An Experienced Lens: A Veteran Photographer’s Quest for Growth on Inauguration Day

Times Insider clarifies our identity and mission, offering behind-the-scenes perspectives on how our reporting coalesces.

Donald J. Trump declared on Friday that his second inauguration would occur within the Capitol rotunda, deviating from tradition due to predicted extremely low temperatures in Washington. For Doug Mills, a photographer who documents the White House for The New York Times, that was the moment when numerous plans went awry.

A presidential inauguration necessitates weeks of preparation for the Times photography crew. The weekend of events surrounding the transition of democratic authority demands choreography, collaboration, and technical planning. Mr. Mills approximated that he had spent five to six hours every day on the phone over the past two weeks organizing his positions for Mr. Trump’s swearing-in on Monday.

The most recent inauguration held indoors occurred in 1985, marking the beginning of Ronald Reagan’s second term and the first inauguration that Mr. Mills captured. That year, Mr. Mills worked for The Associated Press and spent the night prior to the ceremony in his vehicle parked at Federal Plaza.

Mr. Mills has covered every inauguration since then, documenting seven presidents, and he will be in Washington, indoors, on Monday to photograph Mr. Trump’s second inauguration.

In two discussions on Thursday and Friday, Mr. Mills elaborated on his technique for photographing Inauguration Day, the late alteration in format, and Mr. Trump’s connection with the media.

These dialogues have been refined and summarized.

What is your strategy for this assignment?

I contemplate aspects I can enhance from my observations at previous inaugurations. I’ve gained a great deal of insight from all of them. This year, I’m striving to capture moments that eluded President Trump’s first inauguration. I believe President Trump and the first lady, Melania Trump, will experience an entirely different sentiment regarding the ceremonies and their functioning.

Similar to Reagan’s second swearing-in, this year’s ceremony will occur indoors due to severe cold. How does that influence your preparation?

It has completely transformed our entire game plan. We are transitioning from a large contingent of photographers to a limited number who will be present.

My day is being altered because the parade has been shifted to an indoor event, akin to a rally. It’s unfortunate, and it alters the overall dynamic of the photographs. They will appear much more ceremonial throughout the day, with everything taking place indoors under artificial lighting.

Americans are familiar with a split-screen moment on Inauguration Day, where the president goes directly from the ceremonies to the White House to sign executive orders and generate news. Did presidents engage in this when you began covering these events?

It’s definitely a novel occurrence. I’m uncertain if it commenced with Barack Obama, but I recall him signing executive orders after his inauguration.

During the initial Trump administration, we had greater photo and press access to President Trump than I’ve experienced with any previous president. Typically, you are permitted in for a photo session lasting 2 or 3 minutes. However, with President Trump, we were in the room for 90 minutes. He would express, “I want this to be transparent.”

We will strive to stay updated with all the signings, as I anticipate there will be a desk piled with black leather folders that will set the direction for the following four years and revoke some of the actions taken by President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris. It is set to transition swiftly from a ceremonial day to a work-oriented day.

Can you recall any instances during all the inaugurals when you had to adjust to something unexpected?

I don’t remember anything particularly strange; however, there was a moment when Barack Obama and Michelle Obama were strolling down the street immediately after he was inaugurated. They were holding hands and then drew close together, like, “Here we are.” It was a moment that remains with me to this very day.

You’ve mentioned how approachable President Trump is for photographers. He was a media personality prior to entering politics. Does documenting someone who enjoys being photographed as much as he does present an extra challenge?

He is an expert at crafting imagery. Moreover, he has employed staff members who are aligned with that vision. They do everything within their capability to assist photographers and media to facilitate that imagery. It’s exhausting labor.

He reviews more images of himself than any previous president I’ve encountered. He analyzes them. He is aware of what the media is doing and grasps the role of media and how to steer the news cycle.

The greater access we have to the president, the more our readers comprehend how the White House and government operate. When we miss those moments, it is disheartening for me, and I believe it does a disservice to the readers who have elected the individual.

Was Reagan, who was also prominent in the media before his presidency, similar to Trump in his focus on his image? And did those two differ significantly from the other presidents you’ve reported on?

I’ve consistently stated that Obama is the most photogenic president I’ve ever documented, while Trump is the most iconic. Reagan, akin to Trump, recognized the visual aspect of everything. He would step onto a stage and illuminate it. Although there wasn’t the same level of access to him as there is with Trump, we still had considerable access to him. We operated in a distinct media era when there wasn’t a 24/7 cycle of cable programming. However, we indeed accomplished a lot of visually engaging work with him.