Passport picture fiasco

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Ok...I have now been to three different places to have my kids passport pics taken. One place flat out refused to even try, my kids arent that intimidating! I went somewhere yesterday and the woman told me "Oh our pictures never come out right they are always returned" .....In my frustration I told her that they should not advertise that they do something that they DONT . I went and got a manager and made them take the pictures but they were never fast enough to catch my kids. My Autie was trying to look adorable and tilting her head and doing her "vogue" poses and both my kids will not keep their eyes fixed on one thing for longer than a few seconds. I told the woman she had to be quick but every time I would get them to stand up and look at the camera, she was never ready and they would move or look away.
I cant move to France without my kids so Ive finally decided to let my husband try to take them at home. Hopefully they will turn out ok and my kids can actually get passports. SHESH!

How frustrating! I can't help but laugh a little though, remembering how disgruntled my little guy was that they wouldn't let him do his "cool pose." (This bizarre locked legs thing with both thumbs stuck in the air!)

Perhaps it would help if you took them one at a time?

I was actually laughing by the end of it. I was frustrated but, what are you gonna do? I cant get mad at my kids, its not their fault these people arent quick enough .
I give the people who do the school pics at my daughters school a lot of credit. She goes to a special needs school, there are some typical kids. They have a great Autism program. My daughters school pictures are always so cute....these people are GOOD!

Yeah we had the same issue! We took about 30-40 photos ourself over several days, none sufficed, there's all these rules about the background, and direction of the head, and not smiling, and eyes open (James often shuts his eyes) etc. Went to a camera shop that did passport photos -t wice, eventually got one that was OK, not brilliant just OK, and submitted it and it was good enough.
Really I think the only answer is keep on taking photos until one randomly turns out OK

My husband took a few the other day and I am really tempted to post them....they are too funny!

My father would talk to the photographer and the guy would wait for my dad to clap his hands together loudly. I always turned my head towards the camera because it caught my attention. A lot of the photos came out good. The school photos always were bad though. LoL

Seems like you've got a good idea for a business there! Passport / personal photography for the posing challenged, haha.

I too have had the same problem. Took an hour and now they say that the mouth must be closed and must look at the camera. Tried to explain that this aint going to happen.

Just wanted to update that after two days of picture taking by my frazzled husband we finally got one each that passed. We had to expedite the passport applications that cost us quite a bit more but oh well....mainly my fault for not working harder on it earlier. Too many medical problems and other things. Im not the most organized person....by far .
Its a load off my mind and we will have the passports back the beginning of July...whoo hoooo!

In NL there are photographers specialized in dealing with children, with toys and special chairs and such.
Maybe there are some children you know that look like your children?

With my son it would be the opposite. When we try to get him to something (such as a photo) he always pulls a funny face but if a stranger is taking it he is perfectly behaved. The same with brushing his teeth, its near impossible. But take him to the dentist and he sits there like an angel while getting his teeth cleaned.