Campaign launch for the critical Washington 10th District, which Marilyn Strickland now represents. Born in Seoul, she is the first African-American to represent Washington State at the federal level, and one of the first Korean-American women elected to Congress in its history. Marylyn made her personal inspiring story an essential part of her campaign.

A note from

Antonio Becerra

If you look at a political portrait that I took, and think,  ‘Wow what a great portrait photographer, they are so creative”, in most cases, I’ve failed completely. In politics, my job is not to create a portrait that wows.  My job is to make that candidate feel so comfortable and so themselves, that they will show me their authentic smile. A real smile is something that can’t be faked or bought.  It has to be felt.   If you can fake a real smile that will convince people,  you can make millions of dollars as an actor.   Some people think that politicians are all actors.  I’ve met a few.  But the vast majority I have worked with, can’t fake a smile worth shit.   They aren’t actors.   They are sensitive combat veterans. And tough single moms. They are dads who do diapers, and are as complex and human as the people they represent. They are nervous.  They are scared.  They get embarrassed.  They’re people who for the most part, are trying to do the right thing. They can’t fake their emotions on command like an actor.  And having a camera shoved in their face doesn’t make it any easier.  

The main purpose of a political photo is to communicate trust.  You can’t fake trust, but you can see it on a person's face.  And if at Alteza Films we do our job right, people who view your candidate will trust them too.

Antonio Becerra

Bottled Lightning Collective Founder, Delana Jones with Alteza Films Founder, Antonio Becerra