Nate Gowdy (b. 1984; Elkhart, Indiana) is a Seattle-based photographer of 14 years whose work centers on American politics and identity.

He began his career in 2011 as staff photographer for Seattle Gay News, immersing himself in the city’s queer and trans communities and documenting drag and nightlife culture. From 2011 to 2024, he served as the official photographer for Seattle Pride, and in 2012, he dedicated himself to Washington state’s fight for marriage equality.

Gowdy worked closely with President Obama in 2013 and Vice President Biden in 2013 during their Seattle visits. Since 2015, he has self-funded coverage of hundreds of political events across 27 states and Washington, DC. His portrait of Bernie Sanders appeared on the cover of TIME in 2016, and his editorial clients include Rolling Stone and Mother Jones.

In 2019, he launched The American Superhero, a collaborative studio portrait and storytelling series. The following year, he co-authored Our Students, Their Stories for Seattle Public Schools, a 100-page coffee table book celebrating LGBTQIA+ students, families, and staff—the first publication of its kind commissioned by a U.S. school district.

His first monograph, INSURRECTION (2023), is the only photojournalistic book to document the January 6, 2021, Capitol attack. With timestamped images and contextual captions, it offers a stark, firsthand account of the deadly siege. It has sold over 1,300 copies and is available at nategowdy.com and Elliott Bay Book Company.

Gowdy holds a journalism degree from Indiana University. He is the founder of Pigeon Editions, a photobook publishing imprint, and his fine art prints are represented by Monroe Gallery in Santa Fe. He enjoys teaching, kayaking, and spending time with loved ones.

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