A Unique Collection of Celebrity Passport Photos
A fascinating collection of never-before-seen passport photos of celebrities has been made public for the first time in a new book. The book, titled Passport Photo Service: An Unexpected Archive of Celebrity Portraits, showcases over 300 headshots captured inside a London studio that became an unexpected stop for many famous individuals.
The collection was curated by Philip Sharkey, son of photographer David Sharkey, who established the Passport Photo Service on Oxford Street in 1953. Due to its prime location near the American Embassy, the studio became a go-to spot for Hollywood stars, music legends, and global icons such as Shania Twain, Errol Flynn, Muhammad Ali, and Ringo Starr.
Customers waiting for their turn to be photographed would often admire the images of famous faces displayed on the studio walls. Now, these intimate portraits are being shared publicly for the first time, along with personal stories from the photographer who captured them.
Among the most notable names featured in the collection are Woody Allen, Joan Collins, and Madonna. Sharkey recalled Allen’s visit to the studio around the time of his 1980 film Stardust Memories. The director appeared less than thrilled to be there, which led Sharkey to adopt a policy of leaving recognizable customers alone if they seemed uninterested.
“Sometimes, when customers who are so recognizable look a bit cheesed off at having to dash from the embassy to have their picture taken and then rush back, I always think it best to leave them be,” he wrote.
The encounter took an interesting turn when Allen attempted to pay. “He didn’t seem to understand the value of UK currency and just thrust some notes at me, which I carefully picked out, giving him a rough conversion rate. He didn’t seem too bothered by that.”
Allen wasn’t the only celebrity to show little interest in the studio. Van Morrison ignored Sharkey’s uncle Peter when he mentioned purchasing tickets to see him in concert. In contrast, Joan Collins, known for her role in Dynasty, was described as a complete charmer.
“When Joan Collins walked into the studio to be photographed for a third time in July 1988, she was at the peak of her fame,” Sharkey recalled. “She had been in a few times before with her children, but Dynasty was now a huge television series.”
“The customers who were waiting sat open-mouthed as she said to us, ‘Darlings, how are you? It is so nice to see you all again,’ before telling the stunned onlookers, ‘I never go anywhere else for my passport photos’.”
Sharkey also noted that Collins had perfected the perfect pose, which he described as “on a very slight angle to the left.”
Meanwhile, ‘Queen of Funk’ Chaka Khan earned praise from the photographer, who called her “a delight to photograph” with “a happy, natural smile.”
Not all celebrities were willing to visit the Oxford Street studio. When Madonna needed new passport photos, Sharkey instead traveled to Home House, the exclusive private members club where the superstar was staying with then-husband Guy Ritchie while their home was under renovation.
“They had just put their children to bed and sat themselves down unceremoniously on some flight cases for their portraits,” he remembered. Sharkey also photographed several of Madonna’s children during separate visits to the studio with their nanny.
The Passport Photo Service operated until 2019. The coffee table book, released on April 15, is designed to resemble a passport wallet and includes portraits of other notable figures such as Mick Jagger, Kate Winslet, Little Richard, George Michael, Bill Murray, Roy Orbison, and Katy Perry.
