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The Obamas can thank Justin Trudeau for their holiday card photo

Michelle Obama in Jason Wu
To host Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Sophie Grégoire Trudeau, Michelle Obama wore a strapless navy blue gown with flowers made by Jason Wu, the designer who shot to instant fame after creating the first lady’s inauguration dress in 2008. (Photo: AP)

White House photographer Pete Souza has offered us a glimpse into what happened the night he took the photo that would become the Obama family’s Christmas card image.

On Thursday, Souza posted the photo to his Instagram account, detailing the events leading up to that moment.

It was back in March when U.S. President Barack Obama hosted a state dinner honouring Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

Souza says he took photos of the Obama family in the White House residence, but this particular photo came to life on the Truman Balcony when the Trudeaus arrived.

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The prime minister asked Souza for some photos of he and his wife Sophie Grégoire Trudeau with the Obama family.

Trudeau stepped away and told Souza he should snap a photo of just the Obamas.

“I could have said, ‘sir we already did one before you arrived,’” Souza wrote on his post, but instead he clicked away.

“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,” he said.

The holiday card received much adoration from the Internet as it is the last one Obama and his family will send before his term in the White House comes to an end on Jan. 20.

Souza, who has photographed the Obama family for eight years, has been reflecting on his time as the chief official White House photographer for the president through posts on his Instagram page.