Photographing the 2025 Grounded Solutions Network Housing Conference in Washington, D.C.
In late May, I had the privilege of photographing the Grounded Solutions Network Housing Conference, a dynamic, mission-driven gathering that brought together more than 460 housing and community development practitioners, advocates, policymakers, national experts, and funders. Hosted at the Capital Hilton in Washington, D.C., the three-day convening was a powerful example of what it looks like when people come together to build more equitable, inclusive communities—and as a Washington DC event photographer, I was proud to help document it.
The Grounded Solutions Network’s work focuses on expanding permanently affordable housing and advancing housing justice across the country. That purpose was reflected in every part of the conference—from its thoughtfully curated plenaries and breakout sessions to the deep sense of collaboration I saw in every room I entered.
Here’s a behind-the-scenes look at what it was like to photograph this convening, and how I approached capturing both the energy of the moment and the long-term mission behind it.
A Three-Day Convening with Heart and Purpose
The conference took place May 27–29, 2025, filling multiple floors of the Capital Hilton with conversations around equity, access, policy, and innovation in the housing sector. As attendees flowed between plenary sessions, workshops, and add-on activities, the energy remained high: people were reconnecting with longtime collaborators, meeting new partners, and diving deep into some of the most pressing challenges in housing today.
From my lens, it was a visually rich and emotionally meaningful event. My goal as always—especially with events that center on advocacy and social impact—is to highlight both the professionalism of the programming and the genuine emotion of the people involved. In my work as a Washington DC photographer, I’m often tasked with walking that line: capturing events that are rooted in policy and practice, while also telling a human story.
Key Moments and Visual Themes
Over the course of the three days, I photographed:
Opening and closing plenaries that brought everyone together for keynote speeches, high-level updates, and grounding messages about the work ahead
Breakout sessions on everything from community land trusts to zoning reform, featuring passionate discussion and real-world case studies
Networking events and hallway moments—the in-between conversations that are often the heartbeat of any great conference
Add-on activities that allowed attendees to connect outside the conference room walls, from guided community tours to informal social gatherings
Throughout it all, I worked to reflect the diversity of voices and perspectives in the room. Housing justice is a deeply intersectional issue, and the Grounded Solutions Network community includes organizers, funders, legal experts, public officials, and residents themselves. My goal was to ensure that the gallery didn’t just document the content of the event—but the people and purpose behind it.
Photographing at the Capital Hilton
The Capital Hilton, located just blocks from the White House, was an ideal venue—centrally located, spacious, and full of natural light. As a Washington DC event photographer, I’m familiar with many of the city’s major venues, and I appreciated the Hilton’s large ballrooms, breakout rooms, and communal spaces for their flexibility and flow.
I used a combination of natural light and minimal flash, keeping the images bright, clear, and cleanly color-balanced for use in recaps, marketing, development materials, and social media. I also delivered a curated preview gallery shortly after the event ended—giving organizers a head start on sharing the story of the convening while it was still fresh in attendees’ minds.
More Than Just Documentation
Events like this aren’t just moments in time—they’re markers of movement. The people who attend the Grounded Solutions Network conference don’t come to simply exchange ideas. They come to mobilize, collaborate, and strategize around systemic change. And as a photographer, it’s my job to translate that energy into visual form—images that feel not only professional, but alive with meaning.
That means focusing on more than just keynote speakers and room shots. It means capturing the eye contact during a tough Q&A, the laughter after a hard-earned breakthrough, the quiet moment when someone is reflecting between sessions. These are the kinds of images that, when revisited months later, can remind people why they do this work.
For Attendees and Partners
If you attended the 2025 Grounded Solutions Network Housing Conference, whether you’re using these photos to recap your session, highlight your organization’s participation, or simply relive the experience, I hope they serve as a visual reminder of what we’re all working toward: a housing system rooted in equity, dignity, and permanence.
Final Thoughts
Photographing this year’s Grounded Solutions Network Housing Conference was a highlight of my spring season. I’m always grateful to work with organizations doing mission-driven work, and this event was a clear reminder of how important gatherings like this are—not just for networking, but for movement-building.
As a Washington DC photographer specializing in nonprofit, policy, and impact-driven events, it was an honor to help tell the visual story of a community committed to long-term change.
Planning a conference or convening in Washington, D.C.?
I specialize in photography that goes beyond the basics—capturing both the polish and the purpose of your event. Whether you’re bringing together hundreds of advocates or hosting an intimate strategy session, I’ll help you create a gallery that reflects your mission and amplifies your message.
Based in Washington, D.C. | Available for nonprofit events, national summits, and community-driven convenings