Almost every Indian exam notification asks for a photograph on a white or light coloured plain background. It is one of the most common reasons a photo gets rejected, and it is also one of the easiest things to fix.
What counts as plain
The background needs to be a single, even, light colour with nothing visible behind you. That means no doorframes, no patterned curtains, no other people, no furniture edges, and no strong shadows.
Pure white is safest. Very light grey and very light blue are usually accepted, but check your notification.
Getting it right at home
Find a plain light wall. Most homes have one. It does not need to be pure white, just plain and light.
Stand about a metre away from it. This is the step most people skip, and it matters more than anything else. Standing close to the wall throws a hard shadow behind your head. Stepping back lets the shadow fall on the floor instead of the wall.
Face a window. Daylight from the front is the most flattering and the most even. Do not stand with the window behind you, or you will come out as a silhouette.
Avoid direct sunlight. Bright sun creates harsh shadows across your face. An overcast day or a shaded window is better.
Have someone else take it. A selfie taken at arm’s length distorts your face, and the angle is usually wrong. Ask someone to stand a couple of metres away and use the rear camera, which is sharper than the front one.
Framing
Your face should fill most of the frame, centred, with a little space above your head. Look straight into the lens with a neutral expression. Keep your shoulders square.
Do not wear a cap, mask or spectacles unless your notification specifically allows them.
What not to do
Do not use a background removal app unless you check the result carefully. These tools often cut into hair or ears and leave a rough edge, which looks obviously edited and can be rejected.
Do not photograph an existing printed photo. Several commissions ban this explicitly and it is grounds for rejection on its own.
Do not use a beauty filter. Your appearance at the exam centre needs to match the photo on your admit card.
After you take it
You will still need to crop it to the required dimensions and bring the file size into the allowed range. Our photo resizer does both at once, in your browser, without uploading your photo anywhere.