To ensure your biometric photo meets embassy standards, follow these steps:

• No Editing: Make sure to ask the photographer not to edit or retouch the photo. It should be natural and unaltered.
• Background: The background must be one colour and bright (ideally a neutral grey colour) and in a contrasting colour to the face and hair. In the case of light-coloured hair, a medium-grey background is suitable whilst a light-grey background is suitable for dark hair. The background must not be patterned. The photo must show only the person to be photographed (no other persons or objects in the photo). Shadows on the background are not acceptable.
• Correct Size: The photo should be the exact size (35mm x 45mm) mentioned in the embassy guidelines. There should be no white outline or border, as shown in the sample provided by the embassy.
• Neutral Expression: Keep a neutral expression with your eyes open and mouth closed. Avoid wearing any accessories unless for religious or medical reasons.

Yes, you can wear glasses, but the following rules apply:

• Eyes must be clearly visible (no flash reflection off the lenses, no tinted lenses or sunglasses).
• The edge of the lenses or frames should not cover any part of the eyes.

Yes. Your face must be visible from the bottom of your chin to the forehead as mentioned in the sample. One can also cover the ears.

C H I L D R E N
For children aged 9 and under, the following requirements apply:

• The face should take up 50-80% of the photo, with measurements from the bottom of the chin to the crown (top of the head) between 22-36mm.
• If the face measures less than 17mm or more than 40mm, the photo will be rejected.

B A B I E S A N D V E R Y Y O U N G C H I L D R E N

• For children aged 5 and under, the same facial measurements apply as for older children, but they don’t need a neutral expression or to look directly at the camera. Their heads don’t have to be centered in the photo.
• Babies under one year don’t need to have their eyes open.

You can find the complete photo guide from the German Embassy Site.
Link: Biometric Sample Guide