In a photographic lineup, what are key requirements for the lineup images?

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Lineups are designed to minimize bias so eyewitness identifications rely on facial features rather than background cues or other distractions. The key requirement for the photos is that the backgrounds be consistent across all images. When the backdrops vary, differences in lighting, color, or surrounding objects can unintentionally cue the witness to pick one photo, not because the person resembles the suspect, but because of the background. A uniform background helps ensure that only the faces are a basis for identification. While fillers should resemble the suspect to avoid obvious mismatches, the most fundamental standard addressed here is background consistency. The other options would introduce bias or misrepresent lineup design: making suspects look very different would bias the identification, and a lineup should include fillers, not only actual suspects.