Sam Farr has snapped a picture of himself in a barber chair every decade since the 1970s. And while the camera model changes over time, it’s the same two good friends—a barber and his customer—just getting older together.
In 1973, the newspaper photographer snapped a black and white ‘selfie’ while his stylish barber Joe Pace was giving him a trim in Bath, England.
“The first time I took the photo, I had just bought Rolleiflex camera for about £100, a lot of money back then, and I wanted to see what I looked like.
“I used to take photos for so many people back then but never took pictures of myself, so I decided to snap one and started a tradition.”
Sam went on to document himself at ‘Giuseppe’s of Bath’ five times in 50 years—in 1973, 1985, 2007, 2015 and 2023.
In each photo the barber’s smile gets bigger as their friendship grows, and Sam is seen sporting a new camera each time, ending at age 78 with an iPhone.
“He’s been cutting my hair for so long that he’s changed locations three times,” said Sam, who always gets same haircut each time, describing the look as ‘aging Beatle’.
“Every time I would come in, he would always say ‘oh it’s been 30 years, 40 years’.
“When we hit 50 years, we thought it would be special to celebrate it. He even gave me a free haircut.”
His daughter Nicky says this picture will likely be his last, due to his battle with Parkinson’s, because it’s too hard for him to hold a camera anymore.”
“The tradition has been lovely for him and us as a family though.
“Joe has always been a close friend and the pictures constantly come up on social media. The lovely thing is they always comment on how happy be looks.
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The former photo-journalist for the Bath Evening Chronicle quipped with a twinkle in his eye: “I have always stuck with Joe because if I keep coming back, he might get it right one day.”
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