Pete Souza is the official White House photographer for President Obama and served in the same role for late President Ronald Reagan. Souza has followed Obama since his rise from senator to president. "Visiting the Great Buddha of Kamakura, in Japan, the president had a green tea ice cream bar with his hosts on November 14, 2010," Souza said. "He had visited this Buddha as a young child and said he remembered sitting in the exact same place having an ice cream bar."
Intimate moments of a presidency —
Pete Souza is the official White House photographer for President Obama and served in the same role for late President Ronald Reagan. Souza has followed Obama since his rise from senator to president. "Visiting the Great Buddha of Kamakura, in Japan, the president had a green tea ice cream bar with his hosts on November 14, 2010," Souza said. "He had visited this Buddha as a young child and said he remembered sitting in the exact same place having an ice cream bar."
Pete Souza/The White House
First lady Michelle Obama waits as the president signs the guest book at Prague Castle in the Czech Republic on April 5, 2009.
Intimate moments of a presidency —
First lady Michelle Obama waits as the president signs the guest book at Prague Castle in the Czech Republic on April 5, 2009.
Pete Souza/The White House
Obama tries to block a layup by his former personal aide, Reggie Love, at Fort McNair in Washington on May 16, 2010.
Intimate moments of a presidency —
Obama tries to block a layup by his former personal aide, Reggie Love, at Fort McNair in Washington on May 16, 2010.
Pete Souza/The White House
Obama and his daughters, Sasha and Malia, play in a snowstorm at the White House on February 6, 2010.
Intimate moments of a presidency —
Obama and his daughters, Sasha and Malia, play in a snowstorm at the White House on February 6, 2010.
Pete Souza/The White House
"We were on a freight elevator headed to one of the Inaugural balls on January 20, 2009. It was quite chilly, so the president removed his tuxedo jacket and put it over the shoulders of his wife. Then they had a semi-private moment as staff members and Secret Service agents tried not to look."
Intimate moments of a presidency —
"We were on a freight elevator headed to one of the Inaugural balls on January 20, 2009. It was quite chilly, so the president removed his tuxedo jacket and put it over the shoulders of his wife. Then they had a semi-private moment as staff members and Secret Service agents tried not to look."
Pete Souza/The White House
"I was sitting in the reception area outside the Oval Office on August 5, 2009, when Sasha walked by and headed to the Oval. I suspected something was up, so I followed her. Sasha then crawled into the office, hiding behind the sofa, and when she reached the far end, jumped up and yelled, trying spook her dad."
Intimate moments of a presidency —
"I was sitting in the reception area outside the Oval Office on August 5, 2009, when Sasha walked by and headed to the Oval. I suspected something was up, so I followed her. Sasha then crawled into the office, hiding behind the sofa, and when she reached the far end, jumped up and yelled, trying spook her dad."
Pete Souza/The White House
Obama meets with the Democratic Blue Dog Coalition in the State Dining Room on February 10, 2009.
Intimate moments of a presidency —
Obama meets with the Democratic Blue Dog Coalition in the State Dining Room on February 10, 2009.
Pete Souza/The White House
Obama talks with his daughter Malia on the swingset outside the Oval Office on May 4, 2010.
Intimate moments of a presidency —
Obama talks with his daughter Malia on the swingset outside the Oval Office on May 4, 2010.
Pete Souza/The White House
Obama and Vice President Joe Biden share a laugh before an event at the Strawbery Banke Museum in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, on September 7, 2012.
Intimate moments of a presidency —
Obama and Vice President Joe Biden share a laugh before an event at the Strawbery Banke Museum in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, on September 7, 2012.
Pete Souza/The White House
The president and first lady look out at the city skyline and Lake Michigan after arriving at Burnham Park in Chicago on June 15, 2012. <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Flightbox.time.com%2F2012%2F10%2F08%2Fpete-souza-portrait-of-a-presidency%2F%231" target="_blank" target="_blank">See the entire gallery on Time LightBox.</a>
Intimate moments of a presidency —
The president and first lady look out at the city skyline and Lake Michigan after arriving at Burnham Park in Chicago on June 15, 2012. See the entire gallery on Time LightBox.
Pete Souza/The White House