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Home • News

Here Are Our All Time Favorite Photos Of President Obama By White House Photographer Pete Souza

It's been a rough start to the week and for many of us, the search for hope, joy and comfort is as essential to us as water. Now more than ever, we realize the end of an era is near, that the man we elected twice to lead us towards a better world will be leaving the White House in two months. Lucky for us, President Obama didn't go anywhere without his trusted photographer Pete Souza, who over eight years captured magical moments of the president and his family that reminded us of how human and loving he is and how engaged he has been with the people who elected him. We will forever be grateful for his honorable sacrifice of service to his country, people and the world.    Check out some of Souza's best Obama photos below.
By Natasha Hatendi · Updated October 26, 2020
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01
The President of the United States of America

The President’s wave aligns with a rainbow as he boards Air Force One at Norman Manley International Airport prior to departure from Kingston, Jamaica.

Here Are Our All Time Favorite Photos Of President Obama By White House Photographer Pete Souza
Pete Souza
02
The President of the United States of America
The First Family joined others in beginning the walk across the Edmund Pettus Bridge
Here Are Our All Time Favorite Photos Of President Obama By White House Photographer Pete Souza
Photo by Lawrence Jackson
03
The President of the United States of America
The President and First Lady holding hands as they listened to the remarks of Rep. John Lewis.
Here Are Our All Time Favorite Photos Of President Obama By White House Photographer Pete Souza
Pete Souza
04
The President of the United States of America
The President greeting children at the U.S. Embassy in Nairobi, Kenya
Here Are Our All Time Favorite Photos Of President Obama By White House Photographer Pete Souza
Pete Souza
05
The President of the United States of America
at the Community Children’s Center–one of the nation’s oldest Head Start providers. The President sat next to Akira Cooper, right, and reacted to something she said to him.
Here Are Our All Time Favorite Photos Of President Obama By White House Photographer Pete Souza
Pete Souza
06
The President of the United States of America
The President was about to sign H.R. 2 Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015 in the Rose Garden of the White House
Here Are Our All Time Favorite Photos Of President Obama By White House Photographer Pete Souza
Photo by Lawrence Jackson
07
The President of the United States of America
The Obama family and Biden family greet Pope Francis as he arrives in the United States for the first time at Joint Base Andrews.
Here Are Our All Time Favorite Photos Of President Obama By White House Photographer Pete Souza
Pete Souza
08
The President of the United States of America
The President walking along the Colonnade interacting with His Holiness Pope Francis.
Here Are Our All Time Favorite Photos Of President Obama By White House Photographer Pete Souza
Pete Souza
09
The President of the United States of America
The President exchanges a wave with Alya Dorelien Bitar, one-year-old daughter of Maher Bitar, the outgoing National Security Council Director for Israeli and Palestinian Affairs, and his wife, Astrid Dorelien
Here Are Our All Time Favorite Photos Of President Obama By White House Photographer Pete Souza
Pete Souza
10
The President of the United States of America
The President greets nine-month-old Josephine Gronniger
Here Are Our All Time Favorite Photos Of President Obama By White House Photographer Pete Souza
Pete Souza
11
The President of the United States of America
Four-year-old Malik Hall greets the President, almost in disbelief, before a departure photo with Malik’s uncle Maurice Owens, center, and his family.
Here Are Our All Time Favorite Photos Of President Obama By White House Photographer Pete Souza
Pete Souza
12
The President of the United States of America
The President talks with a young refugee at a Dignity for Children Foundation classroom in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. She was working on a painting.
Here Are Our All Time Favorite Photos Of President Obama By White House Photographer Pete Souza
Pete Souza
13
The President of the United States of America
The First Lady snuggled against the President during a video taping for the 2015 World Expo in the Diplomatic Reception Room of the White House.
Here Are Our All Time Favorite Photos Of President Obama By White House Photographer Pete Souza
Pete Souza
14
The President of the United States of America
The President carries the twin boys of Katie Beirne Fallon, Director of Legislative Affairs, into the Oval Office just a few months after they were born.
Here Are Our All Time Favorite Photos Of President Obama By White House Photographer Pete Souza
Pete Souza
15
The President of the United States of America
The President acquiesced to a selfie with 11-year-old Jacob Haynes and four-year-old James Haynes after taking a family photograph with departing White House staffer Heather Foster.
Here Are Our All Time Favorite Photos Of President Obama By White House Photographer Pete Souza
Pete Souza
16
The President of the United States of America
It was a festive atmosphere as the White House was lit with the colors of the rainbow in celebration of the Supreme Court ruling on same-sex marriage
Here Are Our All Time Favorite Photos Of President Obama By White House Photographer Pete Souza
Pete Souza
17
The President of the United States of America
Ella Rhodes, daughter of Deputy National Security Advisor Ben Rhodes, after the President lifted her in her elephant costume that she was wearing for a Halloween event at the White House.
Here Are Our All Time Favorite Photos Of President Obama By White House Photographer Pete Souza
Pete Souza
18
The President of the United States of America
The President’s daughter Malia stopped by the Oval Office one afternoon to see her dad and, while they were talking, she wiped something from his face.
Here Are Our All Time Favorite Photos Of President Obama By White House Photographer Pete Souza
Pete Souza
19
The President of the United States of America
On his birthday, the President listens to a prayer during a phone call with pastors.
Here Are Our All Time Favorite Photos Of President Obama By White House Photographer Pete Souza
Pete Souza
20
The President of the United States of America
Underneath a picturesque sky, the President boards Air Force One prior to departure from John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York.
Here Are Our All Time Favorite Photos Of President Obama By White House Photographer Pete Souza
Pete Souza
21
The President of the United States of America
A rare moment of weekend laughter with the President’s key national security aides, from left, National Security Advisor Susan E. Rice, Homeland Security Advisor Lisa Monaco, and Deputy National Security Avril Haines as they joke about a cartoon in the Ne
Here Are Our All Time Favorite Photos Of President Obama By White House Photographer Pete Souza
Pete Souza
22
The President of the United States of America
At the President’s insistence, Deputy National Security Advisor Ben Rhodes brought his daughter Ella by for a visit. As she was crawling around the Oval Office, the President got down on his hands and knees to look her in the eye.
Here Are Our All Time Favorite Photos Of President Obama By White House Photographer Pete Souza
Pete Souza
23
The President of the United States of America
The President hugs Vice President Joe Biden after delivering a eulogy during the funeral mass for Beau Biden at St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church in Wilmington, Del.
Here Are Our All Time Favorite Photos Of President Obama By White House Photographer Pete Souza
Pete Souza
24
The President of the United States of America
The President joins locals during a cultural dance performance at Dillingham Middle School in Dillingham, Alaska.
Here Are Our All Time Favorite Photos Of President Obama By White House Photographer Pete Souza
Pete Souza
25
The President of the United States of America
The President talks with students and law enforcement officials about community relations and programs that build trust between youth and the police in Camden, N.J.
Here Are Our All Time Favorite Photos Of President Obama By White House Photographer Pete Souza
Pete Souza
26
The President of the United States of America
the First Family as they boarded Air Force One at Maxwell Air Force Base following the events in Selma. If you look closely, you can see that the President is whistling as he follows the First Lady, Marian Robinson, and Malia on the stairs.
Here Are Our All Time Favorite Photos Of President Obama By White House Photographer Pete Souza
Pete Souza
27
The President of the United States of America
The President had hosted a summit meeting at Camp David with the Gulf Cooperation Council. The President greets Sayyid Fahd bin Mahmoud al Said, Deputy Prime Minister for the Council of Ministers’ Affairs of the Sultanate of Oman.
Here Are Our All Time Favorite Photos Of President Obama By White House Photographer Pete Souza
Pete Souza
28
The President of the United States of America
With a Russian security guard at left, the President meets with President Putin of Russia on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in Antalya, Turkey. National Security Advisor Susan E. Rice and a Russian interpreter sit alongside the two leaders.
Here Are Our All Time Favorite Photos Of President Obama By White House Photographer Pete Souza
Pete Souza
TOPICS:  Barack Obama Michelle Obama