Students see a life through pictures.

by Sarah Rodriguez

Former presidential photographer David Valdez spoke with the Presidency and the Press participants this morning from Texas via Skype. Not only did he share his career path in photography through a picture slideshow, Valdez also shared his personal memories of his White House service.

Valdez was drafted into the United States Air force after high school. He was assigned to be a photographer at a base in Tampa, Florida where he contributed to the base newspaper and provided aerial shots for Air Force use. “[It was] really solid training. Being eighteen or nineteen years old, I never knew would take me anywhere,” said Valdez.

Valdez was hired as then Vice President George Bush’s personal photographer in 1983 and, later in 1988, President Bush made him Director of the White House Photo Office and, once again, his personal photographer. This position allowed him to travel to all fifty states and over seventy countries with President Bush.

As well as once being the General Manager of Photography for Walt Disney Attractions, Valdez contributed to that Unites States Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Valdez is now technically retired but still receives requests to be a feature speaker for the National Press Club and the Smithsonian. He is also currently working on a project with the Discovery Channel.