Diplomatic & Official Passport Photos in Washington, DC
U.S. diplomatic and official passport photos in Washington, DC. Standard 2x2 in, plus the DS-11 rule that catches applicants: no uniforms.
What a U.S. Diplomatic & Official Passport photo has to be
Every figure below is quoted from the issuing authority, and the source is linked at the bottom of this section. Where the official sources do not agree, we say so instead of picking one.
| Photo size | 51 x 51 mm · 2 x 2 in |
|---|---|
| Head height | 25–35 mm (1 – 1 3/8 in) from the bottom of the chin to the top of the head |
| Eye position | Not published officially: we verify it against your consulate at the session. |
| Background | Plain white or off-white, free of shadows, textures, or objects |
| Glasses | Must be removed unless documented medically necessary, and they cannot rest on your head. Pushing them up onto your forehead is a rejection, not a fix. |
| Expression | Neutral, both eyes open and visible, mouth closed. A smile is acceptable if the eyes are open and the mouth is closed. |
| How recent | Taken within the last 6 months |
| Digital file | Not published officially: we verify it against your consulate at the session. |
| Copies needed | 1 color photo |
The things that actually fail
Not general advice, just the specific traps in this document’s own rules.
- DS-11 states: no eyeglasses, no head covering, and NO UNIFORMS. The no-uniform rule catches military and Foreign Service applicants constantly, and they are exactly the population applying for special-issuance passports.
- Religious or medical head coverings need a signed statement or a doctor’s note, must be one colour, and must have no patterns or small holes.
- We are four blocks from Dupont Circle and routinely shoot for embassy, State Department and international-organisation staff.
Hold a time, and it’s yours.
Live availability straight from our studio calendar. A reserved appointment is $200 and always includes both the digital file and your prints. Same-day times show here when we have them.
Other documents we do
Get it right the first time.
We shoot it, check it against U.S. Diplomatic & Official Passport’s own specification, and you leave with a photo that passes. If it is ever rejected, we reshoot it free.