Background and lighting
The background must be plain white with no shadows. Shadows and off-white walls cause more rejections than anything else.
Updated
The rule
- Plain white
- No patterns, objects or other people
- No shadow behind the head or on the face
- Even colour across the whole background
Choosing a wall
Any plain, light wall or a white sheet pinned flat works if we're replacing the background. Avoid doors, tiles and wallpaper — the edges confuse the cut-out around your hair.
Lighting
Accepted
Rejected
Facing a window in daylight
Window behind you
Light falling evenly on both cheeks
One lamp off to the side
Overhead lights off
Ceiling light making shadows under the eyes
A foot of space between you and the wall
Back pressed against the wall
What we do
We replace the background with even white and check the edge around your hair and shoulders. We can't fix shadows on your face, so get the light right first.
Skip the measuring
Upload your photo and we'll size it to the exact rules, then have a person check it.