From Pete Souza, White House Photographer

The Year in Photographs 2012 by White House Photographer Pete Souza

83 Photos You Don't Want to Miss:
By all accounts it's been a historic year at the White House, and we're excited to share some of our favorite photos from behind the scenes in 2012. The White House Photo Office compiled some of the year's best, with commentary from Chief Official White House Photographer Pete Souza.

This is still my favorite, but it dates from 2009.  I just thought this the perfect moment to slip it in.

From Polichicks:  "Pat the President":

This young brother is really feeling the president's fade 

President Obama bends over to let the young son of a White House staffer touch his hair, because the child wants to see if the president's hair feels just like his own.

For the first time in our history, an African American child visiting the White House can see that someone with hair (and skin) like his (or hers) can be anything he wants to be when he grows up - even president of the United States of America.  It's amazing to see that what an Obama presidency means for African Americans - inclusion, representation, unlimited dreams and long awaited, hard fought for change - is not lost on a child this small.

More from Pete Souza:  The Rise of Barack Obama, The Road to Kabul, Wrigley Field, Portrait of a President, Plebe Summer, President Reagan's Funeral

How Pete Souza became President Obama’s secret weaponPosted by Chris Cillizza on December 19, 2012 at 1:08 pmWashington Post 

You probably have never heard of Pete Souza. 

But, Souza, the White House official photographer, plays an absolutely critical — and often under-estimated — role in the shaping of “Barack Obama”, the image of the president presented to the public. 

And, in an election in which Obama’s likability seemed to trump policy concerns that many voters held about him, it’s not an exaggeration to say that Souza was a major cog in the machine  that got the incumbent re-elected. 

“When these eight years are done, Pete will be its most important illustrator,” said Robert Gibbs, who served as White House press secretary in Obama’s first term. [read the rest HERE].