Photographers share their experience covering the trial involving hush money and Trump

At 7 a.m. each day over the last month, a group of five photographers has assembled at the Manhattan Criminal Courthouse to document former President Donald Trump’s hush money trial.

Among them are seasoned photojournalists Jeenah Moon and Spencer Platt from Bloomberg and Getty Images, respectively. They have chronicled high-profile figures for years and now, their focus is on Trump for the hush money trial witness testimony that began on April 22.

Trump, being a former reality TV personality, knows the power of the camera all too well, as noted by Moon. “He likes to pose for us,” she adds. “He used to be a TV personality on a reality show, so he knows how to play with the media.”

Spencer Platt, a courtroom photographer at the trial, shares the pressure of capturing moments at such a historic event. “For the first couple of weeks, the historic weight of the first presidential trial, really, in modern history weighs on you,” he says. “Your editors are anxious, everyone’s anxious, and there’s a lot of nervousness. You don’t want to be the one to make stupid mistakes.”

Only five press pool photographers have been given access to cover the trial from inside the courtroom on behalf of news organizations. The photographers are ushered in to capture images of Trump as soon as he enters, with less than a minute to get the shots they need.

“You are documenting history,” says Platt, who is a 2022 Pulitzer Prize winner for breaking news photography. “It’s kind of weird and awkward too because the court gets really quiet. It’s just the sound of cameras and jostling photographers. You can hear a pin drop.”

Unlike other high-profile cases, pool photographers are allowed to take pictures of Trump only while inside the courtroom. The judge, prosecution, and witnesses are off-limits, with camera flashes prohibited.

According to the photographers, Trump poses for them while sitting at the defense table. “He goes from one camera to the next, to the next,” Platt describes. “He gives everyone about a 10-second pose, with his eyes in a serious look.”

Moon adds her observation of Trump’s behavior, stating, “He’ll smile, or wink, though he’s never winked at me yet. He’ll take a deep breath and then look at each photographer — sometimes I have to wait.”

She also points out the different story she sees behind the lens, noting, “He tries to look very intense, more strong, but as a photographer, even though you look great when you look stronger on the outside, I can see in his eyes that he looks tired.”

After capturing the moments, officers escort the photographers into the hallway to upload the images on their computer systems for real-time access by the press. Moon describes the process as “very hectic,” especially for a newcomer, but highlights the camaraderie and shared resilience among the pool photographers.

Platt, as a lifelong New Yorker who has photographed Trump for over a decade, acknowledges Trump’s team for being accommodating to the press, despite their attacks on the media. “On any given day, usually we have three to four opportunities where he will come fairly close to us,” he explains.

During the court’s lunch break, Trump and his team pass through the hallway, allowing pool photographers to take photos. Moon notes the challenge of low lighting, but Trump seems to have found ways to position himself under the best lighting for the shots.

No witnesses, including Stormy Daniels or Michael Cohen, have been seen in the hallway, though Daniels was spotted from a distance according to Platt. Moon highlights the importance of thinking outside the box in such cases, requiring “street smarts” to anticipate and capture key moments.

Platt, who recently covered the Israel-Hamas conflict in Gaza, emphasizes the important duty of a news photographer. “I don’t think there’s a better life out there,” he says. “When you’re a news photographer, you have no idea what’s ahead of you. You wake up in different states and motel rooms you never thought you’d be going to because there was a breaking news event you’re covering.”

With each day of the hush money trial bringing new challenges and opportunities to document this historic event, the pool photographers at the Manhattan Criminal Courthouse continue to capture the essence of a pivotal moment in modern history.