Passport Photo Service: An Unexpected Archive of Celebrity Portraits

'For decades Philip Sharkey modestly ruled the London roost of passport and visa photography: the greatest, most trusted and admired practitioner in the field. Those lucky enough to have come before Philip’s lens always left feeling that we had participated in a ritual that elevated us to a special kind of club. This wonderfully produced memoir vividly brings back to life a vanished time in the capital. Delicious.’ – Stephen Fry

A never-before-seen archive of 300 celebrity portraits from London’s iconic Passport Photo Service, where actors, writers, musicians, athletes, and other famous faces posed for their travel document photographs 

Since opening its doors in 1953, Passport Photo Service, an unassuming studio on Oxford Street in London, photographed thousands of people for passports, visas, and green cards – and some of them just happened to be famous. It was a family affair run by professional boxer turned photographer Dave Sharkey, his wife, Ann, and, eventually, their son Philip. Conveniently located near the US embassy and directly opposite the department store Selfridges, Passport Photo Service became the go-to place for passport photos thanks to word-of-mouth and its 'Ready in 10 Minutes' slogan, offering instant service before anyone else in the city was able to provide such a quick turnaround. This charming book is a collection of more than 300 never-before-published portraits taken over the course of six decades, including actors, writers, musicians, politicians, athletes, and more.

Organized loosely alphabetically, Passport Photo Service includes such famous faces as Muhammad Ali, Shirley Bassey, Eric Clapton, John Cleese, Joan Collins, Sean Connery, Anton Corbijn, Tim Curry, Daniel Day-Lewis, Michelle Dockery, Stefan Edberg, Mia Farrow, Tom Ford, Stephen Fry, Ava Gardner, J. Paul Getty, Althea Gibson, Chrissie Hynde, Mick Jagger, Angelina Jolie, Chaka Khan, Little Richard, Madonna, Rami Malek, Stella McCartney, George Michael, Carey Mulligan, Bill Murray, Peter O’Toole, Alan Rickman, Paul Robeson, Ringo Starr, Tilda Swinton, Shania Twain, Valentino, Gene Wilder, Kate Winslet, and Natalie Wood, among many others.

More than one hundred of the portraits are accompanied by anecdotes and amusing stories, written by Philip Sharkey. Among his memories: The first celebrity to use their services, Errol Flynn, pushed open the door and, hands on hips, boomed, 'Yep, it’s me.' Muhammad Ali’s picture was taken on his way to the DRC (formerly Zaire) to fight George Foreman in the famous Rumble in the Jungle match. Sharkey’s uncle Peter suggested that perhaps Bianca Jagger remove her large hat for her photo, as the government might not accept the picture. She responded, 'They will for me.' She didn’t come back for a retake. In his introduction, which tells a brief history of his family’s business, Sharkey declares, 'One thing is for sure, whoever we photographed, famous or not – we treated them all with the same care and respect. In that moment, when the flash goes off, your passport photo becomes a great leveler.'

Perfect for the photo historian, London nostalgic, or celebrity buff, Passport Photo Service’s design is an homage to the art of the passport, as well as the studio’s photo wallets that held developed prints, complete with a leatherette cover and a smart red stamp. Filled with a wonderfully eclectic assortment of subjects, this book is a breath of fresh air in the age of tightly controlled imagery. This volume charismatically yet emphatically celebrates the importance of vernacular photography and the story of a family-run business, revealing how images even made for travel documents can still be powerful portraits.