DIY Passport Photo at Home: Save $15 in 5 Minutes
Take a compliant passport photo at home with your phone. Print at any pharmacy for under $1. Step-by-step guide.
Try it now - free
Use BriskTool's free tool for this task
CVS charges $16.99. Walgreens charges $16.99. The post office charges $15. You can do it yourself for 35 cents.
What You Need
- A smartphone (any phone made after 2018 has a good enough camera)
- A plain white or off-white wall
- Natural light (stand facing a window)
- Someone to take the photo (or use a timer)
How to Take the Photo
Background: Stand 2-3 feet in front of a plain white wall. No patterns, no shadows, no other people visible.
Lighting: Face a window for natural, even light. No flash. Avoid harsh overhead lights that create shadows under your eyes and nose.
Expression: Neutral expression, mouth closed, both eyes open, looking directly at the camera. No smiling (sorry). No glasses.
Framing: Head and shoulders only. Leave some space above your head. The tool will crop it to exact specifications.
Process Your Photo
Upload your photo to the Passport Photo Maker. Select your country (US, UK, Canada, etc.). The tool automatically crops to the correct dimensions, checks for compliance issues, and generates a print-ready file.
Print It
Download the 4x6 print sheet (has multiple passport photos on one sheet). Upload it to Walgreens, CVS, or Walmart photo printing. Order a 4x6 print for $0.35. Pick it up in an hour. Cut the individual photos apart with scissors.
Total cost: $0.35 instead of $16.99. You just saved $16.64.