Passport Photo Service: An Unexpected Archive of Celebrity Portraits

by Philip Sharkey

Genres: Photography, Nonfiction, Art

256 pages, Hardcover

Published April 15, 2026

Reviews

[Sharron]

This is not a book to read; rather it is one to browse. Actors, writers, athletes, politicians, every body of note has to have a passport photo. Here they are - decades of them - along with the author’s commentary regarding what occurred when they appeared to have their photo taken. It’s the ideal coffee table book. See how many people you recognize without reading the captions. Harder than you might imagine but fascinating.

[Cheryl Gladfelter]

This was really fun. I did expect the book to be larger, but I loved the small size. It made the intimacy of the photos really lovely. It was enjoyable reading about this small business that did a niche service that so many people used. And the photos! I loved seeing the wide range, and especially seeing the high number of boxers, authors, and artists represented. And the anecdotes were entertaining. A delightful little book.

[Adele]

I used to get all my passport photos done here and would duck in for just the pics of my first born every couple of months. I kept meaning to visit when back in the uk but only when I saw this in my local bookshop did I realise it had closed down. A magic little time capsule on so many levels.

[Mere]

What a fun little time capsule of famous people's passport photos.

[Lindsey Burnett]

This was a fun little book. I was expecting more of a “coffee table” book; but I actually loved that it was giving more of a physical passport vibe.

[Cindy DavisClark]

Very unusual book all about a British family business takes passport photos with actual celebrity photos Saw this discussed in newspaper and had to request from the library. Fascinating

[Nikky Southerland]

It's fun!

[Ryan Hertel]

A perfect little coffee table book and curiosity - there’s a photo or story in here for everyone

I particularly laughed at the photos of Iggy Pop and Katy Perry next to each other on opposite pages.

[Kelly]

I love books like this. Photographs, humans, browsable.