In the midst of a global pandemic, a three-month-old baby named Olive has unwittingly become an internet sensation, thanks to her adorable yet hilariously grumpy facial expressions in her passport photos. Her mother, Alice Tranfield, humorously remarked that Olive’s expressions perfectly capture the confusion of the times she was born into in 2020.
Alice, a Pilates instructor from Leicestershire, found herself in need of a passport for Olive, who is a dual citizen of the UK and Australia by descent. Due to pandemic restrictions, she couldn’t venture outside for a professional photoshoot. Instead, she improvised and decided to take matters into her own hands, quite literally, by using her iPhone to snap the passport photos in their conservatory, which had ample natural light and a blank white wall.
Alice shared that the decision to capture these priceless passport photos was somewhat spontaneous. Her partner, James, was working from home, and their three-year-old son was playing quietly. Olive had just woken up, and Alice saw it as the perfect opportunity to attempt to get a decent passport shot, even though Olive had been sporting a perpetually stern expression since birth.
Alice explained, “Since the day she was born, Olive has looked pretty angry! The health visitor had asked whether she had smiled yet at my six-week check-up (over the phone), a milestone that occurs at six weeks, and she had not; yet, her frown was strong. Even though she eventually had when they phoned me a few weeks later to check, we undoubtedly receive more frowns than smiles. I yelled for my husband James to come down and hold Olive so that I could try to take a good passport shot without her wiggling.”
Despite Olive’s seemingly grumpy demeanor, she was surprisingly cooperative during the impromptu photoshoot. James did his best to support her head while keeping his hands out of the frame, as the bright conservatory lights accentuated her frown. Meeting the strict passport photo requirements, such as “eyes must be open and clearly visible” and a “neutral facial expression,” proved to be quite a challenge for the young family.
Alice shared a collection of the resulting passport photos on Facebook, which garnered several comments from friends and relatives. One friend humorously remarked on Olive’s adorable frown lines, while another commented on her potential future as a poker player.
After numerous attempts, Alice and James finally settled on a passport photo they were satisfied with. However, they decided to delay the passport application process, as a message on the UK passport application website advised, “Unless this is urgent, please apply in a few months.”
Alice reflected, “With kids, a simple trip to Spain or France in an all-inclusive resort, where food and entertainment are all in one location, would be ideal. Before we had kids, I would have hopped on a plane to Sydney for a visit or explored more of Japan. Let’s hope Olive’s frown turns upside down by then!”
Olive’s passport photos have not only provided amusement for friends and family but have also reminded us all that even in the most unexpected places, the joy and humor of parenthood can shine through.
