By Tata Rossi 17 days ago, Portrait Photography
Photo on a driver’s license is renewed every 5-10 years, so knowing how to take a good drivers license picture that won’t irritate you every day is crucial. Of course, you cannot guarantee an ideal shot but the experts' tricks and tips from a photo retouching service listed here will tell you how to make ideal make-up and do your hair properly to look nice and appealing in any image.
So, check this guide to learn the most effective tricks on looking good in pictures to get a driver’s photo that will grab rapturous looks.
One of the most important passport photo tips is to have a minimum of 8 hours of sleep before going to a photographer. A well-rested person looks fresh and energized.
If you’ve not managed to go to bed early, make sure there are some eye drops in your first aid kit to get rid of that tired and annoyed look.
Be sure you have enough time to arrive at DMV on time, as haste is always a bad assistant. Getting to the place in a panic won’t make you nicer, so leave the house early enough. Your aim is to look as beautiful and confident as you did when stepping out of your residence.
When getting yourself prepared for taking a driver license picture, avoid applying heavy makeup. Too much foundation can disguise your look, so no one will be able to recognize your appearance in an image. And this is unacceptable for such type of documents.
Do light and natural makeup in peach, brown, and pink tones to enhance your beautiful facial features without altering them dramatically.
As for the dress code, avoid wearing flamboyant clothes and dark blue outfits, as this color is usually used as a background for a DMV picture. Although this is not forbidden, opt for other shades in order not to blend with the background and represent yourself in the best light.
Keep away from T-shirts with slogans or pictures when getting ready for a headshot. Complex patterns are often too distracting and are not recommended to wear, especially if you often ask yourself “Why do I look fat in pictures?”, as the ornaments can add pounds.
As for portrait photo poses, raising your chin is a simple trick but yet very effective one. When posing so, you will eliminate the dark circles and fine lines that usually appear due to harsh shadows.
By lifting your chin a bit and turning your face so that the light illuminates it, you’ll manage to appear more attractive in a pic.
Place the tip of your tongue on the back of your top teeth and then slide it backward to make the face look thinner. This trick will tighten the area underneath your chin. Every person has his/her working side and angle.
For instance, if your face is asymmetrical with one eye bigger than the other, tilt away from the larger eye to enhance the proportions. So, learning how to find your angles is crucial in this case.
Piling all of your loose hair in front is a big mistake, as this hairstyle will partially hide some part of your face, which is inappropriate for such a shot type. It is better to pull your hair back to reveal yourself and get rid of shadows, which usually add a few years to a person in a pic.
Besides, this hairstyle can lift your face so you’ll look younger than you actually are.
But if the hair is pulled too tight, it will eventually make you appear severe and your facial features rugged. Lose some curls up to appear more likable in a pic.
If loose hair is the only option for you, make sure it is not in front but behind your shoulders. Do not forget to take a comb with you to neaten up your hair before a headshot photo. Alternatively, use your fingers to brush it quickly.
Looking friendly and easy-going in a driver license picture should be your aim. If your DMV does not mind, smile when posing for your shot to look amiable. But do not grin from ear to ear, as this is not appropriate in this case.
Besides, a photographer will likely ask you to make a less emotional facial expression to repeat the procedure. Mimic one of the relaxed poses to end up with an eye-grabbing picture.
If you have poor eyesight and are required to wear glasses when driving a car, do not forget to put them on for a DMV shot. Of course, this rule does not concern sunglasses, which are actually forbidden when it comes to shooting a portrait photo.
Besides, you should not wear contact lenses, which disguise the color of your eyes, as this info is provided in a driving license, so some misunderstandings can happen.
Fortunately, just like with headshot photographers, you can ask your DMV agent to retake a pic in case you do not like it at all. Of course, a photographer won’t shoot a series of photos for you, but taking several extra pics won’t be a big deal for a real professional.
A neutral facial expression is what every DMV requires, but a little friendly grin is also acceptable. A very expressive photo is likely to be denied, so you had better learn how to smile for pictures naturally.
Usually, this is not a problem. Even if you wear such body piercings as lip rings, eyebrow piercings, nose studs, or small rings, there is no need to take them off before a headshot.
If you want to highlight your facial features and smoothen skin tone, choose an outfit of darker shades of blue, green, gray, burgundy, or black. However, if your skin is tanned, go with softer colors like lilac, soft blue, or yellow to make your face brighter and nicer.
Turtlenecks hide your neck and a part of your face, which is not recommended for ID images. So, go with a simple shirt or even a T-shirt.
A clearly visible face is a demand for ID photos. Any head covering can result in shadows on your face, which is absolutely unacceptable for a passport pic. If you wear bangs, divide them in half or use discreet hair clips to remove them from your eyes.
No, such pics are not suitable for this purpose. As a rule, the DMV agent takes a driver license picture, but you can get yourself prepared to make sure you’ll look nice and eye-pleasing.
In general, most jurisdictions require a neutral facial expression in a driver's license photo, meaning that the person should have a relaxed and natural expression without smiling or frowning. The purpose of this requirement is to ensure that the person's facial features are clearly visible and easily recognizable.
A common requirement is a plain, uniform background color such as white, gray, or light blue, which helps ensure the focus is on the individual's face and features without any distractions.
Generally, it is not allowed to wear a hat or head covering in a driver's license photo, unless it is worn for religious or medical reasons and does not obstruct the face. However, specific regulations regarding hats or head coverings may vary depending on the jurisdiction, so it is advisable to check with the local driver's license issuing authority for precise guidelines.
