Nate Gowdy (1984; Elkhart, Indiana) is a Seattle photographer of 14 years who specializes in documenting this American political era. He also provides diverse client services, from professional headshots and outdoor portraits to community arts events, industry gatherings, nonprofit celebrations, weddings, milestones, and commercial promotions, ensuring his clients look their very best.

In 2011, Gowdy was hired as staff photographer at Seattle Gay News, where he became immersed in the city’s queer and trans communities, primarily capturing drag and nightlife culture. He served as the official photographer for the Seattle Pride Parade from 2011 through 2024. In 2012, Gowdy dedicated himself to covering the fight for marriage equality in Washington state.

Gowdy worked closely with President Obama in 2013 and Vice President Biden in 2014 during their visits to Seattle. Since 2015, he has self-funded coverage of hundreds of political rallies and demonstrations across 27 states and Washington, DC. In 2016, his portrait of Bernie Sanders was featured on TIME magazine’s cover, and editorial clients include Rolling Stone and Mother Jones.

In 2019, Gowdy spearheaded The American Superhero Project, a collaborative studio portrait and storytelling series. In 2020, he photographed and co-authored Our Students, Their Stories for Seattle Public Schools. This 100-page coffee table book celebrates LGBTQIA+ students, families, and staff, marking the first project of its kind commissioned by an American school district.

In 2023, Gowdy self-published his first monograph, INSURRECTION. This award-winning, 150-page hardcover is the sole book to visually chronicle—with timestamped images and contextual captions—the deadly mob attack on the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021. With more than 1,250 copies sold, the hardcover remains available at www.nategowdy.com and Elliott Bay Book Co.

A journalism graduate from Indiana University and a former newspaper editor, preschool caregiver, and community outreach worker, Gowdy maintains a photography studio in Seattle’s International District. His fine art is represented at Monroe Gallery of Photography in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Outside of work, he enjoys teaching, kayaking, biking, yoga, and spending time with loved ones.

For work and print inquiries:
nate.gowdy@gmail.com