FACE AND EAR COMPARISONS SERVICE

by Joelle Steele

I have been comparing and analyzing faces and ears to authenticate identities of faces in photographs since 1973, professionally since 1983, and I am a court-certified expert in this process. I do not use any kind of face recognition software, as that technology cannot be used to analyze the details in faces that look alike. I offer three options for analyses and comparisons of facial features and ears, plus an option for a Declaration. Please check out my articles, advice column, and books.

Accuracy is critical to making a good comparison, so please follow the instructions below very carefully.

NOTICE: I no longer compare and analyze photographs believed to be of Abraham Lincoln, Jesse James, Frank James, or Billy the Kid. Please don't even ask, as I don't respond.

INSTRUCTIONS

1) If your comparison and analysis specifically involves the ears, please make sure all your photos are of the same ear. Ears are never exactly the same on any given head.
2) Scan your questioned photo and up to three exemplars (known photos) in color (even if originals are black and white).
3) Scan your photos at high resolution (300-600 dpi minimum, or 1200 dpi if it's a face in a group photo).
4) Save your photos as individual .JPG files.
5) Name and number your files so I can identify them (e.g., questionedphoto.jpg, and up to three exemplars, e.g., exemplar-1.jpg, exemplar-2.jpg, exemplar-3.jpg).
6) Do NOT alter or enhance your photos in any way.
7) Do NOT send me composites, overlays, PDFs, zipped files, or links to photos on Web sites.
8) Do NOT send me originals or prints by US Mail.
9) E-mail your photos as attachments to me at: joellesteele@joellesteele.com.

I will look at your photos to see if they are clear enough to be analyzed and to make sure I have not analyzed your image previously (yes, it does happen). I will then respond to your E-mail and say whether or not I can analyze them. After I confirm to you that I can compare and analyze the faces, select the appropriate Option below and make your payment to joellesteele@joellesteele.com at PayPal. Turnaround time depends on how busy I am, but 1-3 working days is about average.

Option #1: Comparison Analysis Without Explanation – $75
A yes/no response in an E-mail as to whether or not it is the same person, with no explanation as to why that determination was made.

Option #2: Comparison Analysis with Brief Explanation – $100
A yes/no response in an E-mail as to whether or not it is the same person, plus a very brief explanation as to why that determination was made.

Option #3: Comparison and Expert Declaration – $600
When I write a Declaration, I do NOT advocate for a specific litigant, and this is clearly stated in my Declaration. I am only seeking to determine whether or not a face in a photograph is authentic. I generally provide my signed Declaration on pleading paper. If you or your attorney want to place my text on your own pleading paper, let me know and I will send you a Word doc instead. However, please be aware that I will not sign a Declaration that has anything in it that is not exactly what I wrote, or in which anything is omitted that I did write. The same instructions used for Options 1 and 2 above are necessary for me to do a Declaration. Turnaround time for analysis is about 1-3 days, and about 3-5 days for a Declaration. After I confirm to you that I can do the face comparison and analysis, please make a payment of $100. If you want me to proceed to doing the Declaration after the faces are compared and analyzed, please make an additional payment of $500. Please make your payments to joellesteele@joellesteele.com at PayPal, or send a check payable to Joelle Steele, PO Box 8492, Lacey, Washington 98509-8492.