Last week, I needed several passport-size photographs for some documents. Thrilled that I would finally be getting some new photos taken, I began looking for a suitable shirt to wear. I hated my older photographs, and I could not afford to see those horrible shots on any new documents.

After practicing various fake smiles in the mirror and brushing my hair a number of times, I left for the studio.

A friendly photographer welcomed me, and I sat down on the chair, confident my photos wouldn't turn out as badly as they usually do. The camera flashed thrice and I was shown three photos.

Not happy with the shots, I requested the photographer to try again. Honestly, I was not very happy with the retakes either but I didn’t wanted to drive the photographer up the wall, so I agreed to them. My photos were ready in less than 10 minutes and I couldn't wait to see them.

They were monstrous, frightening, worse than I ever could have imagined.

My photos looked like those portraits they show of WWE wrestlers before they step into the ring. My neck looked longer than normal. One of my eyes somehow looked smaller than the other one. My fake smile looked even more awkward than it did in the mirror. Rats!

Is it just me or does everyone hate those passport-size photographs of themselves? If I use the new one on my passport, someone at immigration is sure to ask me if I am too sick to travel! Some people use one photo for many years on all their credentials and documents, but I refuse to live with these for even the next few months!

I think next time, I’ll try taking some photos on my own at home before going to the studio – maybe my practice shots will mentally prepare me for the real thing.

Or maybe I’ll take a few of these rotten ones I already have. One look at those and I won’t need to fake a smile – because these are so bad they just make me laugh.

Sadaf Hassan, age 19