A clear ID photo gets you through verification on the first try. Here's how to make sure your photo comes through clean.
Use your phone if you can
Phone cameras handle ID photos well — they have good resolution and let you hold the camera steady. If you started the application on a computer, you can usually switch to your phone for the ID step.
Photo basics
Lay the ID flat on a dark, plain surface — not held up at an angle
Use bright, even lighting — natural daylight works best
Avoid glare from windows, lamps, or your phone screen reflecting off the ID
Get close enough that the ID fills the frame, but make sure all four corners are visible
Hold steady until the photo is fully captured
Front and back
For a driver's license or state ID, you'll need photos of both the front and back. For a passport, only the photo page is needed.
What to avoid
Cropping out the edges or corners
Photos at an angle that makes the text hard to read
Reflections or glare covering parts of the ID
Out-of-focus or blurry shots
Getting a file-too-large error? See My file is too large to upload for ways to compress your file before uploading.