How to create a toddler passport picture

With all the excitement of booking our first family holiday abroad it never once crossed my mind that we wouldn't be able to get a passport picture from a specialist. Well let me tell you, there was no way on this earth Reuben would let the camera shop take his picture. He was hysterical. When we asked where we go from here the response was you could book a session with a portrait photographer....erm sorry love i'm not made of money! So this is when I decided I would take his picture myself.

Below are the steps I took to take a UK approved passport picture.

What you will need

1. Natural daylight

2. A plain pale coloured background

3. A camera

4. Another person (optional)

For us point 4 was a must! The way we achieved Reuben's picture was for him to sit on his dads shoulders against a white door facing natural daylight. I took the picture using a DSLR but a good phone camera would do.

The above picture is completely un-edited. My camera settings were (manual mode) Shutter speed 250, Aperture f4.5, ISO 1600. I had to turn my ISO up as i didn't want to use a flash (this creates shadows) and it's winter so the daylight isn't the best. It was also shot in a RAW format.

As Reuben is under 6 he doesn't need to be looking directly at the camera or have a plain expression (mouth closed). This would be pretty much impossible I think.

As my local camera shop were unable to print the picture in the correct size I found a brilliant website called Persofoto where you can pay £6.95 for 6 pictures that are compliance checked, professionally re-touched and printed on premium quality paper. They even arrive ready cut. What more could you ask for?!

I was so happy with the service received and the pictures that I wouldn't hesitate to both recommend them and use them again.

The passport application itself only took a week and it all went through fine with no hiccups. (I didn't really expect any).

Here's to making happy memories in Spain this summer! (Now i just need my passport to arrive).