Markham Real Estate Today with Asif Khan

This article sure brought back memories from my days in the Photography industry.  Like with anything, you get what you pay for in passport pictures.  Remember to go to a professional that specializes in Passport Pictures.  The staff has been trained on proper shooting guidelines, and just as important the trimming guidelines.  Imagine lining up to get your passport, finally making it to the front of the line and having your picture rejected and then starting the process all over again?

It is scary as to how many places are taking advantage of the Passport Picture opportunity.  Recently I drove by a store that had a sign outside "Drycleaning, Movie Rentals and Passport Pictures".  Wow!  I remember conducting national training sessions for Japan Camera Franchisees and Staff on the proper handling of Passport Pictures.  Shooting an acceptable Passport Picture takes proper lighting, the right equipment, proper distance between subject and camera as well as trimming to the proper dimensions allowed by Passport Canada.  Children's passport pictures are a whole different animal!!  It is much more complicated to take a child's passport picture and that for sure should be left to the professionals.  Japan Camera staff are fully trained and their quality has become known to Passport Officials.  The stamp on the back means alot when you submit your pictures to the Passport Office.  One of the best Japan Camera outlets for Passport Pictures is located at Markville Shopping Centre.  Contact them at 905-513-7222 and you'll save valuable time and avoid frustration.  Article from Passport Canada is attached.  Happy Travelling!

Passport Canada is expecting a surge in business this year, as five-year passports expire and people get them renewed.

It's expected many people will renew this year because 2007 was the first year five-year passports were required for trips to the United States.

And based on past experience at the government agency, that means lots of passport photos will be rejected and have to be redone.

Photos are often rejected at Passport Canada counters, according to David Glos, the agency's director of western operations.

To put this to the test, CBC reporter Dani Mario recently had five passport photos taken at different companies and then asked Glos to have a look.

After giving the five a close examination, Glos slid four into the reject pile.

"This is your perfect passport photo," Glos said of the fifth.

One of the rejects had too much glare on the forehead, two showed hair partially covering one eye, while on the fourth there was an ink smudge on the print.

Other common reasons to reject photos include smiling, teeth showing or evidence of computer editing.

To avoid getting bad news at the passport counter, people should review the guidelines before getting in front of a camera, Glos said.

"There's very good information on our website … and there [are] very specific photo specifications on the application form itself, so I would encourage all Canadians to read those specifications before they go into a studio," he said.

Before they head to the passport office, people should talk to their photographer and bring the specifications along with them to make sure the pictures get a passing grade, Glos said.

If everybody does that, it will mean a big reduction in the rejection rate, he said.