How to take a passport size photo at home with your phone
Skip the studio. Take a sharp passport-size photo at home with a phone: the right wall, light, distance and crop for exam forms and applications.
The 2-minute setup
- Wall: plain white or very light, no switches, frames or patterns.
- Light: face a window during the day. Avoid a single overhead bulb.
- Distance: stand about half a metre from the wall; the phone about 1.5 metres from you.
- Camera: rear camera, at eye level, beauty and portrait modes off.
How to pose
Look straight at the lens with a neutral expression and your mouth closed. Keep your shoulders level and both ears visible. Push hair away from your face and remove caps and tinted glasses unless your notice allows them.
Take ten, keep one
Ask your helper to take several shots. Pick the sharpest one with open eyes and even light. Zoom in on your phone to check that the eyes are crisp, not soft.
Crop it to the right size
Open the passport photo tool for a 630×810 px passport-style crop, or the exact exam tool you need. Zoom until the face fills about 80% of the frame, with a little space above the head. Then export the JPEG and check the KB and pixel size shown on the result.
Mistakes that ruin home photos
- Selfie at arm's length: the nose looks bigger and the face distorts.
- Yellow indoor light: skin tones look off and the background turns cream.
- Phone tilted up or down: the face looks stretched.
- Using a photo cut out of a group picture: too soft after resizing.
Need it for a specific exam? See 9 reasons exam photos get rejected before you upload.
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Frequently asked questions
What background is best for a passport size photo at home?
A plain white or off-white wall with no texture, objects or shadows. Stand about half a metre in front of it so your shadow does not show.
Can ExamPhoto change my photo background to white?
No. ExamPhoto crops and compresses only. Background replacement can create edges that fail manual checks, so take the photo against a plain wall instead.
Is a home photo accepted for passport applications?
Rules differ by service. Many exam forms accept a home photo that meets their specification. For Passport Seva, read the current photo guidelines on the official portal.
ExamPhoto is not affiliated with NTA, UPSC, SSC, IBPS, SBI, RRB or any exam authority. Sizes on this page match ExamPhoto's presets as of 5 November 2026. Always confirm the current official notice before you upload.