Obama photographer shares intimate images of family's time in White House

Francesca Specter
·Yahoo Style UK deputy editor
Updated
Michelle Obama playfighting with Barack. President Barack Obama has departure photos taken in the Oval Office, July 12, 2013. [Photo: Official White House Photo by Lawrence Jackson]
Michelle Obama playfighting with Barack. President Barack Obama has departure photos taken in the Oval Office, July 12, 2013. [Photo: Official White House Photo by Lawrence Jackson]

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Lawrence Jackson, an official photographer for the Obama family during their time in the White House, has shared a series of candid photos.

The images have been shared to coincide with the release of Jackson’s book, ‘Yes We Did’, which features a series of candid, behind-the-scenes photographs of Obamas, together with a foreword by former US President Barack himself.

The book is available to buy from Amazon.

Jackson, who began working as a White House photographer in early 2009, the year of Barack’s inauguration, told US publication PEOPLE: “There were times, like when [President Obama] gave the remark on Trayvon Martin or he talked about the South Carolina church shooting, whenever he talked about race relations, like his 50th anniversary speech in Selma, those moments were always personal to me.

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President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama participate in a photo shoot with Miller Mobley for Parade magazine in the Diplomatic Reception Room of the White House, May 20, 2014. [Photo: Official White House Photo by Lawrence Jackson]
President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama participate in a photo shoot with Miller Mobley for Parade magazine in the Diplomatic Reception Room of the White House, May 20, 2014. [Photo: Official White House Photo by Lawrence Jackson]
Yes We Did book cover. [Photo: Penguin Random House]
Yes We Did book cover. [Photo: Penguin Random House]
President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama participate in a photo line in the Blue Room prior to a reception celebrating African American History Month in the East Room of the White House, Feb. 18, 2016. Pictured with: Virginia McLaurin. [Photo: Official White House Photo by Lawrence Jackson]
President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama participate in a photo line in the Blue Room prior to a reception celebrating African American History Month in the East Room of the White House, Feb. 18, 2016. Pictured with: Virginia McLaurin. [Photo: Official White House Photo by Lawrence Jackson]
First Lady Michelle Obama participates in a "Let's Move!" Dubsmash video taping with NBA player Stephen "Steph" Curry and his wife Yeysha in the Map Room of the White House, Feb. 4, 2016. [Photo: Official White House Photo by Lawrence Jackson]
First Lady Michelle Obama participates in a "Let's Move!" Dubsmash video taping with NBA player Stephen "Steph" Curry and his wife Yeysha in the Map Room of the White House, Feb. 4, 2016. [Photo: Official White House Photo by Lawrence Jackson]

“It’s not like I took pictures any differently. But they had more resonance for me personally because, being African American, I’m a part of that.”

“In the book I talk about how there were moments where my thoughts were kind of jumbled in my head,” Jackson added. “Then he would give a speech and it would be what I was thinking. I’ve always appreciated him for that.”

The sweet, never-before-seen photos include scenes of then-First Lady Michelle practising lines for a speech with daughters Sasha and Malia; and playful interactions between Michelle and Barack.

There is also a foreword from Barack himself.

President Barack Obama walks back to the Oval Office after bidding farewell to Pope Francis on the South Lawn of the White House, Sept. 23, 2015. [Photo: Official White House Photo by Lawrence Jackson]
President Barack Obama walks back to the Oval Office after bidding farewell to Pope Francis on the South Lawn of the White House, Sept. 23, 2015. [Photo: Official White House Photo by Lawrence Jackson]
First Lady Michelle Obama on board BrightStar gets helps from Sasha and Malia on rehearsing her lines for the iCarly Show while headed to Los Angeles, California, June 13, 2011. [Photo: Official White House Photo by Lawrence Jackson]
First Lady Michelle Obama on board BrightStar gets helps from Sasha and Malia on rehearsing her lines for the iCarly Show while headed to Los Angeles, California, June 13, 2011. [Photo: Official White House Photo by Lawrence Jackson]
President Barack Obama meets with Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanual during a private meeting in the Oval Office and on the South Grounds of the White House, Oct. 7, 2015. [Photo: Official White House Photo by Lawrence Jackson]
President Barack Obama meets with Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanual during a private meeting in the Oval Office and on the South Grounds of the White House, Oct. 7, 2015. [Photo: Official White House Photo by Lawrence Jackson]

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“Lawrence has a talent for capturing the big scene, the iconic images that will help explain our times for future generations,” he writes in the foreword.

“But he also has a unique gift for capturing those quieter moments—the margins of a big event, the pauses in a busy day, some stolen times with Michelle and our girls.”

Shop the book

Yes We Did: Photos and Behind-the-Scenes Stories Celebrating Our First African American President | £17.99

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