Canadian passport photos have different requirements from standard U.S. passport photos. The print size, face position, lighting, and information on the back all matter. Here are a few tips before your appointmenT

Can I just go to my pharmacy or shipping store?

Not usually, for Canadian Passports or other Canadian uses. Yes, a U.S. passport CAN be done at those places, but for Canadian Passports/Citizenship photos in our local Hampton Roads area, most of these places are not setup to do the proper sizing, as well as lighting, and back information required for Canadian use. Also, the U.S. Post Office? No. They only do U.S. Passport Photos. Occasionally a well meaning clerk at these places, may tell people, yes, they can do Canadian Passports there. But then they find out a couple of weeks later when their application package is denied, and so then they have to start over! Most of these places are not set up for soft shadowless portrait lighting, nor are people there experts in proper posing and lighting. If there are any shadows in the background or photo, they will be rejected. Don't do it. Save the extra trouble and aggravation, and just come to a professional studio like Forrest Studio. You're assured of it being accepted!

Can I use the New Online- Do it Yourself Passport Photo Services?

Sounds good, but these will be usually be rejected. "Home selfies" and AI-edited photos do not satisfy the published Canadian passport rules. The rules state specifically, these MUST be taken by a professional photographer in a commercial studio (which we are!), and canNOT be digitally manipulated on any way - which these are. 

Tell us what you're applying for

Printed passport photos, digital photos for eligible online renewals, and Canadian citizenship photos have different requirements. Let us know which application you are making when you call.

What to wear and expect

A medium or dark top stands out against the light background. Look directly at the camera with your eyes open and mouth closed for a neutral expression. We also photograph children and babies, so please tell us their ages when scheduling.

Printed Canadian passport photo size

Printed Canadian passport photos measure 50 × 70 mm, unlike the standard U.S. 2 × 2 inch photo. We prepare two matching prints and include the required photographer information on the back of one. Bring your application’s photo instructions if you have them.

Schedule your appointment

Forrest Studio of Photography is at 5473 Shore Drive in Virginia Beach and serves clients throughout Hampton Roads. Call 757-464-6800 to schedule your 15-minute Canadian passport photo appointment. See our Canadian passport photo page for service details.

Visit The Forrest Gallery

For Canadian passport photos in Virginia Beach, The Forrest Gallery offers a professional and welcoming experience at 5473 Shore Drive. We are happy to help you prepare, answer questions, and provide the photo service you need for travel documentation.

Contact us today to schedule your visit.

Canadian Passport & Citizenship Photos in Virginia Beach—For Adults and Children

Need Canadian passport or citizenship photos in Hampton Roads? Forrest Studio of Photography in Virginia Beach provides personal, professional service for adults and children, with appointments usually taking about 15 minutes and prints prepared while you wait.

Whether you’re renewing a Canadian passport or applying for citizenship, let us know which application you’re completing so we can prepare your photographs for its requirements.

A Portrait Studio That Knows How to Work With Children

Forrest Studio has photographed children and families since 1977. Helping children feel comfortable in front of the camera is part of what we do every day.

That experience matters when a child needs Canadian passport or citizenship photos. An unfamiliar setting can make children nervous, restless or reluctant to cooperate. Our patient approach gives them time to settle in while we work toward the expression and positioning their application requires.

Your child receives individual attention from an experienced portrait photographer in a comfortable studio.

Careful Attention to the Details

We use professional cameras and studio lighting, carefully checking the background, head size and positioning. For applications requiring Canadian-size paper photographs, we use a dedicated 50 × 70 mm die cutter for consistent trimming.

We also provide the studio information and date on the back of printed photographs when required. Please bring your application’s photo instructions, especially if you need a digital photograph or are applying through a particular online process.

What Our Clients Are Saying

A recent client, Trevor Rees, visited us for Canadian citizenship photographs and shared this in his Google review:

“Keith was well-versed in the specifications and details needed for them.”

Another client, Dr. Murat Elahi visited us with his wife and daughter for passport and visa photographs. He shared the following review about the patience and care his family received:

"Superb service! This gentleman was incredibly kind, understanding, and professional. My daughter has special needs, and getting her photograph taken can be extremely challenging. However, he handled the entire situation with remarkable patience, compassion, and empathy. He never rushed us or made us feel uncomfortable. Instead, he took his time, worked with my daughter, and made sure we had a positive experience.

As a parent of a child with special needs, I cannot express how much I appreciate someone who genuinely understands and accommodates our circumstances. His kindness and willingness to go the extra mile meant a great deal to our family.

I highly recommend his services to anyone needing photographs for U.S. passports, Italian Elective Residency Visas (ERV), or Canadian passports. Outstanding customer service, professionalism, and genuine compassion. Thank you again for such a wonderful experience!"

We appreciate the clients who take the time to share their experiences and help other Canadian families find our studio.

Serving Virginia Beach and All of Hampton Roads

We welcome clients from Virginia Beach, Norfolk, Chesapeake, Portsmouth, Suffolk, Hampton, Newport News and Williamsburg.

If you’re traveling from the Peninsula, call ahead so we can reserve your appointment and have everything ready for your visit.

Schedule Your Appointment

Call 757-464-6800 to schedule your Canadian passport or citizenship photo appointment.

For after-hours or weekend appointment requests, call 757-478-8957.

Forrest Studio of Photography
5473 Shore Drive
Virginia Beach, Virginia
www.ForrestPhoto.com

Professional photography. Personal attention. Children welcome.

Your senior portraits should feel like you.

Senior year is filled with milestones, but it is also a year of becoming. The confidence, interests, friendships, and dreams you have right now deserve to be remembered. October is a wonderful time to create senior portraits with personality, before the holiday rush adds another layer to an already busy calendar.

At Forrest Studio of Photography, we begin with the person in front of the camera. You may love a classic portrait, a relaxed outdoor setting, or something with a little more drama. Your sitting can reflect who you are instead of asking you to fit one standard look.

Bring your interests into the picture

Music, athletics, art, and other interests can give your portraits meaning. A favorite instrument, a team uniform, or an outfit that makes you feel confident can help tell your story. Tell us what matters to you before the sitting so we can plan how to include it thoughtfully.

Variety also matters. A polished outfit and a more casual look can show different sides of the same person. We'll help you make choices that photograph well and feel natural.

Make the most of fall

October offers opportunities for outdoor portraits while daylight is still available, along with the comfort and control of our studio. We plan outdoor timing around the light and weather. You don't have to rely on one setting to create a meaningful collection of portraits.

If you need a formal drape or tux portrait for school, tell us your school's requirements and deadline before booking. We'll help you understand what can be arranged and the timing involved.

For parents: remember this chapter

This is more than a yearbook photograph. It is the last high school year, and a portrait can preserve the young person you see every day before life starts changing quickly. Wall portraits and smaller portraits for grandparents give that memory a place beyond a phone screen.

After the sitting, you'll view your portraits with us in our projection room, where we help you choose the images and sizes that suit your home and family.

Let's plan your Class of 2027 portraits

Forrest Studio has served Hampton Roads since 1977 and has photographed high school seniors for more than forty years. We'd love to help you create portraits with care, expression, and personality.

Contact Forrest Studio to plan your October senior portrait sitting. Tell us about your ideas, outfits, interests, and any school deadline. We'll help with the details.

Summer may be over, but beach portrait season isn't.

If you've been meaning to bring your family together for a beach portrait, October is a lovely opportunity. Here in Virginia Beach, we can still enjoy pleasant afternoons, the beauty of the shoreline, and time together before the holiday rush begins.

There's something special about a family portrait by the water: children close to their parents, a breeze in the sea grass, and the familiar coast that so many Hampton Roads families call home. It's a setting that feels natural, relaxed, and timeless.

Make the most of October's daylight

The days are getting shorter, so we plan beach sessions around the available light. A weekend afternoon can be a wonderful choice for families juggling school, work, and activities. If a weekday works better, we'll help you choose a time that suits both your family and the light.

Weather always plays a part at the beach. When you call, we'll talk through the location, timing, and conditions so your sitting is thoughtfully planned.

You don't have to wait for a perfect year

Families are busy in every season. Children grow, schedules change, and another year can slip by while we're waiting for everyone to have more time. Your portrait doesn't have to wait until every detail of life is settled. What matters most is having the people you love together.

Bring the children, include the grandparents, or gather the whole family while everyone is in town. Years from now, the portrait will remind you of this chapter of your family's life.

Simple clothing, a beautiful setting

Coordinated colors and simple clothing help keep the attention on your family. Soft blues, creams, and other gentle tones can work beautifully beside the sand and water. We'll help you plan what to wear, and a light layer is a good idea for a cooler October breeze.

A portrait to enjoy every day

At Forrest Studio of Photography, we create family portraits to be enjoyed in your home, from a beautiful wall portrait to smaller portraits for grandparents and gifts. Your time together deserves more than a picture that disappears into a phone.

We've welcomed Hampton Roads families to our studio since 1977, and we'd love to help you create something meaningful this fall.

Let's plan your October beach family portrait. Contact Forrest Studio of Photography to discuss available weekdays and weekends. Let us know who's coming, and we'll help with the details while there's still autumn daylight to enjoy.

Senior year is a milestone worth remembering, and the Class of 2027 deserves portraits that feel polished, confident, and true to this important moment. At The Forrest Gallery, Keith creates senior portraits that are more than just photos; they are keepsakes designed to reflect personality, style, and the excitement of what comes next.

Located at 5473 Shore Drive, The Forrest Gallery serves seniors and families who want a professional portrait experience with beautiful results. From classic headshots to relaxed, natural images, each session is designed to help seniors feel comfortable in front of the camera while creating portraits families will treasure for years.

A Portrait Experience Built for Seniors

A senior portrait session should feel memorable from start to finish. Keith approaches each session with the goal of creating artwork that feels personal and timeless. Rather than rushing through the process, he takes the time to guide seniors through posing, expression, and styling so the final portraits look natural and confident.

Every senior brings something different to the session. Some prefer a clean, classic look, while others want portraits that feel more relaxed and modern. At The Forrest Gallery, the experience is tailored to highlight each senior’s personality while maintaining a polished, professional result.

Why Families Choose Professional Senior Portraits

Professional senior portraits capture more than a smile. They preserve a moment in life that passes quickly, giving families images that mark the transition from high school to the future ahead. These portraits are ideal for announcements, gifts for relatives, graduation displays, and framed artwork for the home.

With Keith’s attention to detail and appreciation for creating pieces of art for clients, each finished portrait is designed to feel meaningful and lasting. Families who value high-quality photography often appreciate the difference that comes from working with a photographer who understands how important this milestone really is.

Designed for Seniors and Their Families

Senior portraits are often one of the last major portrait sessions before graduation, which makes them especially meaningful for parents and students alike. Keith enjoys working with families and understands how important it is to create portraits that feel authentic, flattering, and beautifully finished.

Whether you are planning a session for yearbook images, graduation announcements, or a wall portrait to celebrate this season, The Forrest Gallery offers a refined experience that fits the occasion. The studio’s polished approach and thoughtful service help make the session enjoyable from beginning to end.

Book Early for the Best Availability

The Class of 2027 season will move quickly, and the best time to reserve a session is before schedules fill up. Booking early gives seniors and families more flexibility and allows time to plan outfits, locations, and final portrait selections without feeling rushed.

If you are looking for senior portraits in Virginia Beach that feel professional, personal, and timeless, The Forrest Gallery would be honored to create them for you.

Reserve Your Session

If your student is part of the Class of 2027, now is the perfect time to begin planning senior portraits. Contact The Forrest Gallery to learn more about session options and create portraits that celebrate this exciting milestone with style and professionalism.

Let’s create images your family will be proud to display and share for years to come.