I had to go get a passport photo today with my daughters for a trip abroad. I rushed the kids off the bus and headed to the local drugstore, CVS. The clerk behind the counter said he could do it and just to stand in one spot and not smile. I knew this guy wasn’t a camera wiz, but I was hoping there was some magic in his fingers that would erase a few years.  While standing there, I thought I should have put a little more effort into this picture, its going to be my face for the next ten years.

I wanted to stop and have a do over, but that wasn’t an option. They guy printed them out and I didn’t know if I wanted to laugh or cry, definately it was an emotion between the two. I looked at it, really wondering if this is what I look like. My girls said ” you look really tired”, ” you need darker lipstick” “your eyes look funny” and the comments kept on coming. They confirmed that it was what I looked like when I get out of bed in the morning, well it wasn’t morning, it was 4pm.  I might add that theirs was not too swift either, sort of like a mug shot. So we headed straight to Bare Essentials at the mall for a new foundation and lipstick. I needed makeup therapy.

Here are my 5 recoommendations to take a good Passport Photo:

• WEAR COLOR- nothing drab or awful, but avoid prints.
• FRESHEN YOUR MAKEUP- wear enough blush and lipstick as the photo washes you out.
• COMB YOUR HAIR- a given, but I forgot.
• Ask the photo taker to show you the picture- plead for a redo if needed.
• PRACTICE- YES, practice a straight face in the mirror, you are not allowed to smile, which really stinks as everyone looks better smiling.

I wish I were brave enough to show the picture here, but its just too awful. I think the only person who should be subjected to it is immigration. So its another 10 years I will need to wait to get another one and then I am 50. UHHHHH, so maybe it wont look so bad after all.