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Which rules are relaxed for infants, which still apply, and the lying-down technique that makes the whole thing easy.
Photographing an infant to a biometric specification sounds impossible, which is why most authorities relax several rules for young children. Knowing which ones are relaxed saves a great deal of stress.
Lay the baby on their back on a plain white sheet, then photograph from directly above, holding the camera parallel to the sheet. This solves head support, background and lighting in one move, and it is what most passport offices recommend.
Make sure the light is even and that you are not casting your own shadow over the child. Natural light from a window works best. If the sheet is creased or slightly off-white, background replacement will clean it up.
If the baby needs head support, use a rolled white towel rather than a hand. If a hand does creep into the edge of the shot, use the crop position sliders to move the frame until it is excluded, then check that the head height is still inside the allowed range.
The same millimetre rules apply, and they are easy to overshoot because a baby's head is large relative to their body. Photograph from far enough away that there is space around the head, then let the crop be calculated rather than filling the frame with the face.
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Written by the GetNorthPath team. Photo specifications change, so confirm the current requirements with the issuing authority before submitting. See the full requirements guide.
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