After seating for two hours at the traffic department, I had the opportunity to watch most people leaving upset and complaining about their new driver’s license photo. Its a clear reaction to a bad photo, considering the fact that you have to live with this horrible photo on your license of years. Nowadays, you have to show your driver’s license for just about everything. Are you happy with the photo on your driver’s license? If no, there’s are a few steps on how you take a good license photo.
Wear good clothes.
The first time I went to have my driver’s license taken, I saw people there wearing old beat up tee shirt , ripped pants and washed-out polo shirts. I said to myself - how can they expect to feel good about their appearance while wearing stuff that looks like it was pulled out of the clothes hamper?
I guess the saying is true - clothes makes the man. Well, there is something you can do about that. Firstly , its not like the camera will pick up your whole outfit, it won’t. But there’s a positive feeling of “I look good” when you wear nice clothes - which the end photo will reveal. Wear something nice. You’ll feel better about your appearance - it will reflect on your photo.
Get rid of the hat and sunglasses
Think you’ll be able to cover up a bad hair day or brandy reddened-eyes? Think again. Firstly, they won’t let you take a driver’s license photo with a hat or sunglasses on.
Brush or Comb your hair
I almost laughed myself to death 
at people who acted surprised when the camera person seats them down for a picture. “You mean I am getting my photo NOW? I didn’t bring my brush.”
As if the photographer’s response would be “Oh no, you are a special case and you can just mail us a glamor shot when it’s convenient.”
Note to self: If you pass the drivers license test, yes you will get your picture taken that same day. So brush, comb or just fix your hair before you leave the house…ok
Keep your eyes Open
They won’t shoot a photo of you if your eyes are closed. So plan on having your eyes open…that will definitely help. 
You need to know this ahead of time because as soon as the photographer says “Open your eyes” that’s the exact second s/he’ll snap your photo. Welcome to four to eight years of looking as if you just found out that person you’ve been dating your first cousin.
Not Grin, But Smile
This is going to be tough. The traffic department is unpleasant for most of us- it’s no photo studio. You are going to need to think happy thoughts and smile wide. I suggest not to exaggerating your smile. Otherwise, the basic camera shot might make you look a laughing monkey.
Be nice to Traffic Dept personnel
Traffic employees are not the happiest people in the world. They have to deal with unhappy and irritated people all day long. If you can be refreshingly pleasant and treat the photographer nicely, maybe she’ll be more likely take that extra second to make sure you don’t look like your face should be on a wanted poster.:smile:
So ask the photographer how her day is going. She’ll probably want to tell you it sucks, but she’ll be happy you asked. And you’ll be happy you have a nice driver’s license photo.
That’s about it. If you follow these simple tips your driver’s license photo will look less like a mugshot and more like a happy, self-assured you. How did your driver’s license photo come out? What did you do to make it better (or worse)? Let’s hear about it in the comments.
