Arnold Schwarzenegger

Photographing the then-governator as an event photographer illustrated how photographs shape politics and public perception. It was an eye-opening experience.

When I lived in Los Angeles, I occasionally photographed celebrity events. But there are celebrities and then there are CELEBRITIES. When I answered a call from Arnold Schwarzenegger’s political campaign division, the California Dream, I was extra thrilled.

This event at Kenter Canyon Elementary School in Brentwood showed me how photography can shape hard news.

Since I was hired by Schwarzenegger, my goal was to portray him in a positive light. Dozens of news photographers and video crews were also at this event, but their goals were different.

While voting, Schwarzenegger made a mistake on his ballot. When he gave that ballot to the poll worker, she told him that he had made a mistake and that his ballot was going to be voided and he would have to vote again and correct the mistake. The look he gave her was a meanish face you’ve seen in countless films.

The press surrounding me started clicking away. And that face was the image that ran in the Los Angeles Times the next day; the story became about the ballot mistake instead of the bill he was promoting. It all happened in just a split second, and it really wasn’t news, but it was sensational and thus made the papers.

Another story from this event was that I was told by his handlers to never do “3, 2, 1” with him because he really hates it. For a second, I instead thought about doing “1, 2, 3″—but I was worried about being terminated.

It was fun to work alongside the press gaggle and within their boundaries, but because I had security detail clearance, I also had close-up access where the press wasn’t allowed.

Anyway, here are a few photos from his event. I delivered these in color, but for this page, I decided I wanted to share them in black and white.