![love-story](https://time.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/love-story.jpg?w=1200)
Like every one, theirs had a beginning
The public’s introduction to the couple came on the campaign trail in 2007, but the Obamas’ story began nearly two decades earlier when Michelle Robinson was assigned to mentor Barack Obama at the Chicago law firm Sidley & Austin. Now, their first date, a trip to see Do the Right Thing in 1989, is getting the Hollywood treatment through the film Southside With You hitting theaters on Aug. 26.
After a three-year courtship, the couple wed in 1992. Thanks to more than a decade in the public eye, thousands of photographs capture their relationship, seeming at once comfortable and restrained, joyous and subtle. She gingerly adjusts his tie. He lends her his jacket. Hand in hand, they face the public, poised and relaxed. In one frame, hundreds of spectators photograph the couple dancing during the official Inaugural Ball. In another, Mrs. Obama watches the president speak on a television, alone.
Here’s a look back at some of the moments, many of them captured by the Obama’s White House photographers, that followed that date on Chicago’s Southside 27 years ago. —Chelsea Matiash
Above: Michelle and Barack Obama ride on his campaign bus in New Hampshire after a late night of campaigning in 2008. Photograph by Callie Shell—Aurora Photos
![Barack Obama and fiancée, Michelle, in Kenya, 1992.](https://time.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/barack-obama-michelle-obama-love-story-romance-photos-02.jpg?w=1200&w=1200)
![Barack Obama and Michelle Obama in a family snapshot from their wedding day, Oct. 18, 1992.](https://time.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/barack-obama-michelle-obama-love-story-romance-photos-03.jpg?w=760&w=760)
![Barack Obama and Michelle Obama get ready to give the keynote address at the Chicago Economic Club at their home in Chicago on Dec. 8, 2004.](https://time.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/barack-obama-michelle-obama-love-story-romance-photos-04.jpg?w=1200&w=1200)
![Barack Obama, holding his daughter Malia, 6, and his wife Michelle, holding their daughter Sasha, 3, are covered in confetti after Obama delivered his acceptance speech in Chicago, Nov. 2, 2004.](https://time.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/barack-obama-michelle-obama-love-story-romance-photos-05.jpg?w=1200&w=1200)
![Barack Obama and Michelle Obama listen backstage to a concert by Bruce Springsteen and Billy Joel at Hammerstein Theater in New York City, Oct. 17, 2008.](https://time.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/barack-obama-michelle-obama-love-story-romance-photos-06.jpg?w=1200&w=1200)
![Barack Obama and Michelle Obama embrace as Oprah Winfrey campaigns with them during a rally at Williams Brice Stadium in Columbia, S.C., Dec. 9, 2008.](https://time.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/barack-obama-michelle-obama-love-story-romance-photos-07.jpg?w=1200&w=1200)
![Barack Obama, hugs Michelle Obama after giving his acceptance speech at the Democratic National Convention at Invesco Field at Mile High in Denver, Aug. 28, 2008.](https://time.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/barack-obama-michelle-obama-love-story-romance-photos-08.jpg?w=1200&w=1200)
![Barack Obama and Michelle Obama share a private moment in a freight elevator at an Inaugural Ball in Washington, D.C., Jan. 20, 2009.](https://time.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/barack-obama-michelle-obama-love-story-romance-photos-09.jpg?w=1200&w=1200)
![Barack Obama and Michelle Obama attend the Neighborhood Inaugural Ball at the Washington Convention Center in Washington D.C., on Jan. 20, 2009.](https://time.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/barack-obama-michelle-obama-love-story-romance-photos-10.jpg?w=1200&w=1200)
![Barack Obama, holding a tortilla from the buffet table at the White House Cinco de Mayo celebration, smiles at Michelle Obama as they get on the elevator to the private residence following the event on May 4, 2009.](https://time.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/barack-obama-michelle-obama-love-story-romance-photos-11.jpg?w=1200&w=1200)
![Barack Obama hugs Michelle Obama in the Red Room of the White House prior to the National Newspaper Publishers Association reception on March 20, 2009.](https://time.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/barack-obama-michelle-obama-love-story-romance-photos-12.jpg?w=1200&w=1200)
![A quiet moment before a reception for Barack Obama and Michelle Obama in the Diplomatic Room of the White House in Washington, DC., March 17, 2009.](https://time.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/barack-obama-michelle-obama-love-story-romance-photos-13.jpg?w=1200&w=1200)
![Barack Obama and Michelle Obama’s hands rest on the railing of a boat during their tour of St. Andrews Bay in Panama City Beach, Fla., Aug. 15, 2010.](https://time.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/barack-obama-michelle-obama-love-story-romance-photos-14.jpg?w=1200&w=1200)
![Barack Obama and Michelle Obama dance together during the Governors Ball in the East Room of the White House, Feb. 21, 2010.](https://time.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/barack-obama-michelle-obama-love-story-romance-photos-15.jpg?w=1200&w=1200)
![Barack Obama and Michelle Obama watch the fireworks over the National Mall from the roof of the White House, July 4, 2010.](https://time.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/barack-obama-michelle-obama-love-story-romance-photos-16.jpg?w=1200&w=1200)
![Barack Obama kisses Michelle Obama for the](https://time.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/barack-obama-michelle-obama-love-story-romance-photos-17.jpg?w=1200&w=1200)
![Michelle Obama waits to greet Barack Obama upon his arrival at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York, N.Y., June 14, 2012.](https://time.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/barack-obama-michelle-obama-love-story-romance-photos-18.jpg?w=1200&w=1200)
![Barack Obama and Michelle Obama descend the White House staircase to a packed audience attending a Christmas Party at the White House, Dec. 12, 2012.](https://time.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/barack-obama-michelle-obama-love-story-romance-photos-19.jpg?w=1200&w=1200)
![Barack Obama and Michelle Obama ride in the inaugural parade in Washington, D.C., Jan. 21, 2013.](https://time.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/barack-obama-michelle-obama-love-story-romance-photos-20.jpg?w=1200&w=1200)
![Barack Obama and Michelle Obama dance during the official Inaugural ball in Washington D.C., Jan. 21, 2013.](https://time.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/barack-obama-michelle-obama-love-story-romance-photos-21.jpg?w=1200&w=1200)
![The First Lady backstage watching the President deliver remarks at the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation's 44th Annual Legislative Conference Phoenix Awards Dinner in Washington, D.C., Sept. 27, 2014.](https://time.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/barack-obama-michelle-obama-love-story-romance-photos-23.jpg?w=1200&w=1200)
![The President and First Lady hold hands as they listen to the remarks of Rep. John Lewis at an event to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of Bloody Sunday and the Selma to Montgomery civil rights marches on March 7, 2015.](https://time.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/barack-obama-michelle-obama-love-story-romance-photos-24.jpg?w=1200&w=1200)
![Michelle Obama adjusts the tie of Barack Obama as they prepare to welcome President XI Jinping of China and Madame Peng Liyuan to a State Dinner in their honor on the North Portico of the White House in Washington, D.C., on Sept. 25, 2015.](https://time.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/barack-obama-michelle-obama-love-story-romance-photos-25.jpg?w=1200&w=1200)
![The First Lady snuggled against the President during a video taping for the 2015 World Expo in the Diplomatic Reception Room of the White House, March 27, 2015.](https://time.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/barack-obama-michelle-obama-love-story-romance-photos-26.jpg?w=1200&w=1200)
![The President and First Lady react to a child in a pope costume and mini popemobile as they welcomed children during a Halloween event on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, D.C., Oct. 30, 2015.](https://time.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/barack-obama-michelle-obama-love-story-romance-photos-27.jpg?w=1200&w=1200)
![Barack Obama and Michelle Obama walk to the motorcade after touring Old Havana, Cuba, March 20, 2016.](https://time.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/barack-obama-michelle-obama-love-story-romance-photos-28.jpg?w=1200&w=1200)
![Barack Obama and Michelle Obama are seen above audience member cell phones as they host a reception celebrating African American History Month in the East Room of the White House in Washington, D.C., Feb. 18, 2016.](https://time.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/barack-obama-michelle-obama-love-story-romance-photos-29.jpg?w=1200&w=1200)
![Michelle Obama touches the chin of Barack Obama as they await the arrival of guests at the State Dinner while participating in the U.S.- Nordic Leaders Summit at The White House in Washington, D.C., May 13, 2016.](https://time.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/barack-obama-michelle-obama-love-story-romance-photos-30.jpg?w=1200&w=1200)