We often get asked if we do passport photos.  While technically we can, it is not our specialty. In this post, we’ll explore what is the difference between a passport photo and a professionally taken headshot, and why we don’t do them.

Intent

One of the factors that distinguishes a passport photo from a headshot is the objective.  A passport photo is identification.  That’s IT.  They are designed so that a qualified person can make sure that you are who you say you are.

A headshot is how you present yourself to the world! Ideally you want it to build trust and establish rapport with the person who sees it….make them want to, or at least not mind, meeting you.

Most people would say their passport photo isn’t what they’d want their future employer, client, or audience to see!  I don’t think I have met anyone who likes their passport photo.  Conversely, a headshot is something you should be proud to share and display!

How do they differ practically

Lighting

The lighting for a passport photo is specified by the government. It doens’t have to look good! It just has to show your features clearly.

For a headshot, you are free to adjust the lighting as much as you want to achieve your goals.  Usually that is to help you look as great as you can!  And professional, trustworthy, etc.. How you determine that lighting is up to your photographer’s expertise, taste, experience, and of course, how much time you have together to adjust things.

Posing and Expression

The pose and expression for a passport photo is not negotiable because it is dictated by the government.  There are very specific requirements. And typically they do not look good.

Posing and expressions are one of the most important aspects of a headshot.  With the right pose, you can look your best, and the right expression can convey your genuine personality.  An experienced headshot photographer will understand how to find the best poses for you, and use their style of working with you to help you be comfortable and express yourself.

Retouching

Passport photos are not works of art.  In fact I’m pretty sure retouching is not allowed.  Altering your features even a little defeats the purpose of them.

While you don’t want to alter a headshot too much, because presenting yourself in person and looking different than your headshot is a bit fishy, some things are helpful, like whitening teeth and eyeballs, controlling flyaways (though we try to control these on set as much as possible), removing dust, adjusting the background, removing non-permanent blemishes like that pimple or scratch, and to some extent a bit of slimming if needed or desired.  Knowing what and how to do these are your experienced photographer’s job.

Framing

A passport photo again has framing specifically dictated depending on jurisdiction.

You are way more free to play with your framing for a headshot.  More space, less space, etc.  You can crop in for that LinkedIn version. Having more space around you gives you more flexibility to use the shot in different ways.

Background

Both passport photos and headshots are often taken on a plain white or grey background.  While it’s necessary for a passport photo, you can have a bit more fun with a headshot, or have no background at all!

The selection of your background for a headshot is more about where you’re going to use it, the mood you want to convey, your style, the brand, other people in your company’s, etc. It can even be in an environment where the background is the space. A professional photographer should be able to suggest things that work for you and provide those.

Dimension – pixels and inches

While a passport photo must be a certain size, usually around 2″ on the long edge, your passport photo should be far more versatile than that. You want to be able to use it in a lot of different ways. So having an image that can be repurposed to suit all your various needs is important.

Conclusion

Headshots are for sure more expensive than a passport photo.  But is it worth it?

That is for you to decide, but consider the following.

Would you ever want to show your passport photo on any of the following?

  • A job application
  • Your linkedIn profile
  • A dating site
  • Marketing material
  • All the other possible ways you can use a headshot

Your answer is probably no. With this post, hopefully you now understand why – the lighting, expression, posing, etc. of a passport photo are just not that great for a great photo that conveys your personality and inspires trust and a desire to meet you! And if your goal is to land that job, make a good impression at a conference, get a meeting with a potential new client, make a good impression in your workplace, or one of the many other reasons people get headshots, then it might be worth it.

And if something is worth doing, it’s worth doing right – and in this case, doing it right takes some experience, expertise, skill, equipment, space.  And those things cost more than a passport photo.

If you’re curious about why a headshot costs what it does, and you don’t mind leaning into numerical analysis, check out our blog on that topic.