Sitting down for a passport photo is just something which needs to be done about once every 10 years or so.
It might be fun to track your own facial development through the decades with various pictures but you'd better make sure you're getting photos that will actually make it into the passport itself.
There are loads of rules to follow, many of them printed on the side of the photo booth you can get these pictures done in, but even then people often make mistakes which can lead to their attempt to renew a passport hitting a snag.
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Experts from passport-photo.online figured out the main mistakes people make when posing for a passport picture.
Facial decorations
While piercings are allowed there is a limit to what you can get away with.
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If you've got earrings in then they'd better be small and leave your face unobstructed, while too many facial piercings can cause problems as well.
On top of that, if you've got makeup which seriously alters your look then it can scupper your ability to get a passport.
According to the experts, winged eyeliner and glitter are particularly bad ideas.
Another difficult form of facial decoration is your hair, ideally you'd keep your forehead clear and your eyebrows unblocked.
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Hairstyles that obscure your features with things like fringes really ought to be seen to, even if it's just for this one picture.
Shiny layers of sunscreen
You wouldn't think it but sunscreen can be what absolutely kills your passport photo.
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This is because it can make your skin look shiny and mess up your picture when the photo flash goes off.
It could distort the photo and mess with your attempt to sit for a picture for your passport, as they can't exactly have you travelling around the world with an ID where your face is reflecting massive amounts of light all the time.
Scientifically speaking, basically everything we see is just reflected light but you know there is such a thing as too much reflection.
Fake tan
While we're on the subject, slapping on the fake tan can also be a bad idea as you should aim to have your skin look as natural as possible.
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Your passport photo should look like you, not you plus a layer of fake tan.
A toothy grin
They do say you shouldn't be smiling in your passport photo, as the most you can really get away with is just the hint of a smile like you remembered a funny moment from years ago.
Smiling can make the facial recognition difficult and showing off your teeth really jeopardises your chances.
The rules aren't the same in every country as over in the US you are allowed to smile in your passport photo, but pretty much everywhere else in the world including the UK would really rather you didn't.
Just sit for your photos and try and keep your facial expression as neutral as possible.
Glasses
Many of us wear glasses but you're definitely not supposed to have them on for your passport photo unless they're medically necessary.
Even if you really ought to keep the glasses on it's worth checking the pictures to make sure the frame isn't blocking your face, casting shadows that obscure your features or reflecting light through the lenses.
If your eyes can't be properly seen in the picture then it's not going to be approved for a passport.
Featured Image Credit: LEON NEAL/AFP via Getty Images/Getty stock image