<![CDATA[David Valdez Photography - Blog]]>

<![CDATA[David Valdez Photography - Blog]]>Wed, 06 May 2026 09:43:46 -0500Weebly<![CDATA[The Texas Photography Festival March 2026]]>Thu, 26 Mar 2026 23:29:29 GMThttp://www.davidvaldezphotography.com/blog/the-texas-photography-festival-march-2026The Texas Photography Festival, which I founded 7 years ago was a huge success this past weekend. Over 1400 photographers attended our annual festival held the third weekend in March. The Williamson Museum is our host providing us so much support, staff and volunteers. Our KeyNote speaker this year was Dixie Dixon, Nikon Ambassador. She was such an inspiration to so many of our guests in a packed room with people standing in the back and sides.
This year we had Featured Photographers including Claire Porter, Julie Chapa, Michael Sinnons, Michael Gonzales, JohnJohn Montelongo, Elena Fontenot, Paul Ayres, and Annabelle Colette. We had many photowalk leaders including Cheyenne Morris, Amy Jasek, Bridget Pink-Yoder, Karen Rileywww., Doug Gephardt, Tricia Zeigler, Dennis Kelley, Kamil Rizvi, Charlie Favret and me. Our Workshops were led by Carol Whitney and Dave Shafer.
So many people posted photos. Below are a few samples.

]]><![CDATA[Daily Points of Light]]>Thu, 06 Nov 2025 20:10:15 GMThttp://www.davidvaldezphotography.com/blog/daily-points-of-lightThe Daily Point of Light Award honors individuals making a meaningful impact through volunteer service. Established by President George H.W. Bush in 1989, this award recognizes those who demonstrate exceptional commitment to community service, improving the lives of others through dedicated and selfless efforts. Recipients come from diverse backgrounds and sectors, united by their passion for making a positive difference.
I'm honored to be named a #DailyPointofLight Award honoree! 🌟 The Daily Point of Light Award, presented by @beapointoflight, recognizes individuals who drive positive change through exceptional volunteer efforts. This journey has not only allowed me to help others but also enriched my own well-being. I'm proud to be part of this amazing community!
Over many years I have had an opportunity to volunteer at the Williamson Museum, Crestview Baptist Church, Habitat for Humanity Williamson County, ROCK Ride on Center for Kids, USO, Give Kids the World.

]]><![CDATA[Texas Association of Muesums]]>Thu, 22 May 2025 19:20:48 GMThttp://www.davidvaldezphotography.com/blog/texas-association-of-muesums

David Valdez, recipient of the Jo Stewart Randel Outstanding Trustee Award, has demonstrated exceptional leadership, creativity, and dedication to The Williamson Museum since 2018. As a distinguished photographer with a career spanning over 50 years, including serving as Presidential Photographer for George H.W. Bushand General Manager of Photography for the Walt Disney Company ,Valdez has significantly advanced the museum’s mission through his innovative vision and community engagement. Having joined the museum’s board in 2022, he now serves as Vice President. Among his many notable contributions, he co-founded the Georgetown Photography Festival, now the Texas Photography Festival, which attracts over 1,000 participants annually to historic downtown Georgetown. His impact extends beyond Williamson County, with previous roles at the Briscoe Center for American History and as an advisor to the Marlin Fitzwater School of Communications at Franklin Pierce University in New Hampshire. Through every exhibit and program, Valdez’s passion and expertise have elevated the museum’s reach and relevance, rendering him a truly deserving honoree.

]]><![CDATA[CBS Austin]]>Sat, 08 Mar 2025 16:34:32 GMThttp://www.davidvaldezphotography.com/blog/cbs-austinI had the pleasure of hosting CBS News Anchor John Carlo Estrada at my home of a though provoking conversation about my White House Photography and the Texas Photography Festival to be held March 15,2025 in Georgetown,Texas.
https://cbsaustin.com/news/local/tbt-experience-history-with-david-valdez-at-the-texas-photography-festival-this-weekend

]]><![CDATA[The Texas Photography Festival is March 15,2025]]>Wed, 19 Feb 2025 15:35:38 GMThttp://www.davidvaldezphotography.com/blog/the-texas-photography-festival-is-march-152025This will be our 6th year! So excited to see The Texas Photography Festival growing. This year will be one of the best. Join us and get inspired!

]]><![CDATA[The Texas Association of Museums]]>Wed, 19 Feb 2025 15:17:25 GMThttp://www.davidvaldezphotography.com/blog/the-texas-association-of-museumsI was recognized by the Texas Association of Museums for my effirts that have had a lasting influence on the museum community in the State of Texas. Thanks to Danelle Houck the Executive Director of the Williamson Museum for nominating me for this recognition.

]]><![CDATA[The Texas Professional Photographers Association]]>Thu, 30 Jan 2025 16:39:54 GMThttp://www.davidvaldezphotography.com/blog/the-texas-professional-photographers-association"Eyes on History" with David Valdez
FREE to TPPA Members
Start Date
02/26/2025
Start Time
7:00 PM
End Date
02/26/2025
End Time
8:30 PMWhite House Photography
In the history of the United States on 13 people have been the Official Photographer for the President of the United States. David Valdez is number 5 of that group. David will tell the story of how he became the Official Photographer for President George H.W. Bush.
He will detail how a White House photographer works, his relationship with The President of the United States. What it was like on a daily basis working in the White House and traveling to 75 countries and all 50 states. What the procedures were managing The White House Photo Office. What happens to all of the images and how they are managed by the United States Archives at the George H.W. Bush Presidential Library.
REGISTER HERE
David will cover:

Behind the scenes in this unique photography job
Learn about archiving photos
How to deal with other photographers
How to be invisible as a photographer
How to share opportunities with other photographers

Meet David Valez
After graduating from high school in Albuquerque, New Mexico, David Valdez enlisted in the U.S. Air Force, where he was trained as a photographer. He served with the 836th Combat Support Group for four years, and then earned a BA in journalism from the University of Maryland at College Park. While he was a student there, Valdez was employed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) as a photographer.
He left the federal government to become chief photographer for Nations Business magazine published by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. In 1983, he became the personal photographer to then-Vice President George Bush. In 1988, President Bush appointed Valdez Director of the White House Photo Office. During this administration, he traveled to 75 countries and all 50 states with the President. In 1997, he published George Herbert Walker Bush: A Photographic Profile.
Valdez was appointed general manager of photography for Walt Disney Attractions in 1993. In 2001, he became Special Assistant to the HUD Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs. Valdez became the Vice President for Business Development for Blue Pixel Digital Experts. Blue Pixel was digital photography consulting firm. Blue Pixel contracted with Nikon and Microsoft. From 2003 to 2010, Valdez was the Director of Visual and Electronic Information for HUD’s Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs. He is the Founder of The Texas Photography Festival.

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]]><![CDATA[Veterans Day Celebration 2024]]>Mon, 04 Nov 2024 19:58:37 GMThttp://www.davidvaldezphotography.com/blog/veterans-day-celebration-2024Hope everyone can join me for this great Veterans Day Celebration.

]]><![CDATA[The Texas Photography Festival pop up College Station,TX]]>Wed, 16 Oct 2024 17:58:22 GMThttp://www.davidvaldezphotography.com/blog/the-texas-photography-festival-pop-up-college-stationtxWe had a great to with our Texas Photography Festival pop up event at the George H.W. Bush Presidential Library in College Station, Texas. Chris Allen and I both made presentations about our photography, Chris talked about working in the White House Photo Office and I talked about my time as the personal photographer for President George H.W. Bush. After the presentations we had lunch at the new Daisy's Cafe and then did a photo walk around the grounds. We had folks come from all over the state including Texas A&M Photography Club. A few from Austin, Huntsville and Bryan College Station.
Stay tuned for more Texas Photography Festival events around the state.

]]><![CDATA[George H.W Bush Presidential Library Pop Up with David Valdez and Chris Allen]]>Fri, 23 Aug 2024 22:18:57 GMThttp://www.davidvaldezphotography.com/blog/george-hw-bush-presidential-library-pop-up-with-david-valdez-and-chris-allenJoin The Texas Photography Festival for a unique pop-up event on Saturday, September 21, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the George H.W. Bush Library and Museum in College Station! Hear behind-the-scenes stories from two photographers during Bush's time in office — our founder and Bush's presidential photographer, David Valdez, and U.S. Air Force and "Thunderbirds" photographer, Chris Allen. Both speakers will recount stories and share photos of their extraordinary time of service in the White House during Bush's administration. Also, be sure to bring your camera, as attendees will have the opportunity to participate in a Photo Walk led by David Valdez in and around the Bush Library grounds starting at 1 p.m. The event is free and open to the public. Attendees will have the opportunity to tour the entire Library at a discounted rate after the Pop-Up event.

David Valdez
A photographer for various federal government agencies, David became the Chief Photographer for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce before becoming Vice President George H. W. Bush's photographer. After Bush became President, David became the Director of the White House Photo Office and personal photographer to the President of the United States. In 1993, he became General Manager of Photography for the Walt Disney Company, and later returned to D.C. as an Assistant to the Secretary at Housing and Urban Development. Currently living in Georgetown, Texas, David is active on the Williamson Museum Board of Directors, serves as Board Chairman for the City of Georgetown Arts and Culture Board, hosts The Texas Photography Festival, and tours the country as a professional speaker.

Chris Allen
While serving on active duty in the U.S. Air Force as a military photographer, Chris Allen was selected for presidential service at The White House as a member of the White House Communications Agency photo lab during the administration of President George H.W. Bush. The assignment culminated a military photo career that included high profile assignments in the U.S. and Europe, including as the aerial photographer with the U.S. Air Force "Thunderbirds" jet demonstration team. Chris is currently retired in College Station, Texas, where he serves as a docent at the George H.W. Bush Presidential Library & Museum and volunteers digitizing the library's photographic collection from the Bush administration.

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