How to Look Good in Your Photo License, Passport and Other Photo IDs

I always took a bad picture no matter what. It is not that I think myself a super model or anything, I just would wish for a picture that people can recognize it is me without giving me a strange look because my license does not resemble me in real life. Some feature on my face that apparently, hopefully, behaves in real life goes bonkers whenever I go to the DMV; at least I hope it is just at the DMV. It seems that I always wait and wait in line and then they call me when I am not expecting it, and by then my makeup has worn off and I am aggravated and tired and just want to go home. The bad photo ID license haunts you for several years afterwards. Here are some tips and tricks to have a license photo taken and not cringe every time you look at it.

Try to keep hair a simple full style that will not cast shadows on your face. Overhead lighting can make nasty shadows. If you have long hair, likely the ends will not show, so do not bother.

As long as you are wearing enough makeup, the lighting is likely that awful overhead florescent kind of light, but it does not matter in the bright flashbulb world of license photography. There is essentially no such thing as too much eyeliner, especially on top, a grey, navy or chocolate shadow and false eyelashes might actually show up looking like a tiny line of natural lashes.

Use concealer to conceal blotches and pimples and apply powder to make the area matte. You likely do not need foundation on your whole face. I actually do not wear this much makeup myself, but none of my minimalist look makeup ever shows up, and when I wear this much makeup, it at least looks like I am not a mummy. License photos are the only time that I contouring actually works since everything was so washed out the contour looked reasonably normal in the photo. Try using a pencil or powder to darken in your brows slightly, since they will likely wash out.