photo opportunity

American

noun

a brief period set aside for the media to take photographs of a high government official or celebrity, usually immediately before or after a newsworthy event.

photo opportunity British

noun

an opportunity, either preplanned or accidental, for the press to photograph a politician, celebrity, or event

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of photo opportunity

First recorded in 1975–80

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

During his speech in the mosque, community leader Gamel Kheir told attendees that "we can neither totally disengage nor invite politicians for some cheap token photo opportunity".

From BBC • Mar. 19, 2026

It was a similar story at another photo opportunity with world leaders including French President Emmanuel Macron and Brazil's Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.

From Barron's • Feb. 20, 2026

Standing between Trump and Eric in the photo opportunity afterward were Dang Thanh Tam, the developer’s chairman, and a 39-year-old Briton named Charles Boyd-Bowman, who has since become the project’s head.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 20, 2025

Their session at Wembley coincided with pop star Jon Bon Jovi visiting to promote his upcoming tour, allowing for a great photo opportunity.

From BBC • Nov. 8, 2025

A whale-watching tour got the photo opportunity of a lifetime when they spotted a rare white shark feeding from an elephant seal about 30 miles west of Santa Barbara.

From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 25, 2024

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023