PHOTO REQUIREMENTS

The submitted image must adhere to the following specifications. Photographs submitted must be a recent photograph, taken within the last 6 months. Please be advised that failure to comply with any of the following requirements may result in disqualification from the lottery.

Image Acquisition:
• The image file may be produced by acquiring an image with a digital camera or by digitizing a paper photograph with a scanner.
• Digital enhancement or other alterations or retouching are not permitted.
• The original aspect ratio of the image must be preserved. (No image stretching is allowed.)

Compositional Specifications:

Content

• The image must contain the full face, neck, and shoulders of the applicant in frontal view with a neutral, non-smiling expression and with eyes open and directed at the camera.
• The image must not contain any parts of the body below the applicant's shoulders.
• The image must not include other objects or additional people.
• Applicant must be vertically oriented in the image.
• The image must be from a recent (within 6 months) photo of the applicant.

  Head Position

• Subject must directly face the camera.
• Head must not be tilted up, down, or to the side.
• The head height (measured from the top of the head, including the hair, to the bottom of the chin) must be between 50% and 69% of the image’s total height. The eye height (measured from the bottom of the image to the level of the eyes) should be between 56% and 69% of the image's height. The diagram below shows these measurements on a correctly-proportioned image.

Well-Composed Photos

INCORRECT
No Retouching	No Image Stretching
Pose Not Frontal	Image Not Portrait View
Head Too Small	Head Too Big

Background:
• Subject must be surrounded by a plain, light-colored background with no distracting shadows on the subject or background.

INCORRECT

Background Not Plain

Focus/Resolution:
• The entire face must be in focus.
• Fine facial features should be discernible
• No discernible pixels or dot patterns

INCORRECT
Not In Focus	Visible/Coarse Dot Pattern
Resolution Too Low

Decorative Items:
• Photos in which the person being photographed is wearing sunglasses or other items that obscure the face are not acceptable.

Eyeglasses:
• Eyeglasses are acceptable in photo only if the lenses are not tinted and there is no glare, shadows, or rims/frames obscuring the eyes. Glare on eyeglasses can usually by avoided by a slight upward or downward tilt of the head.

INCORRECT

Glare On Glasses

Head Coverings and Hats
• Hats or head coverings are only allowed if worn for religious reasons AND if they do not obscure any facial features.
• Photos containing tribal or other headgear not specifically religious in nature are unacceptable.
• Photos of military, airline, or other personnel wearing hats are not acceptable.

Brightness, Contrast, and Color
• Color should reproduce natural skin tones.
• Brightness and contrast should represent subject accurately.

INCORRECT
Improper Color	Too Dark
Contrast Too High

Exposure and Lighting
• Photo may not be over- or under-exposed
• Avoid shadows on face or background

INCORRECT
Over-Exposed	Shadows On Face
Shadow On Background