Tips
Best lighting for passport photos
Soft daylight beats harsh flash: a setup that keeps the face even and the background clean.
4 min read
LightingWindowShadows
Window-light rule
Angle the face about 45° to the window. Backlight creates silhouettes; front-side light evens the face.
Use our AI-powered United States Passport Photo Tool to auto-crop your image in 3 seconds.
Overcast days are ideal — soft, diffused light.
Official photo requirements
2 × 2 in
- Document size applied
- Face alignment checked
- Background prepared
Size
2 × 2 in
Background
White
Digital photo
602 × 602 px
What to avoid
Ceiling lights alone cast hard shadows. Flash causes glare and red-eye. Coloured LEDs skew skin tone.
