Seeking baby whisperer cum photographer

We are in the process of applying for our daughter's passport.  Of course we need a photo to be taken of her. But the requirements from the Australian passport office?! Nothing short of a mission impossible. There are the obvious requirements, child needs to be awake, the background should be plain and light in colour. But there's more, the child should look straight ahead, with open eyes and a closed mouth. We can manage two out of these three requirements at any given time, but not all three at the same time.

Clearly whoever came up with these rules does not have any children of their own. According to my online research most post offices in Australia refuse to take passport photos of infants and children (in Australia passport applications are handled by the post office - go figure). Even many photographers will not take passport photos of infants/young children, because the requirements make it very hard to get a photo that is approved.

Hence many parents with a decent camera resort to taking the photos themselves. This is also what me and my husband attempted. Unfortunately a week, four photography sessions and 500+ photos later we still haven't managed to take a photo that we are confident is just right.

Is there anyone that has any handy hints on how to get good photos of an infant or how best to get the baby to cooperate during the photo session? any suggestions will be hugely appreciated!!!