Last reviewed: 12 July 2026
A baby can't sit up on command, hold a neutral expression or look at a lens. Yet the photo still has to meet the same compliance rules as an adult's. The good news is that countries relax a few rules for infants, and a plain white sheet plus a phone is all you need. Here's how to do it without a studio.
Quick answer
- Lay the baby on a plain white sheet and photograph straight down — the sheet doubles as the background.
- Eyes should be open; a calm, closed-mouth face is ideal but slight expressions are usually accepted for very young babies.
- No hands, toys, pacifiers or straps can be visible in the frame.
- Upload to the baby passport photo maker to crop automatically to the correct size and background.
Concrete output example
A wide phone photo of a baby lying on a sheet can be cropped to the selected preset without stretching the face. With the verified US preset, the output is a 51×51 mm square and keeps the chin-to-crown height inside the registry's 25–35 mm band. The official U.S. guidance also states that an infant's eyes do not have to be fully open. Always select the actual destination country because its dimensions and infant exceptions may differ.
What's relaxed for babies — and what isn't
| Requirement | Adult rule | Infant exception |
|---|---|---|
| Expression | Neutral, mouth closed | Slight expression accepted; not crying |
| Eyes | Open and looking forward | Open preferred; very young newborns often excused |
| Background | Plain, uniform colour | Same rule — no patterns, no visible hands |
| Props / support | Nothing visible | No visible support or parent; follow the destination authority's infant guidance |
The U.S. State Department confirms that for infant photos, eyes do not need to be fully open and the mouth may be slightly open — but the background and framing rules remain unchanged.
The lay-down method
The easiest setup is to lay the baby on their back on a plain white sheet or blanket with no patterns. Photograph straight down from above, keeping the phone parallel to the baby so the face isn't distorted.
- Smooth out wrinkles and crumbs in the sheet — they count as a busy background.
- Use soft daylight and turn off flash to avoid shadows and red-eye.
- Support the head if needed, but keep hands out of frame.
- Take many shots and pick the one with open eyes and a calm face.
For an older infant who can sit
Sit the baby against a plain wall in a car seat or on a parent's lap draped with a plain white cloth (the parent must not be visible). Get down to their eye level and snap when they look toward the lens.
Troubleshooting baby passport photos
| Failure | Fix |
|---|---|
| Hands or a support are visible | Lay the baby flat and keep support beneath the sheet and outside the frame. |
| Sheet creates grey shadows | Use diffuse daylight, smooth the sheet and move the light so it falls evenly. |
| Face is blurred | Use burst mode in bright light and select a sharp frame before cropping. |
| Head is too close to an edge | Retake from directly overhead with clear space around the hair and shoulders. |
Crop and clean it up
Babies move, so you'll rarely frame it perfectly in-camera. Upload your best shot to the baby passport photo maker, and it crops to the correct head size and sets the right background. See the exact rules on your country page, such as the US requirement page. If a stray shadow or off-white sheet shows, the white background tool cleans it up.
Then size it for the portal
For online applications, compress the final image to the upload limit with a custom target. As always, the photo stays on your device.
Frequently asked questions
Do babies need to have their eyes open in a passport photo?
Most countries prefer open eyes but make allowances for very young infants. The U.S. State Department explicitly states that infant eyes do not need to be fully open. Aim for open eyes but don't discard a good photo if the eyes are slightly closed — the overall framing and background matter more.
Can a parent's hands be visible if they're supporting the baby?
No. The face must be clearly visible with no other people, hands, or props in the frame. If you need to support the baby's head, position your hands so they're out of frame or use a rolled towel hidden under the sheet.
What if the white sheet has shadows behind the baby's head?
Shadows are the main reason DIY baby photos fail. Use soft, diffuse daylight from the side and shoot in a well-lit room rather than under a ceiling light. If light shadows remain, the white background tool can often clean them without affecting the face.
How do I get a baby to look at the camera?
Attract their attention to just above the lens — a squeaky toy held by a helper above the camera works well. Timing helps more than positioning: take dozens of shots in a short burst and pick the best. A phone's burst mode makes this easy.