Try using a ref in your template instead:

<div id='gallery-container' #galleryContainer class='gallery-image-container'>
    <div class='gallery-padding'></div>
    <img class='gallery-image' src='{{ coverPhotoVm }}' />
    <img class='gallery-image' src='{{ imagepath }}' *ngFor='let imagepath of imagesVm' />
</div>

And use the ref name as the argument:

@ViewChild('galleryContainer') galleryContainer: ElementRef;

EDIT

Forgot to mention that any view child…