Harnessing Daylight for Optimal Passport Photos

Master the art of taking passport photos in daylight. Learn how natural light impacts photo quality and understand how to avoid shadows.

Daylight is the natural light that comes from the sun and reaches the earth's surface, either directly or indirectly through the atmosphere.

Humans need daylight to function properly and maintain good health. It helps regulate our sleep patterns by triggering the production of hormones such as melatonin and cortisol. Melatonin makes us sleepy, while cortisol keeps us awake. Without enough exposure to daylight, our body may not produce enough cortisol, leading to drowsiness.

Although artificial light can partially substitute for daylight, it cannot fully replace it. That's why it is important to have sufficient natural light in workplaces and other settings.

Differences Between Daylight and Artificial Light

Daylight and artificial light have several differences, including:

Daylight is dynamic in color and intensity, while artificial light is static.
Daylight has good color quality, while not all colors can be accurately reproduced by artificial light.
Daylight usually comes in through windows, while artificial light is usually placed on the ceiling.
Daylight varies in amount and type of light, while artificial light is consistent.

Rules for Taking Passport Photos by Daylight

When it comes to taking your own passport photos, it is important to use daylight for optimal results. We recommend standing about one meter away from a wall opposite a window with daylight. This ensures proper lighting and avoids shadows on the face or background, which can affect the quality of the photo.