Driver Services Reminds Customers to Prepare for Their Credential Photograph

When visiting a Department of Driver Services (DDS) Customer Service Center, customers should be prepared to have their photograph taken as part of the credential-issuance process.

To ensure a smooth and efficient visit, customers are encouraged to arrive photo-ready with their face fully visible, free of hats, caps or bangs. Bangs are allowed in driver's license photos if they do not cover your eyes, eyebrows, or the upper forehead area. This may mean that bangs may have to be pinned away from the face or brushed back off the forehead.

For identification purposes, the photograph must clearly show the applicant’s face from the crown of the head to the base of the chin and from ear to ear. 

Tips for a Great Credential Photograph

Before visiting a DDS center, customers should:

  • Remove hats, caps, bonnets, scarves, other head coverings, and blemish patches that obscure the face and forehead.
  • Remove eyeglasses.
  • Remove earbuds and headphones before the photograph is taken.
  • Make sure the entire face is clearly visible, from the crown to the base of the chin and from ear to ear.
  • Avoid anything that creates shadows across the face.
  • Be prepared to look directly at the camera when the photograph is taken.
  • Follow any additional instructions provided by DDS staff.

“Taking a good credential photograph starts with simply being prepared,” said DDS Commissioner Angelique B. McClendon. “We encourage customers to be ‘photo ready’ before they arrive so the process can be as quick and convenient as possible.”

The photograph is an important part of a driver’s license, permit, or identification card and helps ensure the credential can be used for identification purposes.

For more information about driver’s licenses, permits, identification cards, and services available at DDS centers, visit https://dds.georgia.gov/.

About the Department of Driver Services

The Department of Driver Services (DDS) is responsible for providing driver licensing and identification services and helping ensure that credentials issued to customers meet identification and security requirements.