Imagine being assigned to cover a historic event and then being told you have just 45 seconds to do it. That’s what photographers are faced with every day of Donald J. Trump’s criminal trial in Manhattan.

Because the court does not allow cameras during the proceedings, five photographers, part of a rotation representing 10 news organizations, are allowed by Justice Juan M. Merchan to step into the well of the court, between the judge’s bench and the defendant’s table just before court begins. Then, for 45 seconds, the courtroom belongs to them.

Their subject: the former president of the United States.

“He’s extremely serious during these 45 seconds,” said Doug Mills, a New York Times veteran and one of the 10 pool photographers. “He’s always looking directly into photographers’ lenses. He makes a point of making eye contact with the lenses.”

Mr. Mills, who was in court last week, said the short amount of time wasn’t the only limitation. The photographers are allowed to work only in the small space in front of the table, which is about 12 feet long. So they get creative, using a variety of lenses and taking different angles, as Mills did on Friday.

“I put my Sony camera on a monopod with an electronic remote and extended it high in the air, about 12 to 14 feet, and then took photos from a bird’s-eye view using a 24 mm lens,” he said.

Mr. Mills, who has covered every U.S. president since Ronald Reagan and is currently assigned to the White House, is used to working under heavy restrictions. But 45 seconds?