The Obama Presidency: A Look Behind the Scenes/Photographs by Pete Souza Chief Official White House Photographer

Applauding the Health Care Reform Bill, March 21, 2010This exhibition of 56 photographs by Pete Souza, the chief official White House photographer, forms a visual diary of nearly two years of President Obama’s time in office, from September 2009 through May 2011. 

Souza’s work documents the Commander in Chief’s daily executive routine, which includes attending historic events and dealing with crises. Some of the images also offer glimpses of the lighter side of President Obama’s personality and reveal his sense of humor in views of his more private interactions with his staff, family, and friends.

Narrative captions for each of the photographs, written by Souza, place the images in context and—at times—articulate the photographer’s own thoughts behind the individual capture.