Treasure trove of celebrity passport photos unveiled in new book: See stunning portraits of baby-faced Mick Jagger, Joan Collins, Ava Gardner and more
A treasure trove of never-before-seen passport photos of celebrities has been revealed for the first time in a new book.
Passport Photo Service: An Unexpected Archive of Celebrity Portraits It includes more than 300 headshots taken over decades at a London studio that has quietly become an unexpected stop for the rich and famous.
The collection was put together by Philip Sharkey, son of photographer David Sharkey, who founded the Passport Photo Service on London’s lively Oxford Street in 1953.
Thanks to the studio’s prime location near the American Embassy, Hollywood stars, music royalty, and global icons including Shania Twain, Errol Flynn, Muhammad Ali, and Ringo Starr came by to snap last-minute photos before their flights.
Images of the studio’s most famous faces were displayed on the wall for customers to admire as they waited their turn to pose.
But now, for the first time, these intimate portraits are being shared with the public, along with the touching stories of the man who took them.
Muhammad Ali appears in the passport photo taken by David Sharkey in London
Joan Collins stopped by for three separate photographs in the 1960s and ’70s. They are included in the new collection
The most memorable names featured include Woody Allen, Joan Collins and Madonna.
Recalling his visit to the studio during the release of Allen’s 1980 film Stardust Memories, Sharkey said the director did not seem very excited to be there.
“When such recognizable clients seem a little annoyed at having to dash out of the embassy to have their photo taken and then rush back, I always think it’s best to leave them alone,” he wrote.
The cold encounter became even more remarkable when it came time for Allen to pay.
‘He didn’t seem to understand the value of the UK currency and handed me some notes; So I carefully selected them and gave it a rough conversion rate. “He didn’t seem too bothered by it.”
Allen wasn’t the only cold-blooded lister to enter the studio; When Van Morrison told Sharkey’s uncle Peter that he had bought tickets to see him in concert, he ignored him.
On the contrary, Sharkey described Dynasty diva Collins as a total charmer who was fully aware of the influence she had on her small studio and clients.
‘Joan Collins was at the height of her fame when she entered the studio for the third time in July 1988 to be photographed,’ he recalled.
Join the discussion
Should celebrities’ personal headshots be shared publicly, or does this violate their privacy?
Actor Dudley Moore is seen in the two photos on the left. Musician Van Morrison is seen at right in a 1988 photo
Shania Twain is seen on the left in 2003, Kate Winslet is seen on the right in 1997; The same year, the movie Titanic brought him to international fame.
Sean Connery stopped by the studio twice. The photos above show that her appearance has remained virtually unchanged in over a decade.
Bianca and Mick Jagger stopped by the studio to have their headshots taken in June 1967.
Sting is seen in a photo taken two decades ago. The Passport Photo Service remained in operation until 2019.
Cinema legends Sir Alec Guinness and Ava Gardner visited the studio.
The book is published by Phaidon and is on sale now
‘He had been with his children a few times before, but Dynasty was now a big television series,’ he continued.
‘As waiting customers sat with their mouths open, he said to us, “Honeys, how are you? It’s so nice to see you all again,” and then told the astonished onlookers, “I would never go anywhere else for my passport photos.”‘
He also revealed that Collins had a perfect landing position, describing it as ‘at a very slight angle to the left’.
Meanwhile, ‘Queen of Funk’ Chaka Khan has received rave reviews from the photographer, who described her as ‘a joy to photograph’ with a ‘happy, natural smile’.
But not every celebrity was willing to risk a public tour of his Oxford Street studio.
When Madonna needed new passport photos taken, Sharkey went to Home House, the ultra-exclusive private members’ club where the superstar was staying with her then-husband Guy Ritchie while their home was being renovated.
‘They had just put their kids to bed and rudely sat on some flight cases for their portraits,’ she recalled.
Sharkey added that he also took photos of several of Madonna’s children during separate visits to the studio with their nannies.
The Passport Photo Service remained in operation until 2019.
The coffee table book, published on April 15 and designed to look like a passport wallet, also includes portraits of Mick Jagger, Kate Winslet, Little Richard, George Michael, Bill Murray, Roy Orbison, Katy Perry and many more.
