Hi Wombat!

Yes, you are over reacting. Just a little bit.

There is no harm in sending a "recent" passport-sized photo of yourself. It's much better than sending a picture of you at age 12 (for instance). But I don't think it matters, as an adult, if the photo is from as "recently" as 3-5 years ago.

I like to have the mental image of friends when I correspond with them or talk to them by phone. Prospective employers (who likely won't see you face-to-face until you arrive on-site) would no doubt like to have a face to put to the e-mails and (phone) interviews.

*shrug* It's not really that big a deal, IMHO.