You don’t need a photo studio, a paid app, or a trip to the pharmacy to get a passport photo that passes. All you really need is a phone, a plain wall, and about ten minutes. Here’s exactly how to do it, step by step, without paying for anything.

If you haven’t already, it’s worth skimming our full US passport photo requirements guide first — this post focuses purely on the how-to, but that one covers every rule in detail.

What You’ll Need

• A smartphone with a decent camera (almost any phone from the last several years works)
• A plain white or off-white wall, door, or sheet
• Natural daylight, or a bright room without harsh overhead light
• Someone to take the photo for you (a self-timer works too, but a second person makes it easier to check angle and framing)

That’s it. No tripod, no ring light, no special backdrop required.

Step 1: Pick Your Spot

Stand a few feet in front of a plain white or off-white wall. Avoid anything textured, patterned, or with visible shadows behind you — the background needs to read as flat and even, not just “technically white.” A hallway or a blank interior door both work well. Late morning or early afternoon light through a window is ideal; it’s soft and even without creating hard shadows.

Step 2: Get the Lighting Right

Face a window rather than standing with your back to it — light behind you creates a silhouette, and light directly overhead creates shadows under your eyes and chin. If you don’t have good natural light available, an evenly lit room with the overhead light on works fine too. The goal is simple: no strong shadows on your face or on the wall behind you.

Step 3: Position the Camera

Have the person taking the photo stand several feet back rather than getting close — a lens that’s too close will distort your face slightly and make it harder to size correctly. The camera should be at roughly eye level, not angled up or down. Stand up straight, face the camera directly, and keep your head level — no tilting.

Step 4: Get the Expression Right

Keep a neutral expression or a natural, closed-mouth smile, with both eyes open and looking straight at the camera. Take off your glasses — they’re not permitted in current passport photos even if you normally wear them. Remove hats or head coverings unless you’re wearing one for a documented religious or medical reason, and make sure your hair isn’t falling across your face.

Step 5: Take Several Shots

Take five or six photos rather than one. Check each one for shadows, blinking, tilted head, or an expression that isn’t neutral. Since this costs nothing, there’s no reason to settle for a photo that’s just “okay” — pick the cleanest one.

Step 6: Clean Up the Background

Even a plain wall often has faint shadows, a light switch, or a slightly off-white tone once you look closely. This is the single most common reason DIY passport photos get rejected. Rather than retaking the photo over and over trying to find the perfect wall, you can remove the background for free and replace it with a clean, uniform white one in a few seconds. We’ve also written a dedicated walkthrough on removing a passport photo background if you want more detail on that step specifically.

Step 7: Crop and Size It Correctly

Crop the image to a square, then size it so your head — measured from the bottom of your chin to the top of your head — falls within the required range relative to the frame. If you’re printing the photo, it needs to come out at 2 x 2 inches. If you’re uploading it for an online renewal, save it as a JPG, JPEG, PNG, HEIC, or HEIF file, which is the format your phone almost certainly already saves in by default.

What Not to Do

• Don’t edit your face. Skin smoothing, blemish removal, or any filter that changes your appearance isn’t allowed — only the background is fair game to clean up.
• Don’t reuse an old photo. It needs to have been taken within the last six months, even if you look the same.
• Don’t wear glasses, even prescription ones you wear every day.
• Don’t let anyone else appear in the frame — including a hand holding a baby steady.

Quick Checklist

• Plain white or off-white background, no shadows
• Even, natural lighting on your face
• Camera at eye level, several feet away
• Neutral expression or closed-mouth smile, both eyes open
• No glasses, no hat, hair away from your face
• Photo taken within the last six months
• Cropped to a square, correctly sized

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I really take a compliant passport photo with just my phone?

Yes. As long as it meets the size, background, and expression requirements, a phone photo taken at home is accepted — there’s no requirement that it come from a professional camera or studio.

What if my wall isn’t perfectly white?

You don’t need to find the perfect wall. Take the photo against the plainest background you have, then swap it for a clean white background using a free background remover afterward.

Do I need a tripod or a timer?

No. It’s easier with a second person taking the photo, but a self-timer propped against something stable works fine too.

Can I take my baby’s passport photo at home the same way?

Yes — lay the baby on a plain white sheet or blanket and photograph from directly above. Their eyes don’t need to be open, but no other person, hand, or object can be visible in the frame.

How many tries should I expect it to take?

Most people get a usable shot within five or six attempts once the lighting and background are set up. The background cleanup step removes most of the guesswork around finding a “perfect” wall.

You’re Ready

That’s the entire process — a plain wall, decent light, a few test shots, and a quick background cleanup. If your background needs work, our free background remover takes care of it in seconds, no signup required. For the full list of size, expression, and digital upload rules, see the complete US passport photo requirements guide.