Celebrate National Photography Month with B&H!

Hi Kristin,

Thank you for your message.

Actually, I believe you are the victim of internet-sourced "alternative facts" in this case as I know there are a lot of photo websites that mention a Congressional involvement in National Photography Month.

We at B&H Photo researched this, looking for the official documentation to present to our readers, but, we are sorry to say that the U.S. Congress never proclaimed that May is National Photography Month.

What we did find was a joint resolution from the House and Senate from March 22, 1984—S.J.Res.250 and H.J.Res 510—proclaiming that May 7 through May 13, 1984 would be declared “National Photo Week.” The resolution was introduced by the late Republican Senator Howard H. Baker of Tennessee and enjoyed wide bi-partisan support. Many know Baker as a former Senate Majority Leader, one of President Ronald Regan’s Chiefs of Staff, and the man who, during the Watergate Investigation, famously queried, “What did the president know, and when did he know it?”

It is interesting to know that Senator Baker was an avid photographer who started taking photographs at age 12. Through his years, he photographed famous celebrities and politicians, his travels, and his family. His images were published in National Geographic, Life, his website, and his three photography books: Howard Baker’s Washington, Scott’s Bluff and Big South Fork Country, and Scott’s Gulf: The Bridgestone/Firestone Centennial Wilderness. He once said that photography “may be the only place where I can reasonably aspire to perfection.”

Going further back in time, President Johnson proclaimed that May 2-8, 1965 was Professional Photography Week in Proclamation 3649.

It looks like National Photography month may have been spawned by this, but our research has yet to find the true origins. Interestingly it comes to perennial Congressional celebrations, a Presidential decree is needed to create a monthly or weekly celebration that occurs beyond the year of the original proclamation—Black History Month in February is a prime example. A list of Presidential proclamations can be found in Title 3 of the Code of Federal Regulations.

Regardless, we are happy to be celebrating National Photography Month with our customers as this celebration intersects with our core passion here at B&H Photo. In fact, every month at B&H is Photography Month! :)

Thanks for stopping by to comment!