White House releases Obama's portrait for second term Official White House portrait by Pete Souza. WASHINGTON, Jan. 18 (UPI) -- The White House Friday released President Barack Obama's official portrait for his second term, ahead of his second inauguration. The new portrait was taken on Dec. 6 by White House photographer Pete Souza, who also took Obama's first presidential portrait, CNN reported. Obama posed for the portrait in the Oval Office, with the U.S. and presidential flags on either side of him, USA Today reported. In contrast to his first presidential portrait, in which Obama is much more serious, the new one features Obama with a wide smile, MSNBC reported.