Taking Good Document Photos: Complete Guide

Lighting:

✅ Natural daylight from window (best)

✅ Bright room with even lighting

❌ Camera flash (causes glare)

❌ Overhead lights (create shadows)

❌ Dim or dark rooms

Surface:

✅ Dark flat surface (table, dark cloth)

✅ Non-reflective surface

❌ White or light surfaces (poor contrast)

❌ Patterned surfaces (distracting)

❌ Shiny surfaces (reflections)

1. Open passport to photo page

2. Remove any plastic covers or sleeves

3. No shadows falling across document

4. All 4 corners clearly visible

1. Keep phone parallel to document (not angled)

2. Position so all 4 corners visible in frame

3. Leave small margin around edges

4. Hold steady or rest camera on something stable

5. Ensure focus is sharp before taking photo

❌ Using camera flash → Causes glare

❌ Photographing through plastic → Reduces clarity

❌ Cutting off corners → Incomplete image rejected

❌ Holding camera at angle → Distorts document

❌ Fingers in frame → Obscures information

❌ Moving while taking photo → Creates blur

❌ Dirty camera lens → Reduces sharpness

Check your photo for:

✅ All text is readable

✅ Photo of you is clear

✅ All 4 corners visible

✅ No glare obscuring text

✅ Image is in focus

✅ Adequate brightness

If any of these fail → Retake photo!