White House photographer reveals story behind Obamas' final Christmas card

You can thank Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

The Obama family's Christmas card this year may be bittersweet, since it's their last while in the White House, but it's nothing short of stunning reports Harpers Bazaar.

Barack and Michelle Obama stand with their arms around their grown-up-looking daughters, Sasha and Malia, and they're all dressed to perfection.

White House photographer Pete Souza, who took the stunning photo during a state dinner in honor of the Canadian Prime Minister, revealed that Justin Trudeau was actually behind the epic shot.

"At one point, the Prime Minister asked if we could do a photo of he and his wife with the Obama family. Click, click, click. Then, he said I should do a photo of just the Obama's. I could have said, 'sir we already did one before you arrived.' But instead, I clicked off a few quick frames," Souza explained on Instagram. Turns out, Trudeau's suggestion resulted in the First Family's final holiday card photo.

"And lo and behold," Souza continued, "It was this picture that Justin Trudeau asked me to take which everyone loved as the choice for the 2016 White House holiday card."

Good eye, Trudeau.

This family. What can I say. What an honor to have photographed them for eight years. A couple of months ago, the Social Office came to me and said they were thinking of using a family photo for this year's White House holiday card. So I thought of Justin Trudeau. I know you're wondering what the heck I'm talking about. Earlier this year we hosted the Canadian Prime Minister for a formal State Dinner. Malia and Sasha attended as guests. Before the dinner, I did a family photo in the White House residence. But later, when the Trudeaus arrived, the two families spent some time on the Truman Balcony with their respective delegations. At one point, the Prime Minister asked if we could do a photo of he and his wife with the Obama family. Click, click, click. Then, he said I should do a photo of just the Obama's. I could have said, "sir we already did one before you arrived." But instead, I clicked off a few quick frames. And lo and behold, it was this picture that Justin Trudeau asked me to take which everyone loved as the choice for the 2016 White House holiday card.

A photo posted by Pete Souza (@petesouza) on

Read Souza's full backstory below:

"This family. What can I say. What an honor to have photographed them for eight years. A couple of months ago, the Social Office came to me and said they were thinking of using a family photo for this year's White House holiday card. So I thought of Justin Trudeau. I know you're wondering what the heck I'm talking about. Earlier this year we hosted the Canadian Prime Minister for a formal State Dinner. Malia and Sasha attended as guests. Before the dinner, I did a family photo in the White House residence. But later, when the Trudeaus arrived, the two families spent some time on the Truman Balcony with their respective delegations. At one point, the Prime Minister asked if we could do a photo of he and his wife with the Obama family. Click, click, click. Then, he said I should do a photo of just the Obama's. I could have said, "sir we already did one before you arrived." But instead, I clicked off a few quick frames. And lo and behold, it was this picture that Justin Trudeau asked me to take which everyone loved as the choice for the 2016 White House holiday card."

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