Photo Op

What’s a photo op?

It’s short for photo opportunity.

Bruce Whelihan an aide in the White House during the Nixon administration is said to have coined the term. He did so by announcing to the press at one time: “There will be a photo opportunity in the Oval Office”.

Today the expression is widely used:

          For amateur photographers it’s any opportunity to take a good photo.

          There is a negative connotation, when it’s referring to a carefully planned pseudo-

          event, perhaps masqueraded as news. (Politicians visiting nursery schools, senior 

          citizens or victims of an earthquake hoping to generate positive publicity).

          At summit conferences photo ops have become a ritual.       

          The term is also used for other pre-arranged opportunities to take a photo in a 

           special surrounding, as on a holiday.

a photo opportunity with the minister ein Bildtermin mit dem Minister

the Rio Summit was little more than a photo op die Konferenz von Rio war kaum mehr als ein Fototermin

another meaningless global photo opportunity eine weitere (globale) Alibiveranstaltung für politisches Nichthandeln

...the thrill of a lifetime and an incomparable photo opportunity …der einmalige Nervenkitzel und eine unvergleichliche Fotogelegenheit

stop for a photo opportunity Gelegenheit zum Fotografieren

a photo opportunity with the whole group in front of Eiffel Tower ein Gruppenfoto vor dem Eiffelturm

A photo op turned bad