US passport photo for 3 1/2 month old.

I went to Snappy Snaps in Leeds to get my son's US passport photos done as we're getting his US passport in London at the Embassy next month. He could NOT get my son to  look directly at the camera and the best one we got has him looking to the side. Do you think it will be a problem/get rejected at the interview? I certainly hope not... it cost £14.99 for two!   

There are a couple places right by the Embassy that do them and they're cheaper there. If they reject your photos, don't worry, they'll send you over there to redo them and you won't have to go back another day. They get this a lot (for other reasons too, like people who print out photos at home, that sort of thing). Hopefully, if you do have to retake them, your son will be more cooperative!

I'll actually blame the photographer more than my son. He just refused to take any more after 3 minutes. He was like, "This is the best one." and seemed to refuse to do any more? I was like, "Are you SURE this is okay?!"

I should have been more pushy. 

The photographers near the Embassy will have more experience with dealing with wee ones. Unlike Mr. Snappy!

£14.99, though! Urgh! I'll have to send a disappointed letter to them if it's rejected (appointment is on June 9th) and tell them for THAT price, they better have people do a good job!

We had my daughters done when she was 2 months old by a local photo shop and it was £3.99 and took 6 before he got her just right. She wasn't looking directly at the camera either...the Embassy didn't have a problem with them...but I agree what you paid was very excessive IMO.

I'd write to the Head Office and explain clearly your complaint and outline exactly how you want to be compensated. It is also useful IME to find out the Chief Executive Office and address it to them directly, marked Private and Confidential. You also may want to find out if the photographer / Snappy Snaps in question is part of any photography associations to which you can copy your concerns, as well as copying letter to the Office of Fair Trading.

http://www.snappysnaps.co.uk/find_your_nearest_store.html

http://www.oft.gov.uk/

All complaints regarding service issues in the UK have been successfully resolved for me this way. Best of luck.

We had my daughters done when she was 2 months old by a local photo shop and it was £3.99 and took 6 before he got her just right. She wasn't looking directly at the camera either...the Embassy didn't have a problem with them...but I agree what you paid was very excessive IMO.

I wouldn't normally just blindly pay that huge amount for just two passport photos, but we're short on time and we used the list from the US Embassy website that were the recommended places. We live in a small town so had to go all the way to Leeds to get it done.

Ugh, I hope they accept these pictures. We're short on money a lot these days due to maternity pay and with all the going to America stuff (and paying £370 for petsitting for our dog while we're gone!) we're like completely broke!

I was not impressed with him not giving it a few more minutes for more photos. He was very much done, I could tell. I will put in a complaint if they are not accepted at the embassy and we end up having to go nearby to pay for yet more to be taken. Because, in my opinion, if you're going to charge £14.99 for two pictures, you better make sure they are perfect and not stop until you get good ones.

  

We had my daughters done when she was 2 months old by a local photo shop and it was £3.99 and took 6 before he got her just right. She wasn't looking directly at the camera either...the Embassy didn't have a problem with them...but I agree what you paid was very excessive IMO.

And, phew, glad that the embassy was okay with yours despite her not looking directly at the camera. I kind of want to take a picture of the pictures and post it on this thread and see if you can tell me, "Yes, those are CRAP!" or not. I know you guy's aren't the US Embassy, but at least some of you have had the passport thing done before.

I'd write to the Head Office and explain clearly your complaint and outline exactly how you want to be compensated. It is also useful IME to find out the Chief Executive Office and address it to them directly, marked Private and Confidential. You also may want to find out if the photographer / Snappy Snaps in question is part of any photography associations to which you can copy your concerns, as well as copying letter to the Office of Fair Trading.

http://www.snappysnaps.co.uk/find_your_nearest_store.html

http://www.oft.gov.uk/

All complaints regarding service issues in the UK have been successfully resolved for me this way. Best of luck.

I will definitely follow your advice in the event that the US Embassy rejects them for whatever reason. Because, in my opinion, if you are charging people £14.99 (for TWO!) and even come RECOMMENDED by the US Embassy, then you should know what you're doing and make sure they are as acceptable as you can get them so as to not waste a consumer's money.
Because I feel ripped off now, and if they are rejected, I'll feel robbed.

And, phew, glad that the embassy was okay with yours despite her not looking directly at the camera. I kind of want to take a picture of the pictures and post it on this thread and see if you can tell me, "Yes, those are CRAP!" or not. I know you guy's aren't the US Embassy, but at least some of you have had the passport thing done before.

You might just want to google camera shops in your area and see if they do passport photos. The one we used doesn't normally do US passport photos but we just told him we needed them to be printed 2"x2" and he did it and just charged the regular passport photo price. You might want to see if you can get new ones anyway and then write a letter to Snappy Snaps and request a refund.

then write a letter to Snappy Snaps and request a refund.

If you go in and say they are not valid, they should give a refund.  I have had to do this myself.

If you go in and say they are not valid, they should give a refund.  I have had to do this myself.

That's a good idea, too.


I'm going to share it with you all and see if you guy's think I should just chance it at the US Embassy or if I should try to get them redone (or a refund, which ever I can get from this company) prior to.

I would think you'd get away with that one -- but what do I know. How do they do that -- lay the baby down and stand over her? When I had my son's done at about that age I had to hold him upright.
What a cutie, btw!