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Eric Draper is an American news photographer, who worked as the White House Photo Director and personal photographer for U.S. President George W. Bush.

Biography & Career
In 1993, Draper worked for the Associated Press as a news photographer. His assignments included the 1996 and 2000 presidential campaigns, the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, Australia, the Kosovo conflict in 1999 and the 1998 FIFA World Cup in France.

Draper has also worked as a staff photographer for The Seattle Times, the Pasadena Star-News and the Albuquerque Tribune.

Draper is a graduate of Cerritos College and California State University, Long Beach.

After covering the United States Presidential Election, 2000, Draper was hired by President Bush to become his personal photographer. Draper was hired after he approached the then President Elect Bush for a job opportunity. He was hired shortly after.

Awards
He won the Associated Press Managing Editors' Award for three consecutive years, the 1999 National Headliner Award and was named 1992 Photographer of the Year by Scripps-Howard Newspapers for "Seeing Through the Flames," which covered the 1992 Los Angeles riots.

Books
In April 2013, Draper released his collection of photos in his book, "Front Row Seat: A Photographic Portrait of the Presidency of George W. Bush." The book presents a behind-the-scenes view of the presidency of George W. Bush. Through Draper’s lens, we follow Bush through everyday moments to moments of crisis of September 11, 2001. Time's LightBox said, "Draper’s portrait of Bush is authentic." The Washington Post noted, "Draper's book provides a unique and intimate look into his relationship with former President George W. Bush over eight dramatic years that changed America."

Personal
Draper lives in New Mexico where is now a freelance political, corporate and editorial photographer. He lives with his wife and two dogs, and is a fan of the Los Angeles Lakers.