Passport Photo Service

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, the studio became the go-to place for passport photos thanks to its Ready in 10 Minutes slogan, offering same-day 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. More than 100 photographs are accompanied by anecdotes written by Sharkey. Errol Flynn pushed open the door and, hands on hips, boomed, Yep, it s me. Sharkey s uncle Peter suggested that Bianca Jagger remove her 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. Magician Uri Geller bent a spoon. As Sharkey remembers, We didn t ask him to. It was our only spoon. Perfect for the photo historian, nostalgic, or celebrity buff, Passport Photo Service celebrates the story of a family-run business, revealing how even passport photographs can still be powerful 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