If you do a Google search for an image of Vice President Kamala Harris, within seconds thousands of visuals show up. Among those photos is her February 2021 Vogue Magazine cover, pictures of her undergraduate years at Howard University, the inauguration swearing-in with husband Doug Emhoff by her side and a recent photo of her receiving the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine. The latter photo was captured by photojournalist Lawrence Jackson.
Photographing elected officials is something that Jackson has done for years. From 2009 to 2017, he worked as a staff photographer in the White House during the Obama Administration. The person who hired him, Peta Souza, served as an official White House photographer for President Ronald Reagan in the 1980s.
Under Souza, Jackson was part of a team that produced approximately 20,000 photos a week that mostly were released publicly on Flickr. Of the photojournalists hired to capture the private and public life of President Obama and his family in 2009, Jackson was the only African American. Traveling across the globe with President Obama afforded Jackson the opportunity to meet and cultivate relationships with people of all walks of life, something he worked to his advantage.
During the 2020 Democratic Presidential Primary, Jackson did some work for Harris, former Mayor of South Bend, Indiana, Pete Buttigieg, now U.S. Secretary of Transportation and Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.). On Jan. 15, Harris’ transition team announced Jackson’s hiring as the chief photographer for the vice president.
“To meet the unprecedented challenges facing our nation, we need to communicate clearly and honestly with the American people. (Jackson and) these appointees are dedicated public servants who will help us deliver on our commitment to contain the coronavirus pandemic, create an economy that works for working people and rebuild our country in a way that lifts up all Americans. I’m proud to serve the American people alongside them in the White House,” said Harris at the time.
Jackson’s passion for capturing moments started at an early age. Born and reared in Richmond, he grew up in a family where photography was a shared interest. During his freshman year of high school, his mother gave him his camera, a Pentax K-100. Even at an early age, Jackson viewed photography “as an opportunity to inform, evoke and inspire emotion.”
Jackson considers now deceased photographer Gordon Parks one of his biggest inspirations because, “He was the first Black photographer who crossed into mainstream coverage and he did it with every obstacle you could think of that was put in his way. Plus, he did more than photography – directing, music and writing.”
Before going off to college, Jackson graduated from George Wythe High School in Richmond. When he graduated, he immediately knew James Madison University in Harrisonburg is where he wanted to obtain his college degree. In the mid-1980s, Whitney Houston, Jody Watley and LL Cool J were dominating the music charts, and like most teenagers at the time, Jackson enjoyed music, hanging with friends and getting the most out of his college experience. Many nights were spent working as a photo editor for The Breeze, the school’s official newspaper.
Dr. Eric Fife currently is a professor in the JMU School of Communication Studies. When asked what it means to have a JMU graduate serve as the vice president’s chief photographer, Fife said, “We both attended JMU together. We are all incredibly impressed with Lawrence and everything that he has done.”
After four years of school assignments and newspaper deadlines, Jackson graduated in 1990 with a degree in photography. From there he began a year-long photojournalism internship program with Landmark Communications. He also interned at The Roanoke Times, The Greensboro News and Record and The Virginia-Pilot.
Jackson’s first full-time job was as a staff photographer for the Virginia-Pilot, a position he held for nearly a decade. In addition to covering in-depth features and news stories, he also covered sports and local news. Roanoke County resident Terrance Hunt, 61, distinctly remembers seeing Jackson’s work in the newspaper.
“I have family in Norfolk, and I every time that I visited them, I would read their local newspaper to see what was going on in the community. Lawrence’s work always stood out to me,” Hunt said. “I’ve enjoyed seeing the growth in his career and I’ll continue rooting for him and his success in the White House.”
When Jackson moved to Boston in 2000 to work as a staff photographer for the Associated Press, he covered both local and state politics, professional sports teams and significant events such as the World Cup in Korea and Super Bowls. During the third quarter of Super Bowl XXXV in 2001 featuring the Baltimore Ravens and New York Giants, Ravens wide receiver Jermaine Lewis scored an 84-yard touchdown on a kick return. That moment was captured by Jackson.
Having a job that goes well beyond the normal 9 a.m.-5 p.m. hours is something that many can relate. In Jackson’s case, he often has to work consecutive late nights and early mornings. Jackson is the first to say that nobody accomplishes anything solely by themselves and without his family and close friends he would not be able to fulfill his obligations as chief photographer.
It was Jackson’s wife, Alicia, who several years ago, encouraged him to work on a book to reflect his work and career. As a result, in 2019 Jackson published “Yes We Did: Photos and Behind-the-Scenes Stories Celebrating Our First African American President.” Filled with cherished reflections and pictures, Jackson’s book also contains first-person recollections from President Obama, everyday Americans and notable personalities such as Stephen Curry, Valerie Jarrett, Bono and Admiral Mike Mullen. The forward was written by President Obama, who said, “Eight years in the White House went by so fast. That’s why I’m so grateful that Lawrence was there to capture them.”
Jackson may not be the most famous photographer in the country, but few have a more important role. Fewer than 25 people have ever held the title of chief vice-presidential photographer. Not only is Jackson documenting the Biden Administration for history; he also is helping to frame its narrative in real-time.
Whenever Vice President Harris makes a public appearance, countless cameras document her every move. When it comes to her unguarded, quiet moments, Jackson is among the few who get to experience that side of her. When Harris and the Second Gentleman enjoyed a meal at Maria’s Empanadas Restaurant in Denver earlier this year, Jackson was there to capture the moment.
Lawrence Jackson has come a long way since his college days in Harrisonburg. Thirty-one years ago, as a member of the JMU Class of 1990, he was excited about entering the next chapter of his life. Despite all that he has accomplished, Jackson has never been the type to rest on his laurels. The next time you see a picture of Vice President Harris, there is a good chance the person who took it is a black man who is a product of Virginia.
Jackson and his wife currently live in the D.C. area with their two kids and two dogs.
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