ID and Passport Photos

Clipart of passport photos with specified dimensions

Precision, Quality, and Peace of Mind

Navigating the world of international travel, professional licensing, and official documentation can be a stressful endeavor. Between the paperwork, the deadlines, and the strict adherence to government regulations, the last thing you should have to worry about is whether or not your photo will be rejected. At Angell Photography, we take the guesswork and the frustration out of the process. While many people settle for the inconsistent quality of a drugstore kiosk or a post office counter, we provide a professional studio experience dedicated to ensuring your ID and passport photos meet the most exacting standards on the first try.

Your passport photo is, quite literally, your "key to the world." It is a document you will carry for a decade, and having a photo that is both technically compliant and professionally captured makes a significant difference. We combine our expertise in portrait lighting with a deep understanding of official requirements to provide a service that is fast, reliable, and superior in every way to retail alternatives.

Why Professional Quality Matters for Official Documents

The US State Department and foreign consulates have remarkably strict criteria for biometric photos. A photo that is slightly too dark, has a faint shadow behind the ears, or features a "too wide" smile can result in an immediate rejection. This can lead to weeks of delays in your application process, potentially ruining travel plans or delaying important professional certifications.

At Angell Photography, we don't just "take a picture." We engineer an image that satisfies every technical hurdle:

Uniform Lighting: We use professional studio strobes and modifiers to ensure light is even across your face. This eliminates the "hot spots" or heavy shadows often found in retail photos that use simple, direct flashes.
Background Clarity: Official photos require a plain white or off-white background with zero patterns or shadows. Our studio setup is calibrated to produce a clean, high-key background that meets every government specification.
Precise Composition: We ensure the "eye height" and "head size" ratios are exactly within the required millimeters. We don't rely on a "best guess" crop; we use precise templates to guarantee your head is centered and scaled correctly within the frame.
High-Resolution Printing: Unlike the thermal printers used in many pharmacies that can produce grainy or "streaky" images, we use professional-grade printers and archival-quality paper. This ensures the biometric scanners used by customs and border protection can easily read your features.

Beyond the US Passport: A Global Service

The Frederick and wider DMV area is home to a diverse population with global connections. Many of our clients require documentation for countries other than the United States, each with its own unique and often complex set of rules. Retail chains are frequently ill-equipped to handle anything other than a standard 2x2 inch US photo.

We specialize in International Visa and Passport photos, including but not limited to:

Canadian Passports: Known for being some of the most difficult to produce, requiring specific stamps, dates, and very particular head-size ratios.
Schengen (EU) Visas: Requiring a 35mm x 45mm format with specific "biometric" facial height requirements.
Indian Visas and OCI Cards: Often requiring specific square formats with very particular background shades.
United Kingdom & Australian Applications: Each with their own nuances regarding paper finish and digital upload codes.

If you bring us the specifications for any country in the world, we have the technical capability to match those requirements exactly. We take pride in being the "go-to" studio for international residents who have been frustrated by rejections from other photo providers.

Specialized ID Services: Professional Licenses and Permits

Our ID services extend far beyond travel documents. In a professional world where your identity is your credential, a high-quality ID photo conveys a level of professionalism that a "selfie" or a low-quality retail photo simply cannot. We provide photos for:

Professional Licenses: Medical, Real Estate, Bar Association, and CPA licenses.
Gun Permits and CCW: Meeting the specific state-mandated requirements for Carry Concealed Weapon permits.
Digital IDs: We provide high-resolution digital files perfectly sized for corporate badges, employee portals, and student IDs.
Corporate Security Badges: For companies that value a consistent, professional look across their entire staff’s identification cards.

The Stress-Free Experience: Infants, Toddlers, and Accessibility

One of the most challenging aspects of passport photography is capturing a compliant image of a newborn or a toddler. Most retail locations lack the equipment or the patience to handle a child who cannot sit still or hold their head up.

At Angell Photography, we welcome families. We have specialized techniques and equipment to safely and comfortably photograph infants. We understand the "no hands in the shot" and "eyes open" rules for babies, and we take the time necessary to get the perfect shot without making the experience stressful for the parents or the child.

Additionally, our studio is designed for accessibility. If you or a loved one has mobility challenges that make the cramped quarters of a retail photo booth impossible, our open-plan studio provides a comfortable, dignified environment where we can easily adjust our equipment to suit your needs.

What to Expect During Your Appointment

We believe your time is valuable. That’s why our ID and passport service is strictly appointment-based. This ensures that when you arrive, the studio is ready for you, and there is no waiting in line behind other customers.

The Session: The actual photography takes only a few minutes. We will guide you on your posture, head tilt, and expression to ensure compliance while helping you look your best within the legal limits.
Immediate Review: You get to see the image immediately. If you aren't satisfied with how you look (within the constraints of official rules), we can take another shot.
On-Site Production: We trim and cut your photos to the exact required size on-site. Each session includes two professional-grade prints.
Digital Options: If your application is online, we can provide a perfectly cropped and compressed digital file that meets the upload requirements of the State Department or relevant consulate.

Tips for a Perfect ID Photo

To ensure the best possible result, we recommend following these simple guidelines for your session:

What to Wear: Avoid wearing white, as it can blend into the background. Solid, darker colors provide the best contrast. Avoid high collars or scarves that might obscure your neck or jawline.
Glasses: While the US State Department generally requires glasses to be removed, if you are required to wear them for medical reasons, you must have a signed medical statement. For most people, it is simplest to remove them for the photo.
Grooming: Avoid excessive "shimmer" in makeup, as studio lights can cause a reflection. Natural, matte finishes work best.
Expression: Most countries require a "neutral facial expression." While we can’t have you do a full "cheesing" smile, we can help you find a pleasant, relaxed neutral look that doesn't look like a mugshot.
Hair: Ensure your hair is tucked behind your ears if possible, as the edges of your face and ears often need to be visible for biometric software.

Your Trusted Partner for Reliable Documentation

At Angell Photography, we don't just provide a service; we provide a guarantee of quality. We are so confident in our process that if your photo is ever rejected by a government agency for a technical reason, we will redo the photo at no cost to you.

Don't leave your important travel or professional plans to chance. Choose the convenience of an appointment, the quality of a professional studio, and the expertise of a photographer who understands that every millimeter counts.

Pricing and Scheduling