134 - Framing History: Pete Souza on Photographing the Presidency and a Changing Media Landscape

Few photographers have had the privilege of documenting history as closely as Pete Souza. As the Chief Official White House Photographer for both the Reagan and Obama administrations, Souza captured some of the most defining moments in modern political history. In this episode, we sit down with him to discuss the stark differences between the White House administrations he covered, the evolution of photojournalism, and what it takes to tell an honest and compelling visual story.

From film to digital, from carefully curated moments to the instantaneous nature of modern media, Souza has witnessed firsthand how photography’s role in shaping public perception has changed over the decades. Tune in as he shares behind-the-scenes insights, his approach to storytelling, and the lessons he’s learned about patience, access, and the power of a single image.

Whether you're a photographer, a history buff, or just love a good story, this episode is one you won’t want to miss!

Watch the video of this interview with the photos we discuss, exclusively available for the first 7 days to members of our YouTube channel - https://youtu.be/2kWSl1K9gqQ

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About My Guest

Pete Souza is a best-selling author, speaker and freelance photographer. He is also Professor Emeritus of Visual Communication at Ohio University. For all eight years of the Obama administration, Souza was the Chief Official White House Photographer and the Director of the White House photo office. His book, Obama: An Intimate Portrait, was published by Little, Brown & Company in 2017, and debuted at #1 on the New York Times bestseller list. His 2018 book, Shade: A Tale of Two Presidents, also debuted at #1 on the New York Times bestseller list. Shade is a portrait in Presidential contrasts, telling the tale of the Obama and Trump administrations through a series of visual juxtapositions.It is one of the best-selling photography books of all time.

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

Souza started his career working for two small newspapers in Kansas. From there, he worked as a staff photographer for the Chicago Sun-Times;  an Official Photographer for President Reagan; a freelancer for National Geographic  and other publications; the national photographer for the Chicago Tribune based in their Washington, D.C. bureau; and an assistant professor of photojournalism at