FAQ

Booking & Pricing

Do I need an appointment?
Yes you do. We work strictly by appointment. Booking ahead reserves your time, reduces wait times, and lets us prepare the correct lighting and background for your specific country and photo type. You can book online and prepay through our online scheduler, or call the studio if you'd rather speak with us first.

Do you accept walk-ins?

No. Sorry we do not.

We operate out of studio servicing a number of brands. To avoid disappointment, we recommend booking online before you visit. If you're already nearby and need same-day service, give us a call and we'll let you know what's available.

How much do passport photos cost?

Passport photo sessions start at $25 for our print-only service, which includes up to 6 professionally printed passport photos on a single 10x15cm postcard print.

Full pricing:

• Print Only — $25

• Print + Cut to Size Trimming — $35

• Digital File Only — $40

• Print + Digital File Combo — $55

• Digital + Print + Cut to Size Trimming — $65

• Additional prints from $5

Every session includes on-screen review and approval before we print. If you're unsure which option suits your application, we'll guide you at your appointment.

What payment methods do you accept?

We accept all major credit and debit cards, contactless payment (Apple Pay, Google Pay), and EFTPOS. Online bookings are paid securely at checkout. In studio payments are processed at the end of your session.

Your Session

How long does the session take?

Most adult sessions take 10–15 minutes, including on-screen review and approval. Infant and toddler sessions are booked with up to 30 minutes allocated, to allow for settling, positioning, and patience where it's needed. If you've booked a cut-to-size trim option, allow an additional 5–10 minutes.

Can I see my photo before it's printed?

Yes and we encourage your input. We capture multiple images using professional studio lighting and review them with you on screen before anything is printed.

During the review we check:

• Head position, eye alignment, and facial expression

• Background tone and lighting against official requirements

• Shadows, reflections, and obstructions

• Sizing and cropping against government specifications

We also coach you through subtle adjustments such as head angle, chin position, and shoulder alignment to find the most natural and flattering angle for your face shape, all within official rules. Nothing is printed until you're satisfied and the image meets specifications.

Photo Compliance & Quality

Will my photo meet official passport requirements?

Every photo we take is prepared to the official specifications of the issuing authority. For Australian passports, that means the Australian Passport Office requirements covering dimensions, head height, lighting, expression, and background. You review the final image on screen before we print, and we measure againa once its printed so you leave the studio confident your photo is prepared correctly.

Are your passport photos guaranteed?

Our commitment is preparation. Every photo is prepared to the official specifications of the issuing authority, using calibrated equipment, professional studio lighting, and careful on screen review before printing.

The final decision on acceptance always rests with the government department or embassy assessing your application. This is outside any photographer's control. What we stand behind is our preparation: if there's a technical error in how we've prepared your photo to specification, we'll reshoot or reprint at no additional cost.

Can you Photoshop or retouch my appearance?

No. Passport and ID photos cannot be digitally altered. Government regulations require your photo to accurately represent your natural appearance. We can't remove blemishes, slim features, adjust facial structure, change skin tone, or apply beauty retouching.

What we can do is use professional studio lighting, careful positioning, and considered camera technique to make sure you look clear, natural, and well-presented — without breaking the rules. The goal is recognisability, so border control and automated systems can identify you without issue. If you have specific concerns, we'll talk them through before the photo is taken.

Can you print passport photos I've taken myself?

No. We can only print photos we capture ourselves using our calibrated equipment and studio lighting. Printing externally produced photos risks rejection because we have no control over how or when the image was captured, and we can't take responsibility for the outcome. If you've already tried elsewhere and weren't happy with the result, book a session and we'll start fresh.

What to Wear & How to Look

What should I wear?

Keep clothing simple, neutral, and mid-tone. Your face is the focus, not your outfit, and most passports crop tightly enough that only your collar will show. Some countries require head, shoulders, and upper chest to be visible, so for best results choose solid colours like black, navy, maroon, or forest green for example.

A few things to avoid:

• Busy patterns, logos, text, or stripes — some countries specifically reject these

• Bright or fluorescent colours — these can reflect onto the skin and shift your skin tone

• White or very light clothing — our studio lighting handles this well, but white tops can appear slightly off-white or blend against the regulation background. Some countries also prohibit white outright.

Can I wear makeup?

Yes. Natural, everyday makeup is fine. Keep it subtle and true to your normal appearance. Avoid heavy contouring, dramatic lashes, or anything that significantly alters your facial features.

Metallics, and some mineral based makeup can create specular highlights under studio lighting, so a matte, natural finish photographs best. Passport photos must accurately represent how you look day to day.

Can I wear glasses?

For Australian passports, glasses are not permitted — including for medical reasons — unless you have written confirmation from your doctor stating they cannot be removed. If this applies to you, please bring the letter with you to your session. In 20+ years of photographing passports, we've yet to see one in person, so we'd genuinely love to learn more about your situation.

Most international passports now follow the same rule, with limited exceptions. A handful of countries still permit glasses, but if you can comfortably remove them for the photo, we recommend doing so. It eliminates any risk of glare or reflection, and avoids questions at the border. If you wear glasses daily and have concerns, let us know when booking and we'll guide you through the requirements for your country.

Can I wear a head covering for religious or medical reasons?

Yes. Head coverings worn for religious or medical reasons are accepted for most passport applications, provided your full face, from below the chin to above the forehead, is clearly visible and unobscured. We're experienced photographing clients in hijabs, turbans, kippahs, and medical head coverings, and we'll guide positioning to make sure your photo meets specifications.

Babies, Infants & Children

Do you photograph babies, infants, and toddlers?

Yes. We regularly photograph newborns, infants, and toddlers for Australian and international passport and visa applications. We use safe positioning techniques and professional studio lighting to prepare images that meet official requirements, even for very young children who can't sit independently. We allow extra time for little ones, and recommend booking when your child is usually well-rested and alert.

What if my child won't sit still?

That's completely normal and it's part of what we do. We're experienced photographing babies and toddlers using safe positioning techniques and a calm, patient approach. We have a few tricks of the trade that usually help, but mostly it just takes patience and the right timing. Occasionally parents/guardians choose to step out of sight themselves (but never out of the room)

What if my baby won't keep their eyes open?

Babies work on their own schedule, and we work with that. We allow extra time for infant sessions and patiently capture frames until we have a compliant image with eyes open, mouth closed and without any obstructions. For best results, book when your baby is usually most alert, often after a feed and a nap.

International Passport & Visa Photos

Do you provide international passport and visa photos?

Yes. We prepare passport and visa photos for over 90 countries. Each country has its own specifications for photo size, head height ratio, background colour, expression rules, and digital format. We set up the correct configuration for your destination so the photo is prepared to its official requirements. If your country requires matt prints or has unusual specifications, let us know when booking as prints will take additional time to prepare. Simply bring the official guidelines along with you to your appointment and we'll prepare it correctly.

Which countries do you provide passport photos for?

We currently maintain templates for 90+ countries, including:

Albania, Algeria, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Belarus, Belgium, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, European Union, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Honduras, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Malaysia, Mexico, Moldova, Mongolia, Morocco, Myanmar, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, Vietnam.

If your country isn't listed, contact us with the official requirements and we'll prepare it for you.

Finding the Studio

Where is the studio located?

Gold Coast Passport Photography Suite 11, 12–18 Bayview Street Runaway Bay QLD 4216

We're just a few minutes from Harbour Town, Australia Fair, and Runaway Bay Shopping Centre. For navigation, search "Gold Coast Passport Photography" on Google Maps, or enter "12 Bayview Street, Runaway Bay" into your GPS.
You'll find us at the southern end of Bayview Street, near Biggera Creek and the Lands End Bridge. We're directly opposite the Bayview Street Towers and across the road from the 7-Eleven on the corner of Broadwater, Clam, and Bayview Streets.

How do I find the studio inside the building?

The studio is at the front of the "Signatures on Bayview" complex, on the mezzanine level in the middle of the business suites, next to the café. We're at the top of the stairs between the pedestrian crossing and the Clam Street bus stop. Look for the large red studio sign. Easy to spot once you arrive.

Where can I park?

Free off street parking is available. There's no parking directly in front of the studio on Bayview Street due to the bus stop and pedestrian crossing, but you'll find:

• Street parking on Clam Street & Broadwater Street (the best option)

• The "Signatures on Bayview" car park at the rear of the building, accessed via Broadwater Street beside the café