Grip-‘n’-grin (Grip-and-grin)

A “grip-and-grin” (“grip-‘n’-grin”) photo is when a politician shakes hands (“grip”) with someone for a staged publicity photo. Politicians frequently conduct “grip-and=grins” with other political leaders, with constituents, and with campaign donors.
 
The term “grip and grin” has been used since at least the early 1960s, when photographers also called such photos as “proclaim and point” and “sit and smile” shots. The reverse—“grin and grip”—is less frequently used.
   
 
Urban Dictionary
grip-n-grin
1. a solid handshake complemented with a grill.
Paul hit Chuck D with a grip-n-grin.
by hail2um May 19, 2006
 
grip-n-grin
A public appearance by a politician or other celebrity in which the celebrity shakes hands or talks briefly with members of the public, preferably while being photographed doing so.
Oh, well, another city on the campaign trail, another grip-n-grin.
by Claremonitor Jul 20, 2009
 
Google Books
The Routledge dictionary of modern American slang and unconventional English
By Tom Dalzell
Routledge
2008
Pg. 463:
grip and grin adjective
used of posed photographs of smiling people shaking hands
US, 1982
 
21 November 1965, Jefferson City (MO) News and Tribune, “Out of Order…political comment column” by Newton Townsend and Donald Keough, pg. 18, col. 5:
A photographer was trying to figure out something different for a picture of the Governor and a couple of young men for whom he had signed a proclamation about “Victory in Viet nam Week.”
 
Such photographs are known in the trade as “proclaim and point” or “sit and smile” or “grip and grin” shots.
       
Google Books
The Generals
By Maureen Mylander
New York, NY: Dial Press
1974
Pg. 187:
... pinning on insignia at promotion ceremonies, acting as guest speaker, attending parties and parades, posing for grip-and-grin photos, planting trees, snipping ribbons.
 
6 May 1977, Harrisonburg (VA) Daily News-Record, “Photos Cost $341,000,” pg. 2, col. 1:
WASHINGTON (AP)—Congress billed taxpayers $341,000 last year to pay 19 photographers and darkroom assistants to produce hundreds of thousands of publicity photos.
 
The photographers snap pictures of home-town high school bands playing on the Capitol steps, Girl Scouts, potential campaign donors socializing at fund-raising dinners and senators shaking hands with visiting constituents.
 
“We call them ‘grip and grin’ shots,” said a epublican campaign aide who supervises one of the four photo labs on the Capitol grounds. There is one each for Senate Republicans, Senate Democrats, House Republicans and House Democrats.
 
Google Books
Photojournalism: the professionals’ approach
By Kenneth Kobre
Somerville, MA: Curtin & London
1980
Pg. 95:
The handshake — or “grip- and-grin” photo, as it’s commonly known — doesn’t answer these questions. The picture simply records that two people held a trophy or a check, or just shook hands.
 
SportsShooter.com
Jonathan Coleman, Photographer
carrboro | nc | USA | Posted: 1:11 PM on 02.15.06
->> A grip and grin is a common term in photography for shots like you would expect to take at a ribbon cutting event or when someone donates money to a cause. You “grip” your camera and the subject(s) look at the camera and “grin,” usually behind the ribbon being cut or with check in hand.
   
Google Books
The Obama Political Appointee Primer
By Lewis D. Eigen
BEA Enterprises Inc.
2008
Pg. 161:
These photos, shaking hands with dignitaries are referred to as “grip and grin shots.”