Since Passport picture are so important, it’s important for most people to have a quality one taken.
You can go to a lot of different places to get your passport photo taken, but what about your local Sams Club? Can you take your passport picture here as well?
Does Sam’s Club Do Passport Photos?
You can no longer order professional passport photos through Sam’s Club Photo Center services – which is now an online service only. Note that in June 2020, Sam’s Club permanently closed all instore photo centres. This means that instore, you can no longer get 1-hour passport photos, same day canvas service, Photo Kiosk or index CD’s, and they no longer develop film.
This article takes a look at Sam’s Club Photo Centre retail and services: what they are, where they are, and how to use them. Then we take a brief look at passport photos and where it’s best to have them done.
Do You Have To Be A Member To Use Sam’s Club Photo Centre?
You do need to hold a paid membership with Sam’s Club if you want to access their Photo Centre. You can choose from a Club membership ($45 per year) or the Plus membership ($100 per year). Both of these memberships come with associated rewards.
Then you’ll need to create a Photo Account to order your pictures. Remember that this is a separate account to your Club account.
When you sign up, you’ll see the range of photo products offered, the 50 free print offer that comes with your new account, the special offers, help centre, and ordering and pricing information.
Does Sam’s Club Still Process Photos?
Sam’s Club Photo Centre is an online only service, which offers a range of services and products in a variety of formats, finishes, sizes, and prices.
Shipping is free unless you request extra fast delivery, in which case costs apply – these costs will be shown before checkout.
Using your account, you can upload photos for printing, order prints, choose formats, track orders, view past orders, cancel orders, save and repeat orders, and share albums.
You no longer pick up photo orders instore: all prints are shipped using ground delivery. Orders are paid for during checkout using card payments (although Sam’s Club doesn’t accept gift cards as payment for photo products).
What Photo Products Does Sam’s Club Sell?
You’ll see online that Sam’s Club Photo Centre sell products through a broad range of categories. These include:
- Cards – stationary cards, photo cards,
- Photo gifts – regular prints, card prints, canvas prints, metal prints, calendars, photo books, mounted prints, posters, collage posters, photo blankets, acrylic prints, mugs, framed prints, wood prints, rustic wood prints, puzzles, drinkware, plaques, pillows, ornaments, desk art, coasters, mouse pads, bottle stoppers, stickers, pet items, professional prints, cameras, home movie transfers
- Photo books – mini or premium
- Home décor
- Baby
- Business printing – cards, posters, postcards, flyers, rack cards, sell sheets, menus, resumes, certificates, yard signs
- Wedding
You can also purchase cameras, camera equipment and accessories, dashcams and drones both online and instore, and most items are eligible for free shipping for Plus members.
Read: Can A Family Member Use My Sam’s Club Card?
How Do I Send Photos To Sam’s Club?
Once you have a membership account, just head to photo.samsclub.com to make your photo account. Once you’ve uploaded your photos to your account, you can order any of the photo products listed.
Every new member gets 50 free prints when they sign up, and membership for the photo club is free. When you sign up, the free print offer will arrive as an email link. Select the link in your email to make the free prints credit available in your Photo Center account.
You can choose to use the free prints on your first order, or same them for a future order. To redeem them, simply click on the use free prints for this order button during checkout.
When you choose to use your free prints, the cost of the prints in your order will be deducted based on the free prints available in your account. You don’t have to use all of your free prints at once.
Read: Does CVS Take Passport Photos?
Where Is The Best Place To Get A Passport Photo?
Everyone must provide one photo with thier passport application, and the specifications for compliant passport photos are that the photo you provide must:
- Be a color photo, taken within the last 6 months
- Use a clear image of your face – no filters of any kind
- Not be a selfie
- Be an image of your face without eyeglasses
- Use plain white or off-white background only
- Be printed on matte or glossy photo quality paper
- Not be digitally altered in any way
- Be a high-resolution photo that is not blurry, grainy or pixelated
- Not be damaged with holes, creases, marks, or smudges
The correct size for a passport photo is (without exception) 2 x 2 inches (51 x 51 mm). Your head must be between 1 -1 3/8 inches (25 – 35 mm) from the bottom of the chin to the top of the head.
This means that most photos are going to be rejected unless they’ve been taken by someone who knows what they’re doing. And you can’t just roughly trim down any old photo to the required specifications.
It’s now possible to find online tools and directions to help you produce your own passport photo. The US Department of State (Bureau of Consular Affairs), for example, has some useful passport resources.
However, if you want to find a passport photo service (which Sam’s Club no longer offer) and get your prints done there, current available services include:
- Walgreens
- Walmart
- CVS
- Rite Aid
- Target
- FedEx
- US Postal Service
- USPS
Summary
Sam’s Club used to take passport photos for customers when they still had their instore photo centres. This photo service produced passport photos of the correct size, quality, and format.
However, Sam’s Club no longer off this service; their photo centre is now online and offers a range of photo products and printing services.
This means you can still get a photo for a passport printed there, but you’ll have to use a photo editing tool to make the photo passport compliant. This isn’t easy, so before investing too much time completing your passport this way, consider the list of large chain stores which still offer an instore passport photo service.