President Obama and Pete Souza Speak About Eight Years of Photographs

In the last eight years, White House Photographer Pete Souza has taken around two million photographs. Now, as President Obama prepares to leave the White House, both he and Souza talk about spending nearly a decade together.

I won't lie: I think Pete Souza has had one of the coolest jobs in the world, and it's been well deserved; his work has beautifully captured eight years of moments, both political and private. In this video, we hear from both Souza and President Obama himself on some of their favorite images and what their relationship was like. I find it particularly interesting to hear Souza's capture philosophy:

One of the things I was trying to do was show him not just as a president, but as a human being.

On that account, I think he was undeniably successful. President Obama thinks so too, noting:

It's been an extraordinary gift, because I have the kind of chronicle of my girls growing up that very few people have. 

I think part of the reason I find Souza's work so enthralling is that he transitions from photojournalist to portrait photographer with such fluidity, which has created a rich and storied catalog of the President's last eight years. It's been a treat to watch.