“I wouldn’t be surprised if he ran for president,” Harry Benson remembering thinking of Donald Trump back in 2013. “The photographers who cover the White House, those photographers, they would be happy—they would get tons of good photo ops.”
Benson, the legendary Scottish photographer made his name traveling with The Beatles on their inaugural American tour in 1964, has since turned his lens on every President starting with Dwight Eisenhower. He’s also spent nearly 40 years chronicling Donald Trump, the presumptive Republican nominee.
Most recently Benson and Trump were reunited on a photo shoot for TIME’s July 25 issue. When Trump walked into the room the first thing Benson mentioned was that the photographer thought he might run for president someday.
Benson’s typical advice for his subject on any shoot is “Do what you want.” And in Benson’s photographs, Trump always did. “Letting them be themselves,” says Benson, “that makes them feel comfortable.”
20 Photographs That Show the Essential Donald Trump
1981 Trump talks on a car phone in a limo in New York City. “It looks like he’s running for President in there,” Benson said. “There’s a bit of control there ... People walking about but he’s in the limo.”Harry Benson1987 Trump and his first wife, Ivana, in their bedroom at Trump Tower in New York City. Benson chose the location—“it tells you a lot about the people”—and wanted them to dance. “She could dance,” he joked, “but he was a bit slow.”Harry Benson1987 Trump and his father Fred and mother Mary Ann and Ivana, at a dinner in New York City. Harry Benson1986 Trump celebrates after the completion of repairs to Wollman Rink in Central Park. He got the contract from the city, finishing early and well under budget.Harry Benson1996 Trump and his second wife, Marla Maples, at Trump International Hotel & Tower in New York City.Harry Benson1987 Trump reflected in a mirror during a portrait session. Harry Benson1987 Trump gesticulates during a helicopter ride to Atlantic City. Benson, who prides himself on spontaneity and closeness, said he likes “to get people moving.”Harry Benson1990 “Donald, I’ve never seen a million dollars in my life,” Benson told Trump at the Trump Taj Mahal in Atlantic City.Harry Benson1990 Trump and Michael Jackson, his guest, at the grand opening of the Trump Taj Mahal casino resort in Atlantic City.Harry Benson1987 Trump stands on top of Trump Tower on Fifth Avenue in New York City.Harry Benson2014 Trump and his wife, Melania, in their apartment at Trump Tower in New York City. “Donald was very proud of her,” Benson said. Harry BensonRepublican presidential candidate Donald Trump with his children, from left: Donald John “Don” Trump Jr., Ivanka Trump and Eric Trump at Trump Tower in New York City on July 6, 2016.Harry Benson for TIMEEric Trump in his office at Trump Tower in New York City on July 6, 2016.Harry Benson for TIMEDonald Trump Jr. in his office at Trump Tower in New York City on July 6, 2016.Harry Benson for TIMEIvanka Trump in her office at Trump Tower in New York City on July 6, 2016.Harry Benson for TIME2016 Trump and his wife, Melania, at the Mar-a-Lago Club in Palm Beach Florida.Harry BensonDonald Trump in a conference room, where he's storing his archive of press and memorabilia, on July 11, 2016.Harry Benson for TIMERepublican presidential candidate Donald Trump with his grandson Theodore James in Trump’s office in New York City on July 11, 2016.Harry Benson for TIMERepublican presidential candidate Donald Trump with his grandson Theodore James in Trump’s office in New York City on July 11, 2016.
Harry Benson for TIMERepublican presidential candidate Donald Trump in his office at Trump Tower in New York City on July 11, 2016.Harry Benson for TIME
On their own, Benson’s pictures show a camera-ready mogul surrounded by his favorite things: his buildings, limos and helicopters, his wives and even a million dollars in cash. Seen together, this is an album of Trump’s one-of-a-kind rise.
“He’ll tell you afterwards,” Benson said, “‘That was a good picture,’ and give you a thumbs-up.”
Harry Benson is an award winning photographer known for chronicling the worlds most well known figures. This Fall the documentary Harry Benson: Shoot First will be released by Magnolia Pictures. You can see more of his work here.
