Scottish photographer Harry Benson has photographed every U.S. president since Dwight D. Eisenhower. And he also documented Donald Trump more than any other photographer throughout the last 40 years, memorably capturing the President-elect holding a million dollars cash at the Trump Taj Mahal in Atlantic City in 1990. Two years ago, while photographing the millionaire-mogul, Benson had a suggestion for Trump: “You should run for President.”
In the spirit of tradition, TIME reunited the duo for a photo shoot appearing in the July 25 issue, and when Trump walked into the room it was the first thing Benson mentioned. The resulting portrait, Trump seated at his desk with hands extended in his trademark gesture, is one of the best portraits TIME commissioned this year and showcases in this gallery as 2016 comes to a close.
The subjects of our best portraits include artists like Lin-Manuel Miranda, politicians like Dilma Rousseff, athletes such as Simone Biles and the headline-making Fox News commentators Megyn Kelly and Gretchen Carlson. These are just a few of many more influential leaders in politics, entertainment, business, sciences and the arts we photographed over the last 12 months. Plus there are the unknown people from the recipient of the most extensive face transplant ever to the families of EgyptAir passengers lost on Flight 804.
In this chronological gallery, TIME’s photo department presents its selection of the best portraits it commissioned in 2016.
Steve Martin photographed in New York City on March 1, 2016. From "Broadway Goes Bluegrass." April 4, 2016 issue.Ben Hassett for TIMEDavid Gelernter photographed at home in Woodbridge, Connecticut on Feb. 17, 2016From "Encounters With the Archgenius." March 7, 2016 issue.Jeff Brown for TIMETim Cook photographed in his office at Apple headquarters in Cupertino, California on March 14, 2016.From "Behind TIME’s Cover Shoot with Apple’s Tim Cook."Michele Asselin for TIMEOlympic fencer Ibtihaj Muhammad photographed at the Fencers Club in New York City on Tues., Feb. 9, 2016.From "A New Edge for Team USA." March 14, 2016 issue.Daniel Shea for TIMENick McNamara, 31, Donald Trump I’m a college graduate. That’s an investment I made to make a good future for myself. But the playing field I’m in right now feels like, ‘What am I supposed to do?’ We’re becoming weakened in the face of the world. We’re not the global superpower that we used to be.From "Meet the First-Time Voters Who Are Changing the Presidential Election."Benjamin Rasmussen for TIMEJessica Boyd, 20, Bernie Sanders The kids that are born into the powerful families of this country are automatically told they’ll be successful. We’re at a point in history where if it’s not fixed, the United States is going to go into a collapse. We’re on the road to becoming an oligarchy. It’s our future. It’s not for you to mess up.From "Meet the First-Time Voters Who Are Changing the Presidential Election."Benjamin Rasmussen for TIMENicki Minaj from "The 100 Most Influential People."Ben Hassett for TIMELeonardo DiCaprio from "The 100 Most Influential People."Ben Hassett for TIMEChristine Lagarde from "The 100 Most Influential People."Ben Hassett for TIMEPriscilla Chan and Mark Zuckerberg from "The 100 Most Influential People."Ben Hassett for TIMEPriyanka Chopra from "The 100 Most Influential People."Ben Hassett for TIMELin-Manuel Miranda from "The 100 Most Influential People."Ben Hassett for TIMEYayoi Kusama from "The 100 Most Influential People."Alex Majoli for TIMEJohn Kerry from "The 100 Most Influential People."Alex Majoli for TIMEBjarke Ingels from "The 100 Most Influential People."Ryan Pfluger for TIMEMark Rylance from "The 100 Most Influential People."Peter Hapak for TIMEKarlie Kloss from "The 100 Most Influential People."Peter Hapak for TIMEFOX News comentator Megyn Kelly photographed in New York City, April 28, 2016.From "Exclusive: Megyn Kelly Talks Fears, Courage and Donald Trump"Peter Hapak for TIME
YouTube celebrity PewDiePie photographed in New York City, May 6, 2016.From "Video Star." June 6, 2016 issue.Ryan Pfluger for TIMEHany Farag, father of flight attendant Yara Hany who was onboard EgyptAir Flight 804, which crashed on its way from Paris to Cairo on May 19.From "The Losses of EgyptAir Flight 804."Jonathan Rashad for TIMEHazem Helal, Eman Samy and Mohamed Helal, the brother, wife and father of passenger Ahmed HelalFrom "The Losses of EgyptAir Flight 804."Jonathan Rashad for TIMEJapanese rock climber Ashima Shiraishir photographed in New York City on May 23, 2016.From "Next Generation Leaders"Peter Hapak for TIMEIrish actor Saoirse Ronan photographed in New York City on May 20, 2016From "Next Generation Leaders"Peter Hapak for TIMEShuffle Along director George C. Wolfe, left, and choreographer Savion Glover.From "Broadway Shuffle." May 23, 2016 issue.Peter Hapak for TIMECarlin Isles, Olympic rugby player, photographed in Austin, Texas on May 26, 2016.From "Rugby? Yes, Rugby." July 4, 2016 issue.Jeff Wilson for TIMEDonald trump photographed in his office at Trump Tower in New York City on July 11, 2016.From "What a President Needs to Know." July 25, 2016 issue.Harry Benson for TIMEDilma Rousseff photographed at Alvorada Palace in Brasilia, Brazil on July 22, 2016.From "Brazil’s Dilma Rousseff on Her Impeachment Trial, the Olympics and Zika"Luisa Dörr—VII Mentor Program for TIMEGold Medalist sprinter Justin Gatlin photographed at Montverde Academy in Montverde, Fla., July 22, 2016.From TIME's Summer Olympics special. Aug. 8, 2016 issue.Thomas Prior for TIMEOlympic gold medalist Simone Biles poses for a portrait at her family’s World Champions Centre in Spring, TX, July 14, 2016.From "Behind TIME’s Olympics Cover With Simone Biles"Thomas Prior for TIMEArmy veteran
Jose Martinez smokes marijuana in his California home. He says it eases the PTSD and pain from his 2012 trauma in Afghanistan.From "Post-Traumatic Marijuana." Aug. 29, 2016 issue.Balazs Gardi for TIMEEvan, 35, chest-feeds his newborn son in their Massachusetts home. Evan came out as trans when he was 19. After his transition, Evan retained his desire to have a baby and stopped hormone treatments before trying to get pregnant.From "My Brother’s Pregnancy and the Making of a New American Family"Elinor Carucci for TIMEPatrick Hardison, 42, received the most extensive face transplant ever, after suffering massive burns as a volunteer firefighter.From "The New Transplant Revolution." Sept. 5, 2016 issue.Mark Mahaney for TIMEEmily Blunt photographed in New York City, August 25, 2016.From "2016 Fall Arts Preview." Sept. 12 / Sept. 19, 2016 issue.Peter Hapak for TIMEFormer FOX News commentator Gretchen Carlson. From "Gretchen Carlson's Next Fight." Oct. 31, 2016 issue.Peter Hapak for TIMEKimberly Woodrosky, 53, Wilkes-Barre, Pa.
As the daughter of a Teamster and a textile mill worker, Woodrosky always thought of her membership in the Democratic Party "as a birthright." But the real estate investor says Trump and his promise to bring back jobs changed her mind. "He's a champion for hard-working people like us," she says.
From
"Meet the Voters Who Helped Put Donald Trump in the White House"Lise Sarfati for TIMEShannon Goodin, 24, Owosso, Mich.
A first-time voter who doesn’t consider herself a Democrat or a Republican, Goodin says Trump earned her support by being “a big poster child for change,” adding, “Politicians don’t appeal to us. Clinton would go out of her way to appeal to minorities, immigrants, but she didn’t really for everyday Americans.”
From
"Meet the Voters Who Helped Put Donald Trump in the White House"Lise Sarfati for TIMEFaith-Ann Bishop, 20, appears in her apartment in Chatsworth, CA on Jan. 15, 2016.
From
"Behind TIME’s Teen Anxiety Cover With Lise Sarfati"Lise Sarfati for TIMEAlison Heyland, 18, shown at her home in Maine, was part of a group that makes films to raise awareness about depression, anxiety and self-harm.
From
"Behind TIME’s Teen Anxiety Cover With Lise Sarfati"Lise Sarfati for TIMEActor Sarah Paulson photographed in New York City on Nov. 6, 2016.From "The Best of Culture 2016." Dec. 19, 2016 issue.Julia Noni for TIMEActor Ben Platt photographed in New York City on Nov. 6, 2016.From "The Best of Culture 2016." Dec. 19, 2016 issue.Julia Noni for TIMEActors André Holland, left, and Trevante Rhodes photographed in New York City on Oct. 20, 2016.From "The Best of Culture 2016." Dec. 19, 2016 issue.Julia Noni for TIMEActor Naomi Harris photographed in New York City on Oct. 20, 2016. From "The Best of Culture 2016." Dec. 19, 2016 issue.Julia Noni for TIMEMusician Mitski photographed in New York City on Oct. 20, 2016. From "The Best of Culture 2016." Dec. 19, 2016 issue.Julia Noni for TIMENovelist Colson Whitehead photographed in New York City on Nov. 6, 2016.From "The Best of Culture 2016." Dec. 19, 2016 issue.Julia Noni for TIMEThe Rabble-Rouser
The former head of Breitbart, Stephen Bannon has pushed for a darker, more divisive populism, publishing articles that stirred racial animus. He will be a senior adviser at the White House.
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"See Portraits of Donald Trump’s Most Trusted Advisers"Nadav Kander for TIMEThe Trump Whisperer
A former resident of one of Trump’s buildings, pollster Kellyanne Conway became his campaign manager in August. She is known for her blunt advice, sometimes through TV appearances.
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"See Portraits of Donald Trump’s Most Trusted Advisers"Nadav Kander for TIMEThe True Believer
A devout evangelical Christian and a former leader in the U.S. House, Vice President–elect Mike Pence will help Trump navigate the agendas of conservative lawmakers and activists.
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"See Portraits of Donald Trump’s Most Trusted Advisers"Nadav Kander for TIMEThe Reconciler
After serving as Republican chair during the chaotic campaign, Reince Priebus will become Trump’s first White House chief of staff, acting as a bridge to the Washington establishment.
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"See Portraits of Donald Trump’s Most Trusted Advisers"Nadav Kander for TIMEPresident-elect Trump in the living room of his three-story penthouse on the 66th floor of Trump Tower in New York City on Nov. 28, 2016.
From
"See Portraits of Donald Trump’s Most Trusted Advisers"Nadav Kander for TIME
