Phaidon Publishes Passport Photo Service's Celebrity Archive Book

Phaidon Press has released 'Passport Photo Service: An Unexpected Archive of Celebrity Portraits,' a book featuring utilitarian ID photos transformed into social documents. The collection originates from a London passport photo studio founded in 1953 on Oxford Street, conveniently located near the United States and Canadian embassies. Photographer David Sharkey built this remarkable archive through his shop, which gained fame for its 'Ready in 10 Minutes' sign and rapid service using an automatic Kodak Veribrom processor that developed prints in under five minutes. Sharkey began working there at age 16, joined by his mother, uncle, and father. The studio attracted numerous celebrities seeking flattering passport photos, including Muhammad Ali, who signed a dedication to Philip Sharkey on June 11, 1974. Other notable subjects featured in the book are Mick Jagger, Bianca Jagger, Sean Connery, Kate Winslet, Shania Twain, Angelina Jolie, Tilda Swinton, and David Hockney. Loyal customer Stephen Fry remarked that those photographed by Philip felt elevated to a special club through this ritual. The book is currently available for $24.95.