Pete Souza

Pete Souza was the Chief Official White House Photographer for all eight years of the Obama administration. His book, Obama: An Intimate Portrait debuted at #1 on the New York Times bestseller list; it is one of the best-selling photography books of all time. His 2018 book, Shade: A Tale of Two Presidents, also debuted at #1 on the NYT bestseller list and is a portrait in Presidential contrasts, telling the tale of the Obama and Trump administrations through a series of visual juxtapositions.
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During his career, Souza worked as a staff photojournalist for four newspapers; a freelance photographer for National Geographic and other publications; an official White House photographer during the Reagan administration; and an assistant professor at Ohio University.

Souza became the subject of a documentary film, The Way I See It, in November 2020. The film takes an unprecedented look behind the scenes of two of the most iconic Presidents in history, as seen through Souza’s eyes and camera, and reveals how Souza transformed from a respected White House photographer and photojournalist to a searing commentator on current political situation. Nominated for an Emmy, the film premiered on MSNBC and became the highest rated non-news, non-live program in MSNBC history. Souza also won the Critic’s Choice Award for Most Compelling Living Subject of a documentary.

In 2021, Souza was inducted into the International Photography Hall of Fame. In 2022, he was honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Professional Photographers of America.

Souza is currently based in Illinois.