Arianne V

How to Take The Best Passport Photo Ever

I’m going to Jamaica! 6 days to go!

So I’ve been putting off going to the passport office to renew my passport. Since I changed my name after getting married, I had to get all pieces of identification to match my new name and I tell you, it’s a pain in the ass! A few weeks ago I finally got ‘er done so that I can finally go on a vacation this year, and I’m so pleased to say that my photo actually turned out nicely.

Because sharing is caring, I thought I’d share some tips and tricks I learned to get the best passport photo ever. These makeup and posing tips also apply for your driver’s license. This is important, guys! You know, just in case you get pulled by a cute cop (where you will for sure talk your way out of a ticket, ha!).

Photogenic Makeup and Hair Tricks

I know. That bright unflattering flash is not cool, man. So yeah, the odds are not ever in our favour for this situation, but there are some tweaks you can do in your makeup that’ll actually look good on that ID of yours. And honestly, this has to be the easiest makeup tutorial ever.

  1. Tone down the shine. Powder down your T-zone to take away potential hot spots that happen when the flash goes off.
  2. Hide the bags! My eye bags never lie about how much sleep I’m getting. To hide shadows under a puffy eye bag, take a lighter concealer than one you usually use, and highlight the shadow under the bag. This creates the illusion of a flatter surface and poof! the bag is gone. Check out the
video tutorial by Wayne Goss showing the technique. It’s pretty brilliant.
  • Keep your eyeshadow matte and subtle. I used two shades: a creamy beige all over the lid, and a matte brown in the crease and lower lash line for some depth. That’s it.
  • Define your upper lash line with gel or liquid liner. I didn’t do any fancy cat eye for this, and I didn’t need to. Just a good solid black line on the top lash line will do. Line the upper waterline with a black pencil for good measure to make those lashes appear thicker.
  • Speaking of lashes, don’t be afraid to load up on mascara. Lots of mascara on top and bottom lashes is key!
  • Contouring is very important. Make sure you go over the usual areas: temples, cheekbones, jawline, even (lightly!) down the sides of the nose. Don’t have any good contouring products? I got you covered right here.
  • If you know that your photo will be in colour, blush is your friend. Don’t be shy and layer on more than you usually wear, as the flash will tone it down a lot.
  • Your lips but better. This is not usually the time to wear a trendy bright lip if you think you’re going to regret it 5 or 10 years later. I mean, if that’s totally your thing, then go girl! Personally I went with the tried-and-true coral pink because it works for me.
  • “Soft” hair. I went with a “body wave” instead of more defined waves and it really softens the overall look. Try to stay away from super sleek hair close to your head as it can look too severe in pictures.

    • Products Used

    Lancôme Beige Diaphane 03 Miracle Air de Teint
    NARS Ginger and Custard Radiant Creamy Concealer

    Laura Mercier Vanilla Nuts and Cafe Au Lait Eyeshadows from 2012 Artist’s Palette
    Hourglass 1.5mm Mechanical Gel Eyeliner
    Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara

    Giorgio Armani #1 Sheer Bronzer
    Hourglass Diffused Heat Ambient Lighting Blush

    NARS Descanso Satin Lip Pencil
    MAC Richer Lusher Cremesheen Glass

    Posing Tips

    1. The best photo tip ever is to tip your chin down a little, which I learned from Karen on Makeup and Beauty Blog. This creates more angles in your face and keeps it from looking flat. Try it out and meet your cheekbones!
    2. Ask if you can smile. The lady nicely told me “sorry, no smiling,” but it never hurts to ask. If you can’t smile with your mouth (I prefer a big toothy smile myself!), smile with your eyes by squinting a little, and put on a slight smirk on your lips. You’re not smiling, but you definitely look more perky and happy!


    Before (aka deer in the headlights) and After (smize)

    Now tell me, do you have any tricks for looking your best in ID photos?

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    The post How to Take The Best Passport Photo Ever originally appeared on Glitter Geek. Follow me on BlogLovin | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Pinterest
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