Around Orange and The Orange Conference, we love photography! We are excited to host Eric Draper former White House photographer for George W. Bush.

Draper has been privy to numerous celebratory and grave moments in United States history, including the devastating events of September 11, 2001.

Specifically, Draper served as special assistant to the President and White House photographer for President George W. Bush. Draper documented the entire eight years of the Bush administration and directed the conversion of the White House Photo Office from film to digital.

Prior to joining the White House, Draper was West Regional Enterprise Photographer for the Associated Press. His many assignments included the 1996 and 2000 presidential campaigns, the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, Australia, the Kosovo conflict in 1999, and the 1998 World Cup in France.

Draper has also worked as a staff photographer for The Seattle Times, the Pasadena Star-News and the Albuquerque Tribune.

He won the Associated Press Managing Editors’ Award for three consecutive years, the 1999 National Headliner Award and was named 1992 Photographer of the Year by Scripps Howard Newspapers. He is a graduate of California State University, Long Beach.

Draper’s photography is included in George W. Bush’s recent book, Decision Points.

We can’t wait to gain insight into Draper’s unique position as history unfolded over the eight years of his White House assignment, and what the words it’s your move mean to him.

To read a White House question-and-answer forum with Draper called, “Ask the White House,” click here.