DV photo studio
Take your DV photo with your phone
No DV photo yet, or one that keeps failing? Take a new one here.
What the studio does
- Opens your phone's camera from a QR code — nothing to install
- Guides you live: distance, head straight, light, space above your head
- Puts you on a plain white background — your face is never retouched
- Frames it to the rules: head 50–69% of the photo, eyes 56–69% up
- Checks glasses, hats, eyes, expression, lighting, focus and the file
- 600 × 600 JPEG under 240 KB, ready for your entry
What it costs
- One person, no planEvery retake of them included
- $1.99
- One person, with Standard or ExpertOr add everyone on your entry when you pay for it
- $0.99
- As a guest, no accountOne photo, emailed to you once we confirm your payment
- $1.99
- Taking, retaking and checking
- Free
Unpaid previews include a DVcompass watermark. For you and your family only — see the photo studio terms.
Questions about DV photos
Can I take my DV lottery photo with my phone?
Yes. The State Department doesn't ask for a studio photo — it asks for a result: a square colour JPEG of at least 600 × 600 pixels, your head 50%–69% of the height, your eyes 56%–69% up from the bottom, on a plain white or off-white background, taken in the last six months. Any phone camera is sharp enough. The studio guides you while you take it and checks the result.
Is it allowed to change the background of a DV photo?
The rules forbid changing how you look — no smoothing, slimming or filters. We don't touch your face: we replace only what's behind you with plain white, and crop and resize. A real plain white wall still gives the cleanest result, so stand in front of one if you can.
What size does a DV photo have to be?
Square, between 600 × 600 and 1200 × 1200 pixels, JPEG, 240 KB or less, compressed no more than 20:1. The studio saves every photo at 600 × 600, well under 240 KB.
Can I wear glasses in my DV photo?
No. Glasses haven't been allowed since November 2016, unless a doctor's signed statement says you can't remove them. The studio warns you if it sees glasses, and also checks for hats, closed eyes, smiles, shadows and blur.
Do I need to install an app?
No. Scan the code on your laptop with your phone's camera and the camera opens in your phone's browser. The photo comes back to your laptop, ready to download. On a phone alone, open this page and tap Open my camera.
Can I take photos of my spouse and children too?
Yes — everyone on your entry needs their own photo, and the same rules apply to children. Take each person in turn; retakes of someone already unlocked are free. With DVcompass Standard or Expert you can add photos for everyone on your entry when you pay for it.
How much does it cost?
Taking, retaking and checking photos is free. Unlocking the clean file is $1.99 a person, and every retake of them after that is free. With DVcompass Standard or Expert it’s $0.99 a person, and you can add everyone on your entry when you pay for it. Without an account you can pay as a guest: $1.99 for one photo, emailed to you. See pricing.