Get Premium
Dark mode theme is available exclusively for premium users. Learn more about the benefits of subscribing.
No fees, cancel anytime.
Dark Mode 
No fees, cancel anytime 
2 Million Photos In 8 Years Or What It’s Like To Be Obama’s Photographer
Few jobs look cooler on a business card than "Official White House Photographer." But that's precisely the job of Pete Souza, the professional photographer who's spent the last eight years documenting Barack Obama's daily life in the Oval Office.
"When you add up (the president's) day, and all the things that I photograph, I take a lot of cool photos," said the photographer in a short interview for BBC Newsnight. "Someone in my office who monitors this said that I'd probably end up taking, at the end of eight years, two million photographs."
Souza, who was also Ronald Reagan's official photographer from 1983 to 1989, actually took his first pictures of President Obama back in 2005. "He's walking around Red Square, he's on a sidewalk, and nobody knows who he is," said the photographer. Just four years later, however, Obama was elected as the 44th President of the United States.
Take a look at some of Souza's amazing pictures below - this is how a day in the life of Barack Obama looks like. You can find more from this photo series on the Official White House Flickr account. (h/t: PetaPixel)
This post may include affiliate links.
#1
Barack Obama And Ella Rhodes, Daughter Of Deputy National Security Advisor Ben Rhodes
RELATED:
#2
President Barack Obama Fist-Bumps Custodian Lawrence Lipscomb
#3
A Young Boy Reaches Up To Compare The President's Hair To His Own
Paula Lovell 10 years ago
The boy did not ask to touch Obama's hair. He asked "Is your hair like mine?" to which Obama bent down and said "Touch it dude!"
#4
President Obama Delivers A Colorful Farewell As He Leaves Jamaica
#5
President Barack Obama Jokingly Puts His Toe On The Scale As Trip Director Marvin Nicholson Weighs Himself
#6
President Barack Obama Kisses First Lady Michelle Obama For The "Kiss Cam"
Chuck Clemens 10 years ago
Note the agent in the background with the sullen face. The gold pin on his jacket lapel means he has a gun.
#7
President Barack Obama With First Lady Michelle Obama Meets Prince George
#8
Barack Obama Crawling With Ella Rhodes
#9
Playing With Bo
#10
Family Portrait In The Oval Office
#11
The President Shows His Fun Side, Playing The Villain To A Three-Year-Old Spider-Man
#12
President Barack Obama Holds Six-Month-Old Talia Neufeld, Daughter Of Departing Staff Member Adam Neufeld
#13
President Barack Obama And First Lady Michelle Obama Share A Private Moment
#14
One-Year-Old Lincoln Rose Smith Learns To Walk
#15
Skeptical Infants Peer At The POTUS Through A Window
#16
President Barack Obama Shares A Pizza Dinner With Individuals Who Wrote Letters To Him, At The Wazee Supper Club In Denver, Colo
#17
The President Let Out A big Laugh As He Was Being Briefed By The Producers And Mr. Fallon On The 'Slow Jam The News' Segment
#18
The President Tosses Around The Ball Before A Meeting In The Oval Office
#19
On A Cold Day, The President Races Down The Colonnade With Denis McDonough's Children
#20
President Barack Obama Eats A Peach Following A Town Hall Meeting At Kroger's Supermarket
#21
President Barack Obama Watches First Lady Michelle Obama Dance With 106-Year-Old Virginia McLaurin Prior To A Reception Celebrating African American History
Nicola Williams 10 years ago
It must have meant so much to her to get to meet the first black president!
#22
President Barack Obama's Daughter Sasha Hides Behind The Sofa As She Sneaks Up On Him At The End Of The Day In The Oval Office
Emma Waterman 10 years ago
this could be a regular thing to happen in his office. I'm sure there is a photographer present all the time.
#23
President Barack Obama Welcomes Stephanie Decker. Decker lost her legs while saving her two children during a tornado in southern Indiana in March
#24
President Barack Obama And First Lady Michelle Obama Dance Together During The Inaugural Ball At The Walter E. Washington Convention Center
#25
President Barack Obama And First Lady Michelle Obama
Amanda Panda 10 years ago
I don't know why, but this makes me uncomfortable ... like we shouldn't be seeing it.
#26
The President And Members Of The White House Staff Look Out The Window Of Air Force One To View Tornado Damage Over Moore, Oklahoma
Betty Basche 10 years ago
WE NEED TO CHANGE THE LAW SO HE CAN RUN A 3RD TERM. HE WILL BE DEARLY MISSED.
#27
President Barack Obama Plays Basketball With White House Staffers While On Vacation On Martha's Vineyard
#28
Two Presidents Waiting Near Locked Door
Oscar Hanzély 10 years ago
See Obama's body language ? Relaxed but posture and chin up shows pride above the Clinton.
#29
President Barack Obama Meets With His Holiness The XIV Dalai Lama
Anita Aragon 10 years ago
Obama has this look on his face like "I get you really I do" my man.
#30
The President Plays Peek-A-Boo With The Daughter Of White House Staffer Emmett Beliveau In The Outer Oval Office
Michelle Wan 10 years ago
Where do all these children and babies come from??? They're so cute!
#31
President Barack Obama Holds The Baby Daughter Of Former Staff Members Darienne Page Rakestraw And London Rakestraw
#32
President Barack Obama Rides The Elevator To The Private Residence Of The White House After Attending 10 Inaugural Balls And A Long Day, Including Being Sworn In As President
Tillie Martinussen 10 years ago
That is iconic! Gives me the chills. I'd wish he could do 4 more.
#33
The Two Coaches For Sasha Obama's Basketball Team Couldn't Make It To One Of Her Games, So The President And His Then Personal Aide Filled In As Coaches For This Game
Anita Aragon 10 years ago
Family ...... To balance both as President is so hard and they both do it with grace.
#34
Obama Family In The Oval Office
#35
Eight-Year Old Make-A-Wish Child Janiya Penny Reacts After Meeting President Barack Obama As He Welcomes Her Family To The Oval Office
#36
The President And First Lady Holding Hands At The 50th Anniversary Of Bloody Sunday
#37
President Barack Obama Runs Around His Desk In The Oval Office With Sarah Froman, Daughter Of Nancy Goodman And Mike Froman, Deputy National Security Advisor For International Economics
#38
President Barack Obama Welcomes Robby Novak, Known As “Kid President,” To The Oval Office
#39
President Barack Obama Sits On The Famed Rosa Parks Bus At The Henry Ford Museum
Tillie Martinussen 10 years ago
Iconic! Oh my, This just goosebumped the hell out of me! Wauw! :D :')
#40
President Barack Obama Looks Out The Green Room Window
#41
President Barack Obama Hugs Donna Vanzant, The Owner Of North Point Marina, As He Tours Damage From Hurricane Sandy In Brigantine, N.J.
Carol Taylor 10 years ago
he is definitely a president FOR the people..he shows that he is accessible..
#43
President Barack Obama Plays With Bo, The Obama Family Dog, Aboard Air Force One During A Flight To Hawaii
#44
President Barack Obama And First Lady Michelle Obama Dance At The Governors Ball
#45
President Obama Orders Lunch At Five Guys In Washington, D.C. During An Unannounced Lunch Outing
.gas. 10 years ago
It might not have been announced, but as a former journalist, I can assure you that all stops are thoroughly 'checked out' and secured before the President is allowed to visit. He might have had a hankering for a burger at 10 am, and the Secret Service checked out a place, but it's never "oh, let's go to this place" just on a whim.
#46
President Obama And First Lady Pose For Photos At The Instagram #GimmeFive Photo Booth In The East Room Of The White House
#47
President Barack Obama Kisses First Lady Michelle Obama
#48
President Barack Obama And His Daughters Watch On Television As First Lady Michelle Obama Begins Her Speech At The Democratic National Convention
#49
Barack Obama Takes One Last Look In The Mirror, Before Going Out To Take Oath
Lorraine Hastings 10 years ago
When he leaves office it's gonna be a sad, sad, day for this country. I still want him as president. ????????
#50
President Barack Obama Holds A Baby While Greeting Guests During An Independence Day Celebration
Tillie Martinussen 10 years ago
Spiky haired baby! Wonderful shot! He is laughing for real on this one. :) So sweet!
#51
President Barack Obama Cheers On A Young Child As She Rolls Her Egg Toward The Finish Line During The White House Easter Egg Roll
#52
President Barack Obama Greets U.S. Troops At A Mess Hall At Bagram Airfield In Afghanistan
#53
President Barack Obama Stands By A Cut-Out Picture Of First Lady Michelle Obama During A Visit To Miami Central High School
#54
Barack Obama
#55
President Barack Obama Waits In The Green Room Before Being Introduced At The White House Summit On Community Colleges
#56
President Barack Obama Holds 3-D Glasses While Watching The Super Bowl Game At A Super Bowl Party
#57
President Barack Obama Talks With Aides Outside The U.S. Ambassador's Residence In Paris Before Returning To Washington
Ionut Cente 10 years ago
You know you're the one when every other persons picture framing is wrong and it's still a good shot.
#58
Barack Obama, First Lady Michelle Obama And Marian Robinson Welcome Children From Washington, D.C., Maryland And Virginia Schools For Halloween Festivities At The North Portico Of The White House
#59
President Barack Obama Greets Zoe Mahan, Daughter Of Hunter And Kandi Mahan, During A Reception For The 2013 President's Cup Championship Golf Teams
#60
President Barack Obama Smiles While Talking With Russian President Dmitry Medvedev
#61
President Barack Obama And First Lady Michelle Obama Look Out At The Chicago, Ill., Skyline
#62
President Barack Obama Meets With 7-Year-Old Jack Hoffman In The White House
#63
The President Greets A Woman Following A Ceremony To Commemorate The Tenth Anniversary Of 9/11 At The Flight 93 National Memorial In Shanksville
#64
President Barack Obama Greets A tour Group In The West Wing Hallway Outside The Oval Office
#65
Barack Obama
Chuck Clemens 10 years ago
Something about that man's smile. If i knew him I would always be trying to make him laugh.
#66
President Obama And First Lady, Joined By Family Pets Sunny And Bo, Wait To Greet Visitors In The Blue Room During A White House Tour
Anita Aragon 10 years ago
Just like me and my hubby . He plays with the dogs and I just watch. lol
#67
President And First Lady Obama Watch Fireworks
Anita Aragon 10 years ago
What great memories they will always have. I hope they make a book of all of these.
#68
President Barack Obama Removes His Shoes As He Prepares To Visit The Blue Mosque In Istanbul, Turkey
#69
President Barack Obama And First Lady Michelle Obama Ride In The Inaugural Parade In Washington, D.C.
#70
The President And Bo, The Obama Family Dog, Ride In The Presidential Motorcade En Route To PetSmart In Alexandria
#71
Barack Obama
Anita Aragon 10 years ago
They need a Horse and Buggy. She is dressed to beautiful to be on that ride !
#72
Barack Obama
Anita Aragon 10 years ago
I kind of wish Biden would have been more out there then he was . I really never even saw very much of him in these 8 years. See even in this picture he isn't even mentioned.
#73
President Barack Obama Visits A Pre-Kindergarten Classroom At Moravia Elementary School In Baltimore
#74
President Barack Obama Reacts To A Photograph During An Interview With David Letterman
#76
Here’s How Obama Is Preparing The Country For Climate Change
#77
President Barack Obama And First Lady Michelle Obama Pretend To March To Music In The Blue Room Of The White House
#78
Barack Obama
#79
President Barack Obama Visits With His Daughters Malia And Sasha And Kisses His Wife, First Lady Michelle Obama
Anita Aragon 10 years ago
Family first and that will make this will our world better because he never left sight of that.Or her
#80
Barack Obama
#81
President Barack Obama And First Lady Michelle Obama Participate In Tree Plantings At The Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens In Washington
Chris Ann Herron 10 years ago
I love how Barack is just standing there while Michelle is the one pulling all the muscles haha
#82
Barack Obama
#83
Barack Obama
#84
Barack Obama
#86
Barack Obama
#87
President Barack Obama "Meets" With Speechwriter Cody Keenan, Who Dressed As A Pirate For An Oval Office Photo
#88
In A Phone Call From The U.S. Capitol Immediately After The State Of The Union Address, President Barack Obama Informs John Buchanan That His Daughter Jessica Was Rescued By U.S. Special Operations Forces
Kate Baxter 9 years ago
Compare to Trump and his friends eating dinner while the Seals went in to Yemen.
#89
Barack Obama Joins European Leaders Watch The Overtime Shootout Of The Chelsea Vs. Bayern Munich Champions League Final During The G8 Summit At Camp David
#90
Barack Obama
#92
President Barack Obama Greets His Holiness The Dalai Lama
#93
Barack Obama
#94
President Barack Obama And First Lady Michelle Obama Watch From The White House Roof As Fireworks Erupt Over The National Mall
#95
The President On His Annual Christmas Vacation Swimming At Pyramid Rock Beach In Kaneohe Bay
#96
Barack Obama
#97
President Barack Obama Edits His Remarks In The Oval Office Prior To Making A Televised Statement Detailing The Mission Against Osama Bin Laden
#98
Barack Obama Receive An Update On The Bin Laden Mission In The Situation Room
#99
Barack Obama
#100
Barack Obama
#103
President Barack Obama Greets Audience Members After He Delivers Remarks On The Economy At The Paramount Theatre In Austin, Texas
#104
President Barack Obama Holding A Football, Offers A Fist-Bump, To Senior Staff Member Pete Rouse
#105
Barack Obama
#106
Barack Obama
#107
Barack Obama
#108
Barack Obama
#109
Barack Obama
#110
Barack Obama
#112
Barack Obama
Steve mwanza 10 years ago
He wasn't just America's President He was the worlds President A sign of good, responsible and honest leadership I wish we get another President like him
#114
Barack Obama
#115
Barack Obama
#116
Barack Obama
#117
Barack Obama
#118
Barack Obama
#120
Barack Obama
#123
Barack Obama
Oscar Hanzély 10 years ago
Look at his expression and closed fist, the whole body language, he doesn't really like what he is being proposed.
#124
Barack Obama
Pete Souza's unique perspective as a White House photographer offers an intimate glimpse into the daily life of Barack Obama. His work captures the essence of a presidency that was not only historic but also marked by a quintessential partnership. For those interested in the personal and powerful story of this iconic couple, exploring how their love and strength shaped their journey can be enlightening.
Discover more about their incredible bond on what makes their story so endearing with these captivating images.
Add New Image
What do you think ?
Anna Jei 10 years ago
He is such a normal good guy... Best president ever US had I think... and I'm from Europe so just observer
Bea 10 years ago
I envy you your president, America. He is probably the coolest president you (or any other country) will ever have. Such a nice guy, good husband and parent, smart, centered, the perfect opposite of Trump.
Maggie Dougherty 9 years ago
Oh I agree with you on that! Trump is such a hot mess, and doesn't know what the hell he's doing. I hope they know before it's too late! I think they're going to realize what a gigantic mistake they made!
Load More Replies...
Anna Jei 10 years ago
He is such a normal good guy... Best president ever US had I think... and I'm from Europe so just observer
Bea 10 years ago
I envy you your president, America. He is probably the coolest president you (or any other country) will ever have. Such a nice guy, good husband and parent, smart, centered, the perfect opposite of Trump.
Maggie Dougherty 9 years ago
Oh I agree with you on that! Trump is such a hot mess, and doesn't know what the hell he's doing. I hope they know before it's too late! I think they're going to realize what a gigantic mistake they made!
Load More Replies...
Related on Bored Panda
