Do You Like Your Driver's License Photo?

July 6, 2009

Let's face it, driver's license photos can be less than perfection. I've had a mix of disastrous ones, and others that weren't too shabby. For instance, my debut snapshot featured a 16-year-old me turned sideways, complete with a puffy mouth full of braces. Apparently that unique pose was to act as a red flag to deter underage drinking and illegal license manipulation. Then, there was the time when the stars aligned, and my picture turned out just right. Too bad that's long-expired, eh? Check out my tips to ensure your picture doesn't stink, and then tell me, is your license photo a thumbs up or down?

Photo by PennDOT

Bella Poll Driver's License

36 Comments

Monique Marie 3 years 44 weeks

I make it my goal to look awesome for that picture.

Autumns_Elegy 3 years 45 weeks

My first one was really good, but I had to get a new one taken when my license expired. I look awful, it was humid at the DMV so I had poofy hair and smeary makeup.

amandaaa 3 years 45 weeks

in both my licenses at 16 and 21, i have my eyes half-closed. i get made fun of all the time. otherwise, i look real tan. in my 16-year old photo, i have chubby cheeks, but i was actually my thinnest.

Triste3030 3 years 45 weeks

I actually like the way I came out in on my Driver's License. Then again I made sure to do my hair and makeup so that I wouldn't look terrible!

HoneyBrown1976 3 years 45 weeks

No, I also look bloated.

HoneyBrown1976 3 years 45 weeks

No, I also look bloated.

Nyrina Windu 3 years 45 weeks

No, I didn't like mine this time around because they got too close into my face, which of course makes almost everyone look terrible. Or as cg130 said... "BLOATED"

cg130 3 years 45 weeks

Ew, my face is SO BLOATED In mine!!

3 years 45 weeks

because of the lighting I actually looked alright in mine

3 years 45 weeks

Yep, it's the only good photo of me. ever.

Talldiva45 3 years 45 weeks

I actually love my license photo and have gotten compliments on it from strangers! I am shocked but maybe I just happened to have a good day. I wish I could keep it forever.

cloroxcowgirl 3 years 45 weeks

Overall yes. But it was taken almost five years ago and I look pretty different now - my hair is way longer, and I'm in my 30's. I'd like to get an updated pic soon.

tallkell 3 years 45 weeks

I don't hate it, but I don't love it either.

niicoley 3 years 45 weeks

Yeah, I'm not a big fan of mine. It was taken before I wore makeup and I had just dyed my hair a shade of rebel red :/ It really looks more like a mug shot. Just have to wait till I'm 21 to take a new picture :(

Nadia24gv 3 years 45 weeks

I love mine. I usually hate pictures of myself. I've never taken a bad license photo. They always take 2 or 3 of me, I have no idea why. It's awkward.

BellaEdward4ever 3 years 45 weeks

I'm sure when I get a license it's gonna turn out horribly. I am not a photogenic person-I always end up looking half asleep. And my passport photo is absolutely dreadful. It was taken a few years ago, before I started wearing makeup, so I look hideous, and it was so overexposed I look bright white. My license photo is probably going to be just as bad.

doogirl 3 years 45 weeks

I look like a 45 year old Cougar in my driver's license picture. In reality, I'm 34, I look like I'm 26, and I've been married for 13 years!

simplyfab87 3 years 45 weeks

No, I hate it. I took it when I was 15 and about ten pounds lighter than I am now but in the pic I look 20 pounds heavier than now. Even besides the weight thing, its just a terrible picture of me.

mek123 3 years 45 weeks

I don't like this DL picture but had a good one for the prior one and got to keep it for 12 years.

crazygirl93 3 years 45 weeks

I'm indifferent towards my license picture, I don't like my passport picture though. The day before I got it done I had an allergic reaction to my mascara and the doctor said I shouldn't wear any make up for a while as my skin was really tender and needed to clear up. I also wasn't ready for it to be taken and I'm not really looking properly at the camera. The women taking my picture was really rude also and wouldn't let me have it taken again. All in all it's a really bad passport picture!

crazygirl93 3 years 45 weeks

wmoonw 3 years 45 weeks

Oh Bella, I should have read your tips a week ago; I just got mine redone and it's awful. . . . Virginia just switched over to a no-smiles-allowed system, so I'm scowling, and she didn't give me any warning so I'm looking away from the camera with my eyes half-closed, and it's super zoomed-in and in black and white so I've got a serious case of moon face. Angela123, I haven't seen a single new VA license that's turned out well!

amelioratelj 3 years 45 weeks

Mine is terrible. I wasn't ready to take a picture at all that day- and on top of that, the photog posed me in the most ridiculous way- he angled my head way up and made me sweep my hair off of my shoulders and all kinds of silly things. He also didn't tell me when to smile or even that he took the picture, just BAM. Terrible, I look like a convict.

Angela123 3 years 45 weeks

the lighting is so bad in mine, i look orange. It's going to get worse though...I turn 25 in october so it will expire, and the state of Virginia now has a law that you can't smile in your DMV photos! you're supposed to have a 'neutral expression' but I know I'm going to look rough.

bethinabox 3 years 45 weeks

(oops, meant to add this to my first comment)And it's much better than the picture on my school ID, which was taken about a week after I passed out at the doctors office after a shot, fell off the exam table and landed face first on the floor, so I had a fat lip and bad hair, so I hate showing that to people. Lol

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