Going overseas? Whether you're travelling for family, fun, for adventure, or work, you'll need a good quality digital photo for your passport. Follow these simple tips, and you'll have a passport photo you'll feel happy to flash at border control. 

There's no good way to take a passport photo selfie, even with a selfie stick. Get a mate or one of the whanau to take the shot. First, choose a plain cream or light grey background, and get rid of anything that's in the way. Check the lighting. Natural is best. 

Make sure there aren't any shadows on your face or behind your head. Ooh, not too close. And not too far away. That's perfect. 
Next, make sure the photo will show your whole face. If you wear a head covering for cultural or medical reasons, you can leave it on. And if you need to keep your glasses on, they shouldn't be tinted, have thick frames, or show any glare on the lens. No. Come on! Just stop it! Nailed it. Smiling makes it tough for facial recognition technology at airports to confirm your identity. So save the smiles for later. 

How's it looking? Oh, watch your contrast. Blurry. Hmm, not a good look. Kill the shadows. Oh, delete! Looking great! To be sure, email the high-res photo to yourself and upload it to the online photo checker. Job done. Now, you can smile. Congratulations, and have a great trip!