Photographer in the House

Tim Bommel keeps his focus on lawmakers, visitors

Missouri House of Representatives photographer Tim Bommel poses for a photograph at the speaker's dais on the floor of the Missouri House.
Missouri House of Representatives photographer Tim Bommel poses for a photograph at the speaker's dais on the floor of the Missouri House.

Letting people back home know what's going on with all 163 members of the Missouri House of Representatives - that's how Tim Bommel describes his job as photojournalist for Missouri House Communications.

"That includes anything from families to school groups coming to visit with the representatives and see what happens during the session and sending pictures back to their hometown newspapers," he said. "I'm also covering floor debates and committee hearings."

Bommel's job, which he started in 1996, has allowed him to meet several famous people.

"I started putting photos up of people I've met like George Brett, Walter Cronkite, Stan Musial and others, but then I realized I wouldn't have enough wall space in my office, so I started filing a lot of them."

While meeting famous people is a perk of the job, Bommel said he appreciates more his relationships with House members and the "incredible men and women who have served there."

"I figure I've probably worked with over 500 House members," he said. "There's a lot of late nights, but you build a camaraderie with the staff that you work with. Working with VIPs is only a small fraction of what I do. It's more the sitting through eight to 10 hours of floor debate. I don't stay every night, but by mid-March, if they're here late, I'm here late."

Bommel said he gets to hear debate on interesting issues; and, while it sometimes can get boring, he tries to keep in mind that every bill is important to somebody.

When not working, the Jefferson City native enjoys spending time with his children and grandchildren playing golf and hiking.

"Believe it or not, when I am not at my job, the only photos I take are with my cellphone," he said. "I rarely have my professional gear with me when I'm with family. We get some place and they'll ask, 'Where's your camera?' so I pull out my phone."

Bommel has been a professional photographer for 35 years.

Before starting his work with the Missouri House, he spent 15 years as a wedding photographer and did other commercial work.

"I was also a photojournalist in the Missouri National Guard and was active during Operation Desert Storm but stayed on the state side," Bommel said. "We covered people getting ready to go overseas, and coming-home ceremonies were big events. I was also active during the Flood of '93. I saw every part of the river and did a lot of flying, documenting what levees were holding and those that were not."

Bommel said his work can get very intense at times, but he has to put in a lot of extra hours to make sure everything gets covered.

"I started out to be a journalist, but I found I had more of a love for taking photos than writing, so I stuck with that, and it's been great," he said.