Some application forms ask for a photo with your name and the date of the photo written at the bottom. It looks simple, but many applicants get it wrong: the text is too small to read, it hides the face, the date is in the wrong format, or the file becomes too big. This guide shows how to do it properly on a phone or a computer.
Why do forms ask for it?
The authority uses the name and date to check that the photo belongs to you and that it is recent, so that an old or borrowed photo cannot be used. That is why the date should always be the real day on which the photo was taken, and the name should match your documents.
Not every form needs this. Look at the photo instructions in the official notification first, and follow exactly what it says about the position, the text and the size.
What you need
- A clear, recent, front-facing photo (see our guide on taking a photo at home)
- Your name, spelled exactly as in your form and documents
- The date on which the photo was taken
- The size and the KB limit from your form
Step by step with our tool
- Open the Name and Date on Photo tool and choose your photo.
- Type your name. Use the same spelling as in your certificates and in the form.
- Check the date. It is set to today, so change it if the photo was taken on another day.
- Choose the date format that your form asks for. If the form does not say, DD/MM/YYYY is the most common choice in India.
- Choose where the text should go. Most forms want a white strip below the photo, so your face stays completely clear.
- Enter the final size and the maximum KB. The size includes the text area.
- Press Create photo, read the text in the preview, and download the file.
Your photo is processed in your browser and is not uploaded to our website.
How to write the name
- Write it exactly as on your documents, without titles such as Mr or Ms, unless the form asks for them.
- Using capital letters makes it easier to read in a small space, and the tool does this by default.
- Do not use nicknames, or shortened versions of your name.
How to write the date
Write the date in a clear numeric format such as 12/06/2026 or 12-06-2026. The tool also offers a format with the month name, like 12 Jun 2026, which avoids confusion between day and month. Follow the form if it gives an example. Do not change the date to a later or earlier day.
Text size and readability
The most common failure is text that is too small. Follow these points:
- A text area of about 20% of the height works for most photos of a normal size.
- If your photo is small, or your name is long, increase the text area to 25% or 30%.
- Put the name and the date on separate lines, which gives each a larger size. Use one line only for a short name.
- After creating the photo, zoom into the preview. If you cannot read the text easily, make the text area bigger.
Common mistakes
- Writing the text over the face or the chin.
- Using an old photo with a new date.
- A different spelling of the name than on the documents.
- Very small text that becomes a blur after compression.
- Resizing the finished photo again in another app, which stretches the text. Set the final size in the tool itself.
- Uploading the file in the wrong box, or with a wrong format. It should be a JPG.
Final check before uploading
- Is the face clear, and is the text separate from it?
- Are the name and the date correct and easy to read?
- Are the pixel size and the KB inside the allowed limit?
- Is the format JPG?
- Have you opened the final file on your screen and looked at it?
If the upload still fails, see our guide on photo and signature upload problems.
Frequently asked questions
Should the date be today’s date?
It should be the date on which the photo was taken. If you took the photo today, use today. Otherwise, choose the correct date in the tool.
Can I add the text in a photo editing app instead?
Yes, but then you must also fix the size and the KB, which takes more steps. The tool does everything in one go.
Should the text be black or white?
On a white strip, black text is the clearest. On the dark band option, the tool uses white text automatically.
What size should I choose?
Use the size in your form’s notification. The presets in the tool are common examples only.
Sarkari Photo Tools is an independent website and is not connected to any government department. Please always check the official instructions of your form.