#290 Having Passport Photos Taken at a Photo Studio｜French Daily Life Phrases

You may need passport-style photos for various purposes, such as visa applications, student ID cards, or job applications. If you are staying abroad, there is a good chance that you will need to visit a local photo shop or photography studio to have them taken.

Because the required size, background color, and other specifications may vary depending on the purpose of the photos, it is important to explain your requirements before the photo session begins.

In this article, I will explain useful French phrases that you can use when having passport photos taken at a photo studio.

Dialogue

A

Bonjour. J’aimerais faire des photos d’identité, s’il vous plaît.
（Hello. I would like to have passport photos taken, please.）

B

Bien sûr. Pour quel document avez-vous besoin des photos ?
（Certainly. What document do you need the photos for ?）

A

C’est pour une demande de visa.
（They are for a visa application.）

B

Très bien. Nous allons prendre quelques photos.
（Very well. We will take a few photos.）

A

Quand pourrai-je les récupérer ?
（When will I be able to collect them?）

B

Dans environ quinze minutes.
（In approximately fifteen minutes.）

A

Parfait, merci beaucoup.
（Perfect. Thank you very much.）

1. Saying That You Would Like Passport Photos Taken

The first step is to tell the staff member that you would like to have passport photos taken.

Here, “j’aimerais” is a polite expression meaning “I would like to…”. It is the present conditional form of the verb “aimer”(to like) and makes the request sound softer and more courteous.

The phrase “faire des photos” means “to have photos taken” and is commonly used when requesting photography services. You may also hear “prendre des photos,” which generally means “to take photos.”

The expression “photos d’identité” refers to passport or identification photos. The noun “identité” means “identity” or “identification,” so the expression literally means “identification photos.”

Because these photos are usually provided as a set of multiple copies, the plural form “des photos d’identité” is commonly used. However, if you are referring to a single photo, “une photo d’identité” is also possible.

2. Explaining the Purpose of the Photos

Because photo requirements vary depending on their intended use, it is important to explain what the photos are for.

The expression “c’est pour…” means “It is for…” or “They are for…” and is commonly used to explain the purpose of something.

Here, “c’est” means “it is,” while “pour” is a preposition meaning “for.”

The noun “demande” means “application” or “request,” while “visa” means “visa.” Together, “une demande de visa” means “a visa application.”

3. Asking When the Photos Will Be Ready

You may also want to confirm when you can collect the finished photos.

The word “quand” means “when” and is commonly used to ask about a time or date.

The form “pourrai-je” comes from the verb “pouvoir” (to be able to) in the simple future tense. It is an inverted question form of “je pourrai.”

The simple future tense is used here because you are asking about a future event—namely, when you will be able to receive the photos.

The pronoun “les” refers to the previously mentioned “photos d’identité,” while “récupérer” means “to collect” or “to pick up.” This verb is frequently used not only in photo studios but also when collecting items from repair shops, dry cleaners, and similar businesses.

Summary