There is the half fare card, which, as the name suggests, means you can then buy tickets for any public transport in Switzerland at ½ price.
There is a Swiss pass, which means you don't need to buy tickets, the pass is your ticket.
There is no reason to have both, if you have a pass, the ½ fare card gives you no further benefits.
The tourist version of both of these DO NOT require a photo and can be obtained online in advance from the SBB website, or from any Swiss border station or airport station. You use your passport as ID.
The tourist ½ price card costs CHF 120 for one month, the Swiss Pass is available for different period at different costs (details here: https://www.sbb.ch/en/leisure-holidays/travel-in-switzerland/international-guests/swiss-travel-pass.html ).
What you are possible confusing these with is the options available to residents.
An annual half price card is available (Halb Tax Abo, CHF 185), and an annual pass (called a "General Abonnement" or "GA", CHF 3860). Both these require application in advance, and a Swiss address to send them to. You need a photo, they come in a credit card size with your photo on a card.
These cost more than the tourist ones, but last a whole year, so for regular travellers they are much better value. But you need a Swiss address to order them.
