The Comedian
Nate Bargatze for The Washington Post
I had the exciting opportunity to photograph the hilarious Nate Bargatze for the cover of The Washington Post Style section. Working with the Post is always a joy because they trust me to be creative and conceptualize freely. The only guideline was to ensure plenty of vertical options for the cover—beyond that, I was given full rein to explore and create.
This shoot took place at Zanies Comedy Club, a legendary venue in the southern comedy scene with over 40 years of history. Despite my love for comedy, this was my first time at Zanies, so I spent some time familiarizing myself with the space. One advantage was knowing it’s home to The Nateland Podcast, which gave me at least one guaranteed background to work with right away.
From there, I made use of the club's black curtains and a simple flat for additional setups. For a final touch, I couldn’t resist shooting at the venue’s back door, where the walls are lined with photos of iconic comedians—perfect for adding a sense of history and depth to the images.
Nate’s schedule is packed, and he was in the middle of a wardrobe fitting during the shoot, so small talk was limited. My photojournalism background often means I aim to blend in and let the moments unfold naturally, which I jokingly call my superpower: being forgotten. Even so, Nate was gracious and professional, making the most of our brief time together.
With three of the four setups ready to go before Nate stepped in, we kept the session efficient. The wardrobe changes helped add variety to the shots, and his team was incredible to work with.
In the end, I walked away with a set of images I’m proud of—plenty of options for a strong spread in the paper. Meeting and working with Mr. Bargatze was an absolute pleasure. I hope I get the chance to see him perform live soon!
