A new book titled 'Passport Photo Service: An Unexpected Archive of Celebrity Portraits' showcases never-before-seen passport photos of over 300 celebrities, including Muhammad Ali, Madonna, and Mick Jagger. The images come from a family-run London studio that operated for 66 years before closing in 2019.
The studio was founded in 1953 by David Sharkey, a former boxer, after he overheard an American tourist complaining about being unable to get a passport photo in time to fly home. Sharkey set up Express Photos on Oxford Street, later moving to 449 Oxford Street in 1957 and renaming it Passport Photo Service. The location, opposite Selfridges and near several embassies, proved ideal for passport, visa, and green card photography.
Sharkey's son Philip, who joined the business at age 16 in 1973, compiled the book. He recalls that over the years, more than 800 celebrities visited the studio, with the book featuring 300 of those images. The studio's wall of fame, displaying celebrity photos, often drew disbelief from customers, including one who exclaimed, 'Muhammad Ali, Joan Collins, Mick Jagger, Arnold Schwarzenegger, I don’t believe you’ve photographed all these famous people!'
Philip Sharkey shares anecdotes from the studio's history, including a visit from actress Ava Gardner, who helped convince a sceptical customer. He also recalls Uri Geller bending the studio's only spoon during his visit. The book includes photos of stars such as Sean Connery, Kate Winslet, Tilda Swinton, and David Hockney, offering a unique social history of celebrity culture.
