Washington, DC Convention Photographers

Mike Gatty: A Washington, DC Convention Photographer

Let him tell the story of your convention.

Conventions, Conferences and Trade Shows are about people. Washington, DC convention photography is about people.  Crowds of people. Laughing people. Listening people. Speakers who engage your audience.  Your innovative leaders, your members that are receiving recognition or awards.  Mike is a national convention photographer who sees.  What he sees he has the skills to capture to tell your unique corporate story.

Hand Mike the schedule, give him an idea of what you’d like to highlight, and turn him loose.  He’ll photograph your convention, trade show, or conference and capture your moments. Your history.  His cameras will showcase your diverse and unique attendees, your loyal sponsors, and those moments that define your organization. A convention lasts a few days, but the story it tells can live forever. Make sure the right story is told.

A Washington, DC convention photographer for 25 years, Mike will capture history being made from the morning keynote to the late-night after party.  Again and again and again the camera will raise to his eye with one goal: capture the history in front of him.  The diverse attendees.  The famous speaker.  The moment when corporate heroes are finally introduced during the meet and greet.  That second when an entire family — both the corporate family and the personal family — come together to celebrate a lifetime of achievement.  The gala that follows.  A nationally recognized act performing on your stage.  The after party.  The breakout sessions the next morning.  Everything.  Photographer Mike Gatty has been photographing Washington, DC conventions, conferences and trade shows for  25 years.

Washington, DC convention photographers at the Mellon Auditorium.
A presenter at a Washington DC convention photography event.

Washington, DC Convention and conference photography is a unique niche, and it’s Mike’s specialty.  He knows what to take, and how to take it, from laser light shows at the closing concert, to award photos during the dinner.  From keynote to closing, our Washington, DC convention photographers have your back.  Photographer Mary Ann Gatty started our company in 1970.  She became a credentialed US Senate Gallery Press Photographer, White House Photographer, and worked for national news media.  Her son, Mike Gatty, became infatuated with photography in his mom’s darkroom, watching her images born under the wash of a red safety light.  When the planes hit the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001, Mike went to New York at the request of his dad, who was a magazine publisher.  He asked Mike to take pictures of the rescue operations.  Those photos were then picked up by national news magazines, and launched Mike’s career.  He then started as a US Senate Gallery press photographer, before joining his mom’s business in 2003.  In the coming years, he’d expand the family business to US Event Photos, which now has a national footprint.  Mike’s mom has retired from photography, but Mike continues the tradition of capturing convention photos.

Washington, DC Convention Photographers

Washington DC convention photographers capture a keynote speaker.
A key note presenter at a Washington, DC convention. Photographers Mike and Mary Gatty know how to take your keynote presenters.
Washington DC convention photographers with George W Bush
A participant warmly greets former President George W. Bush before a meet and greet at National Harbor.

Washington, DC Convention Photography Delivered Instantly.

In 2005, FAKT News contacted Mike because of a mention by the editor of Wired Magazine.  The editor had paised Mike’s instant turnaround of convention photography, what Mike called “instant image”.  The editor said it was “brilliant”.  FAKT News was a daily from Warsaw, Poland, and they were sponsoring a visit of former Polish president Lech Walesa to Capitol Hill.  They wanted a photographer who could upload photos onto a website, live, as they were taken.  They called Mike.

At the time, the system was a bridge between a plugged in cell phone, a bit of code Mike wrote, and Mike’s ability to “shoot clean”.  Then and now, he captures photos that don’t need hours of Photoshop tweaking.  Back in 2005, after the very long day of shooting, Mike was driving home.  His cell phone pinged, and there was an image of Walesa meeting then Senator Hillary Clinton on the front page.  The paper was being distributed throughout Warsaw.  Mike hadn’t even gotten home.  He was hooked, and had found his calling.

Now, he takes that same passion for “Instant Imaging”, and applies it to national convention photography.  Except, now, it’s a lot easier.  Dropbox, Smugmug, private pass coded galleries — all are ubiquitous today.   Hotspots are reliable.  Venue internet has become inexpensive.  But his ability to shoot clean, to upload ready-to-go conference photography, remains one of his most valuable skills.

You’ll receive photos almost live, as he takes them.  You’ll have access to Mike’s photos while the trade show continues to unfold around you.  Give access to the images to your key teams.  Your social media influencers.  Your show daily staff.  The media crew who produces the morning “smile” video.  Not only will Mike make sure they get the photos they need — he’ll accommodate their deadlines and special requests.  It’s a team effort.  It always has been, and always will be: whether your publishing FAKT News or a conference show daily.

Singer Rachel Platten is the subject of Washington dc conference photography

Rachel Platten performs for a Washington, DC conference.  Mike captured the singer on stage awash in stage lights.

washington dc convention photographers. An engaged listener in the audience at a keynote.
An engaged listener at a Washington, DC convention.

Washington, DC Conference Photographers

When a Rock Star Hits Your Stage.

You’ve waited a long time.  You are excited.  The keynote speaker you’ve lined up will change your corporate world.  The final band performing at your gala?  You had their posters hanging on your wall when you grew up.  You’re excited.  You’re about to make history.  Let Mike capture and record these brilliant Washington, DC convention moments.

Here’s a few things unique to Mike:

  • Our experience is deep.  He’s photographed every US President since George W. Bush.  By the way, his mom has photographed every US President since Jimmy Carter.  She founded the business.
  • He’s a Washington, DC convention photographer.  Hand him the schedule.  Tell him what’s important to you.  Turn him loose.
  • His experience is specific.   Mike’s been photographing Washington, DC conferences and trade shows for 25 years.  There’s not a lot you can throw at him he can’t photograph.  From laser light shows to liposuction demonstrations, he’s pretty much seen it all.
  • Mike’s Washington, DC Conference photography streams live to Dropbox, SmugMug, or private password protected galleries.  Clean, edited, images available seconds after he takes them.
  • Gala party?  He’ll capture the spirit of the event and all its nuance.  Your sponsor will be proud.  Here’s an example.
  • Awards dinner?  He’ll keep things moving, whether on stage or off.  Here’s an example.
  • Amazing concert planned?  Our photos rock and roll.  Here’s an example.
The CEO of General Mills address a national sales conference in Washington DC
The CEO of General Mills addresses his sales team at their national sales conference in Washington, DC.

Award Photography and Conventions

When The Rock Star Works For You.

Finally, your awards celebration is almost here.  Your heart races just a little when you think about it: this is the night you celebrate the best.

They’re those team members that gave your organization a lifetime of dedication.  Their family — their personal family not just their corporate family — has all RSVP’d.  But there’s only one problem:  your team rocks, so there are a lot of awards to give.  You are afraid it’ll take two days for everyone to be honored.  You’re afraid the photos — those all important award photos — will just take too long.  That makes you nervous.

Don’t be.  Mike has photographed award presentations for 25 years.  He knows how to keep everything moving.  He knows how important each moment is, even if there are A LOT of those moments.  He’s got your back, and he’ll photograph your awards, red carpet meet and greet, or achievement gala with passion.  You’ll appreciate he’s funny.   And fast.  Your award winners, celebrities and their families will all be comfortable in front of Mike’s cameras.

It’s worth mentioning again:  Mike is FUNNY.  But don’t take our word for it: Penn and Teller called him funny.  Well, Penn did (he’s the tall one), Teller doesn’t speak.  Green rooms, boardrooms, red carpets — Mike is cool, buttoned down, and easy going.  George W. Bush likes him. Donald Trump likes him. Are we name dropping?  You betcha.  And, yes, she liked him, too.  Someday, when you have time, ask Mike to tell you his Bush family story.  Something about Thanksgiving, a turkey, and Laura Bush.  He’ll have to explain.  Washington, DC convention photography will never be the same.

An award winner accepts an award on stage at this national convention.
A scientist receives a lifetime achievement award at this Washington, DC convention
A scientist receives a distinghished service award at a Washington, DC convention.

Washington, DC Red Carpet Photography

We are Washington, DC red carpet event photographers and we will run your red carpet event like the Oscars: smooth and fun.  With our experience, we’ll keep things moving right along.  A-list celebrity?  We’ve worked with top talent.  From US Presidents (Carter to Trump), to nationally recognized entertainers (Bon Jovi, Jay Leno, Penn and Teller, Sheryl Crow), we know how to put you, your participants, and even the celebrity at ease.

  • Washington, DC red carpet event photography.  Step and repeat photo opportunities.
  • Meet and greet photography with A-list celebrities.
  • Instant printing of red carpet photos.
  • Instant uploadto social media of red carpet moments.
  • Immediate email or text messaging of photos from the red carpet.
  • Red carpet event photographers for the Sprint Cup VIP NASCAR Red Carpet.
  • Red carpet event photographers for the Tribeca Film Festival.
washington dc red carpet photography