I was invited back once again to photograph the second annual Political Podcast Awards 2026, and it was a real pleasure to return to such a well-run and lively event. Having covered the inaugural awards in 2025, the overall set-up felt immediately familiar, from the stage layout through to the flow of the evening, which meant I could focus fully on capturing moments as they unfolded. As a London event photographer, that familiarity allows you to anticipate the rhythm of the night and stay one step ahead.

This year’s event was hosted by the ever-entertaining Giles Brandreth, joined by co-host and guest of honour Anthony Scaramucci, who had flown in from the US for the occasion. The dynamic between the two worked brilliantly. Anthony’s sharp, insightful wit complemented Giles’s unmistakable British humour, creating a natural rhythm on stage that kept the audience engaged throughout. He shared stories from his time in the White House as President Trump’s Communications Director: a role he famously held for just 10 days, alongside more thoughtful reflections on global politics. In turn, he clearly enjoyed Giles’s quick-fire humour and anecdotes from his own time in British politics. Between them, they had the room completely captivated.

As the evening progressed, the event brought together a mix of presenters, producers, journalists and industry figures, all celebrating the growing influence of political podcasts. The structure followed a similar rhythm to the previous year: guests arriving and socialising, the main awards presentation on stage, and plenty of interaction throughout. That consistency made a real difference photographically, allowing me to move efficiently between wide scene-setting shots, candid networking moments and more formal award presentations.

From a technical point of view, the challenges were much the same as before. The large LED screen across the stage created strong backlighting, so I used controlled on-camera flash to balance exposure while keeping things natural. During the drinks reception and dinner, lighting shifted constantly with spotlights and coloured uplighting, so staying mobile and unobtrusive was key. A flexible, lightweight setup allowed me to react quickly and capture genuine interactions without interrupting the flow of the evening.

If you’d like to see how the event has evolved, you can view last year’s coverage here:
https://www.grahamlucascommons.com/2025/02/03/event-photography-political-podcast-awards/