The Passport Photo Service, a small London studio, has captured the essence of celebrity life for over six decades. This unassuming business, nestled on Oxford Street, was a haven for those seeking passport, visa, and green card photos. Founded by a boxer-turned-photographer, Dave Sharkey, and passed down to his son, Philip, the studio attracted a star-studded clientele, including Muhammad Ali, Madonna, and Arnold Schwarzenegger. What makes this story truly captivating is the insight it offers into a rapidly changing London. The studio's closure in 2019, partly due to the relocation of the US embassy, marks the end of an era. The book, 'Passport Photo Service: An Unexpected Archive of Celebrity Portraits', published by Phaidon, showcases over 300 celebrity portraits from the 1950s to the 2010s. This collection is a testament to the studio's unique position near embassies and its ability to cater to both the famous and the not-so-famous. The passport photo, as Sharkey calls it, is 'the great equalizer', offering a candid and stripped-down view of its subjects. The book also highlights the changing landscape of Oxford Street, where small businesses are making way for high-end shopping. The studio's history is a fascinating blend of personal and professional, with Sharkey reflecting on the changing nature of celebrity and the business of photography. In my opinion, this story is a reminder of the fleeting nature of fame and the enduring power of photography to capture a moment in time. It's a disappearing London, and a disappearing way of life, that this book immortalizes.
