Getting that picture perfect passport photo

04 Dec 2009 03:45a.m.

Tom Bailey wrote:

As a passport photographer in the USA who takes lots of International (Non US) passport photos I can assure you that NZ is not alone in this. Just about every country is getting very picky, no smile even slightly up turned lips and the photo is rejected, many countries are no jewerly, both ears showing blah blah blah etc. etc.

I am given to understand, as your poster Christopher discussed, that some of this is due to facial recognition software systems.

My best advice start early with a photo from a firm that does lots of them.

03 Dec 2009 02:08p.m.

Greg wrote:

Just heard you ran this story last night and thought I could share my recent experience: I needed to apply for a passport for my 1 year old boy for a trip overseas in December. So 1 month out from this date, got everything done and the pics and application in. The photo was rejected due to a very slight shadow on the side of the face. The reason for this is that although my boy is 1 year old, he has significant developmental delays and can't hold his head up and the photo has to be taken lying on the ground. He also has an irregular shaped head and can't face forward easily while lying on the ground. He also gets spasms, vomits etc but that's another story. After the photo was rejected we went to try again. The photo studio refunded us and declined to try again. We then went to 4 other studios which all declined our business. So then I had to try at home: We had him lying on a bed with my wife and I each holding a torch to get the lighting right and 2 hours and an upset boy later we got a picture worth sending in. We are now running tight on time and as it is we may have to 'upgrade' and spend more money to get the application processed quickly to make our travel date. That is if the photo does not get rejected again! What happened to pragmatic?!??!

03 Dec 2009 05:46a.m.

Christopher wrote:

Just my two cents. Hmmm... and no reporter asked why the passport agency is being so finicky about the faces? Isn't "why" one of the most important questions a reporter can ask? I'm certain that the backstory here, would be that New Zealand authorities are trying to keep a database of photos which can be used with finicky facial recognition software. There are places in the world where cameras are set up in public places to screen people who walk by, when there's a hunt for a particular criminal, for example. Who knows how Kiwi authorities will use facial recognition software? However I would deduce that is why they are so picky, here. Certainly, humans wouldn't have a preference when matching any of those many photos which were presented by the 63 year old woman in the story. Software, however, is not as adept at matching patterns as the human mind, is.