Who’s Behind the Lens? An Exploration of Access, Relationships, and Storytelling in the Production of Photographs of U.S. Presidents
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Date
2024-12-19
Authors
Jackson, Emilee
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Publisher
University of Oregon
Abstract
This dissertation investigates the lived experiences and perspectives of 14 U.S. presidential photographers – both those granted access within the "velvet rope" at the White House and those who remain outside it. The study illuminates the roles of Official White House photographers and still news photographers in the press corps, their perceptions of their role, and the potential impact of their work on the American public. Based on a multifaceted qualitative approach incorporating historical context, theoretical perspectives, interviews with renowned photographers, exploratory focus groups, and a close reading of selected photographs, analysis uncovered core themes of access, relationships, and storytelling as critical factors in presidential photography. By using elements of grounded theory, this research integrates framing and visual rhetoric theories through the lens of symbolic interactionism theory. Findings reveal how access to the inner circle of the presidency provides photographers with unique perspectives, enabling them to create compelling narratives that can impact public perceptions. Through both journalistic and documentary photography, these photographers function as storytellers and documenters of history. Furthermore, collaborative relationships between photographers and presidents emphasize the intricate interplay of trust, authenticity, and representation. Focus group findings suggest that the viewing public is likely unaware of the differences between the roles of news photographers and Official White House photographers and why the roles matter and that viewers/readers rely on their own interpretations of visual indicators in photographs to determine the role of the photographer. Participants interpreted behind-the-scenes moments to have different tones than photographers believed they were conveying. They also expected to see the president in professional moments rather than in relaxed moments. A close reading of selected photographs confirmed that, although similarities and differences in photos taken by White House and news photographers are difficult to interpret in small sets, differences in their framing and the visual narratives presented are evident. This dissertation addresses a gap in research by exploring the connections among photojournalism ethics, the history of presidential photography, and the creation of political imagery of U.S. presidents.
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Keywords
Access, Photojournalism, Political imagery, Presidential photography