Anfas.Pro vs DIY: should you make the passport photo yourself?
You can take a passport photo at home with your phone and edit it in free software. The result can be perfect — or it can be rejected. Anfas.Pro shows you the finished result first, so you decide whether the HD set is worth €5.99 only after you have seen it.
Quick answer
DIY works for simple cases; Anfas.Pro for unusual specs or critical deadlines
DIY is realistic for US, UK, Schengen passport photos if you have a plain wall, daylight and patience to retake several times. Anfas.Pro is a better choice for unusual country specifications (China, India, Canada), online portal uploads with strict pixel/KB limits, or applications where rejection delays are costly. You see the finished result before ordering an HD set at €5.99.
Side-by-side comparison
| Factor | Anfas.Pro | DIY at home |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | €5.99 for the HD set; preview free | Free (already have phone, paper, printer) |
| Time to first usable photo | 5 minutes | 30–90 minutes typical, more for retakes |
| Country-specific size | Applied automatically | You measure and crop manually |
| Background normalisation | Automatic | Manual edit in free software (remove.bg, GIMP) |
| Portal-friendly file size | Exported automatically | Manual JPEG quality adjustment |
| Skill required | Upload a portrait | Photography basics + image editing |
| Risk of rejection at portal | Low (automated check before download) | Higher (no built-in check) |
| Refund if rejected | 14-day full refund | No refund — your own time invested |
| Print costs | Print sheet included | Photo paper + printer setup |
When each option makes sense
DIY is a fair choice if you have all three: a phone with a decent rear camera, a plain wall in your home, and time to retake 3–5 times until the geometry is right.
Anfas.Pro is a better choice in three scenarios. First, when the country specification is unusual (China 33 × 48 mm, India 35 × 35 mm, Canadian PR 50 × 70 mm) and getting the size wrong by 1 mm fails the portal upload. Second, when the photo is for an online portal with a strict file-size cap (DS-160 240 KB) and manual JPEG compression is annoying. Third, when an application deadline makes a rejection costly — the automated check catches problems before you submit.
The Anfas.Pro preview is free, so you can compare directly: take a DIY photo, upload it to Anfas.Pro to see the cropped result, then decide whether to order the HD set at €5.99, or submit your DIY version.
Frequently asked questions
What is the most common DIY mistake?
Using the front (selfie) camera. The wide-angle selfie lens distorts head and nose proportions, which biometric scanners detect and reject. Always use the rear camera with a timer.
Can I do DIY for an online portal upload (DS-160, GOV.UK)?
Yes if you can manually crop to the exact aspect ratio (1:1 for DS-160, 35:45 for GOV.UK), compress the JPEG to under the portal limit (typically 240 KB), and the head is centred within the portal's tolerance. The Anfas.Pro tool handles all three automatically.
Is DIY still worth it if Anfas.Pro is free?
For one-off photos and simple specifications, DIY is still a fine choice if you enjoy doing it yourself. For multi-country trips, complicated specs (China, India), or recurring needs, the automated tool saves the most time.
Try Anfas.Pro first — preview is free
Upload a portrait, see the result before paying. You only pay if you decide to download.