Photo will match exactly if you use the online tool op recommended https://makepassportphoto.com/
I have done it myself and crossed border using automated gates in march.
@io: Just because it worked for you does not mean it will work for everyone…
Personally, the last thing I'd want to do is go to the PO twice to get a passport…
@jv: You don’t need to go twice. If the first one fails at post office you can always chose to take the photo again from the same post office which failed them.
“Just because it worked for you does not mean it will work for everyone…“ this goes for most deals here in OZB. Not all deal can be obtained by every one. This alone is not enough to justify a deal.
@HolyCr4p: Wrong. The bargain is not the “everyday price” but the hack op shares. Apple Music everyday price is a popular deal here. Check this https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/830975
@io: How much is normal price to print? 15 cents, isnt it ?
So this is normal price right not hack or mambo jumbo price?
you can always chose to take the photo again from the same post office which failed them.
So you pay again for the photos, since you didn't take them there in the first place…
@jv: Yes because you pay the price of stupidity for whatever reason you could not follow the strict guidelines even though you had an excellent tool which took care of the size requirements. If you can follow rules pay 15c otherwise pay $21.95.
Nothing always works. If it works, it works.
Nope
"mine got rejected by AP. The lady says not good enough"
@jv: They can say “not good enough” to the photocopies of the original documents as well. This does not only apply to photos. “Not good enough” is not good enough. You have to know what the non compliance is. You don’t say “Oh it not good enough? Ok mate take my photo here then”.
l. This does not only apply to photos. “Not good enough” is not good enough.
They sure can.
The can refuse to submit the application if they believe the photos are not good enough in quality.
Happened to me once a while ago.
Me, my boy and my wife took our own photos (same Post Office) I went on a different day and mine got rejected by AP. The lady says not good enough and told me either take it here or I will have to re-do and come back…..weighting on the pro & con, I just paid them as theirs are guarantee, as they can immediate check the photo in their computer system and they will know instantly, can't be bother to go back and forth for the $18 saving…
Me, my boy and my wife took our own photosMy boy, my wife and I took our own photos
FTFY
You risk delays and rejected application of your new passport for not meeting requirements.
No this is not a deal, should go to forum.
Doesn't mean that the post office guy will get them right either. I've seen one take 5 photos of someone and still not meeting requirements when they checked with their boss
It is honestly not worth the headache to attempt this yourself - Officeworks and AusPost provide the service and guarantee compliant.
Your time is worth more than the effort. Imagine having to line up at AusPost twice
I mean most people here have better photography skills than the random casual post office guy. And if you have a high end Samsung it's a decent enough camera for passport photos.
It isn't just about photography skills - there are strict requirements for how your hair should be, no glasses, face forward, background etc.
You also need multiple copies of the passport photo - in a specific size.
Things people don't think about and then complain that a selfie they took themselves is not eligible.
This is why I posted the link if you bothered reading the OP rather than Negging blindly
Here you go again
https://www.passports.gov.au/PhotoGuidelines
This is why I posted the link if you bothered checking rather than Negging
@CodeXD: Ah sorry mate
Anyways, if the passport office was strict, they would request you take photo from compliant photographer rather than post the guidelines on the webpage
Auspost staff do this dozens or hundreds of times a week. Your regular Joe bloe just won’t have the same attention to detail that auspost staff do.
This is standard price, plus it's not an actual Passport-compliant photo and shouldn't be posted as such.
A passport complaint photo follows the guildlines specified here
No point in downvoting, this is going to be unpublished.
Does everyone need a new photo? Can you just renew your passport with existing photo?
You can use existing photo if you happen to look the same. I used an iPhone 6 Plus to have my photo taken and used the tool op listed to get the right parameters. Strictly follow the guidelines and you should be fine. https://www.passports.gov.au/PhotoGuidelines
Also very important. No smiles. This is not in guidelines but will surely (100%) fail your photo by AU post.
I paid at AusPost for convenience. A month later I renewed my WA Working With Children Check, which involves them taking a passport compliant photo of you and giving you the 5 spares for free, included in the WWCC renewal price. Had I known, I would have renewed the WWCC first before renewing my passport and saved $22.
Is this a deal?
I though the price for printing passport photos in Kmart is $0.10.
Or did it go up on price since April?
20 cents now
There were two instances where I printed my own passport photos from those photo kiosks and followed the passport photo requirements to the T. Both instances got rejected by the Post Office staff, they seem to be following orders from management to reject self provided photos so they can milk you for the $17 or so for the 4 photos taken on the spot (why do we need 4 photos anyway??). Their photos are usually over exposed and still get approved without problems
I find the Passport Office is more relaxed than post office with self provided photos.
Was $20 last year, I hear $22 branded about now. In a few years they'll be charging $30 probably. It's obviously not worth the effort doing yourself & getting rejected but there's a principal I suppose. Auspost abusing their position to screw people.
They hike their price every year like the passports. Whenever I line up at a post office I see people just get their passport photos done there to avoid hassle. I reckon post offices make big bucks from this passport photo service, not to mention a lot of these are LPOs meaning they are operated by private individuals.
i have the print done.by Kmart, 20c for instant collect. but seem like the color is quite weired when you.have the copy.. officework may better.
but I cant wait, so I went to post office. that is $21.95..
Not a deal. The $0.15 photo printed at Officeworks is very very low quality and cannot be used for your passport application.
Haven't tried officeworks photos, but have 4 successful attempts with the $0.2 kmart photos for Australian Passport
Hah ha. Me too. May be we are really good at following guidelines.
May be we are really good at following guidelines.
or just fluked it…
I have also tried Kmart near my home which is also low quality as well.
However I found photo printing service at some independent camera shop was much better than the big chains.
I've successfully used Officeworks photo print for passport applications.
Great post, you will only get your photos rejected if you can't take a decent photo.
Pretty much all the whingers in this thread.
I always use this method for work safe licence. Better than paying $10-15 at the posty
Took our own photos (2 Adults + 2 Kids) for passports and visas, also used https://makepassportphoto.com/
But instead printed at Kmart for $0.10
However the quality isnt that good at Kmart, and if there was colour bleed I just got them to reprint.
All was accepted no issues.
Passport application fee goes up by $50 on July 1, so apply this weekend if you need one
I’ve been doing this for years (although I gimp/photoshop it myself - couldn’t trust online platform that will take my family photos…)
There was a time it got rejected and I went to nearby branch on the same day and got accepted… I guess it depends to the store person who work there lol
Can’t recommend this. Highly likely to be rejected.
Worst case scenario you get rejected. But if you don't, you have saved $20 for 15c investment
I agree with OP. Have done this for my last two passports along with numerous visa applications and more recently my wife & son's passport as well, without any issues whatsoever including facial recognition biometrics. For those of you not willing to "risk it", this is Ozbargain, where I thought most people on here would go to the ends of the earth just to save a few pennies. It's only a risk if you don't follow the guidelines.
Exactly, it's not rocket science.
Vfs for visa application, once rejected my self printed passport photo from officeworks, said something about paper quality. Ironically, There was a photo shop in the same building, had to use them!.. so i guess it all comes down to the person you are dealing with.
It's 20c at kmart. Just did a sample test and picture quality is slightly better than office works
I had mine taken in Postoffice yesterday… at the time I first see the picture, I found part of my right eye is covered by my hair(5-10% I would say), and asked if it's ok…
he said it's ok; fingercross… as it's "certified" by AusPos anyway.
According to passport guidelines, they most likely will ask you to submit application again when facial recognition software rejects it.
As far as I'm aware, the software takes measurements between all your facial features, so if part of your eye is covered, it will be flagged for manual review.
I got photos taken by Post Office rejected when I presented on different Post office. He said that my application might be rejected because the photo is not good enough.
I told him that the photos was done at different Post Office and the guy begrudgingly accepted it after I showed them the receipt. My application went through just fine.
I printed my wife and kids photos at kmart and been told the same thing but I insisted to proceed with the application. I got my passport and no issues.
The profit margin for passport photos must be huge andiIt seems post office workers are told to reject by default photos that are not taken by them.
Just thought I share my experience as I have gone through the exact same thing a few weeks ago.
I have a Sony A7III + 35mm + a flash so I decided to take the matter into my own hand given I should have all the gears to do the job.
A family of 4 will cost $80 to get our photos taken which is a lot in at this time.
I purchased a light reflector to support for $27 at the time of purchase (https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B08DTDBW6M?psc=1&ref=ppx_yo2ov_…).
I was super nervous waiting for the passports but all of them were issued with my supplied photos without any problems.
Having said that, although I don't do photography for a living, I have been doing it as a hobby for a while so YMMV.
This post is more toward someone with certain experience but is nervous to give it a go.
Taking the photo
Have the family member against a wall. Take the photo with them looking directly at the camera. A few things I learnt
Edit the photo
After that I fired up Lightroom on my mobile.
I understand the requirements not to manipulate the photo so avoid doing anything except for lightning adjustment.
A few things I learnt
Getting it ready to print on 15x10cm
This is super easy with https://makepassportphoto.com/
Just make sure you have
Printing it
So you should have 8 passport photos per 1 print (15x10cm).
I found Kmart printing quality is much better than Officeworks with their pricing
Make sure you select Glossy when print.
Checking & providing it in at Auspost
I do my own check with a ruler with those photos to double check.
If we have done it right in the getting it ready step with https://makepassportphoto.com/, the measurement should be correct.
A few tips
I found:
* The person casts a shadow on the wall if they stand too close.
* Kmart printing also changed photo size according to height/width
I have been doing mine for many years. PM me if you want my template in photoshop? You can always risk for 15cent. If rejected by Passport office then just resubmit a new photo from austpost photo.
A month ago, Mrs. StingyBritches had her passport renewal photo done at AP. The lady who took the pic checked it on the computer and decided she didn't like it so took another shot. Passport arrived a few weeks later.
I have applied for passports numerous times for my family and I have given up taking my photos. The post office rejects my photos for various reasons. It lasts for 10 years for an adult passport so I just pay about $20 and take it at the post office.
There is something wrong with your photo please step to the left for your convenient new $23 photo.
I'm surprised at how many people's self-taken photos got rejected.
I've done my own passport photos twice using Officeworks self print service. You just need to follow the guidelines- no hair or coverings, no red eye, etc, and size it correctly. Was pretty easy.
Maybe people want to make themselves look good and go overboard with editing, or tilting their head or smile or something?
Answer: It’s easy money for the post office franchise to reject them all.
Better than selling cocaine.
They are literally the monopoly in the market for passport photos
This is a useful hint for some, but it equals to "Nando's family dinner for $10" by buying a chicken and sides at a store and cooking everything yourself.
Those who already have a setup, confidence and time to take such photo already have been using this "deal".
Those who don't are risking their homemade photos being rejected, which - even by the comments here - is pretty common.
I've done it myself for kid's passports where getting them along to the post office was too much of a pain.
Actually getting the lighting and background and lack of shadows correct is quite a pain though, then the time to get the sizing right, and print. Even though I have a suitable printer at home that is effectively free. For my own passport just doing it at the post office while submitting is well worth the price.
Isn't it printing photo is always at this price?