Obama's People by Nadav Kander

Barack Obama Photograph: Nadav Kander

Rahm Emanuel, White House Chief of Staff. Rahm Emanuel was very pleasant. He was nice, but no-nonsense. His was one of the first photographs I took and I didn’t take many shots, but all of his aides said: ‘You’ve really captured him’. I don’t know how much he liked it though Photograph: Nadav Kander

Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of the House. Everybody’s aide would come in first. I remember Nancy Pelosi’s aide came in and she said: ‘Nancy’s going to smile. Don’t ask her not to - she's a happy lady’ Photograph: Nadav Kander

Hillary Clinton, Secretary of State. I asked people to bring something personal with them. Hillary Clinton did not bring anything but she was very dressed up for the photograph. She had beautiful jewellery and make-up, and that was her contribution. That is so telling in its own way Photograph: Nadav Kander

Eugene Kang, Special Assistant to the president. Eugene was unbelievably proud that at a young age, he had found himself in a car with Barack Obama on the campaign trail. The book he is holding contained the names of super-delegates and what their persuasion might be Photograph: Nadav Kander

Desiree Rogers, White House Social Secretary. Desiree came in and I got a real sense that she wanted to exude style, whereas most of the others exuded business, a strong sense of purpose or duty. Photograph: Nadav Kander

Reggie Love, personal aide to the president. Reggie was very at ease, a lovely man. It was hard to capture his charisma, until I asked him to take his jacket off. The pens in his jacket pocket are the pens he hands to Barack Obama when the president needs to sign something Photograph: Nadav Kander

Carol Browner, Energy and Climate Policy Coordinator Photograph: Nadav Kander

Cass Sunstein, Information and Regulatory Affairs Administrator Photograph: Nadav Kander

Cecilia Muñoz, Intergovernmental Affairs Director Photograph: Nadav Kander

Christina Romer, Council of Economic Advisers Chairwoman Photograph: Nadav Kander

Denis McDonough, senior foreign policy adviser Photograph: Nadav Kander

Jackie Norris, Michelle Obama's Chief of Staff Photograph: Nadav Kander

Jim Messina, Deputy White House Chief of Staff Photograph: Nadav Kander

Joseph Biden, Vice President Photograph: Nadav Kander

Ken Salazar, Secretary of the Interior Photograph: Nadav Kander

Mike Strautmanis, Chief of Staff Photograph: Nadav Kander

Janet Napolitano, Secretary of Homeland Security Photograph: Nadav Kander

Representative James Clyburn Photograph: Nadav Kander

Samantha Power, adviser Photograph: Nadav Kander

Patrick Gaspard, Political Affairs Director Photograph: Nadav Kander

Senator Claire McCaskill Photograph: Nadav Kander

Steven Chu, Energy Secretary Photograph: Nadav Kander

Susan Rice United Nations Ambassador Photograph: Nadav Kander

Timothy F. Geithner, Treasury Secretary Photograph: Nadav Kander

Tom Daschle, health and human services secretary-designate. Tom Daschle later withdrew his nomination amid revelations that he had failed to pay more than $140,000 in taxes and interest on a car and driver provided by a wealthy Democratic fundraiser Photograph: Nadav Kander

Valerie Jarrett, senior adviser Photograph: Nadav Kander