After spending eight years in the spotlight as America's First Lady, Michelle Obama remains a role model for millions of women in the US and around the world.

One woman who has been close to her during the last four years of Barack Obama's presidency has revealed a side of the former First Lady few have had a chance to see.

Amanda Lucidon worked as the only female White House photographer between 2012 and 2016 and has captured some of the intimate moments shared by the Obama family during that time.

Speaking out about her time with Ms Obama to NPR News, she described her as "one of the most genuine, compassionate and thoughtful people".

"She has a way of just making everyone feel so comfortable and special and loved," she said.

Ms Lucidon admitted she was intimated by Ms Obama's presence and how "wonderful, tall and pretty" she was when she first met her, adding many people laughed, cried or struggled to speak upon meeting her.

Barack Obama's best moments in the White House Show all 11 1 /11 Barack Obama's best moments in the White House Barack Obama's best moments in the White House May 19, 2009 “The President was leaving the State Floor after an event and found Sasha in the elevator ready to head upstairs to the private residence. He decided to ride upstairs with her before returning to the Oval Office,” Peter Souza Barack Obama's best moments in the White House Oct. 26, 2012 President Barack Obama pretends to be caught in Spider-Man's web as he greets the son of a White House staffer in the Outer Oval Office Peter Souza Barack Obama's best moments in the White House “A National Security staffer, Carlton Philadelphia, brought his family to the Oval Office for a farewell photo with President Obama. Carlton’s son, Jacob, softly told the President he had just gotten a haircut like President Obama, and asked if he could feel the President’s head to see if it felt the same as his.” Peter Souza Barack Obama's best moments in the White House March 21, 2010 The President, Vice President and senior staff applaud after watching on television the House vote on H.R. 4872 for health care reform, in the Roosevelt Room of the White House Peter Souza Barack Obama's best moments in the White House Dec. 3, 2009 President Barack Obama fist-bumps custodian Lawrence Lipscomb in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building following the opening session of the White House Forum on Jobs and Economic Growth Peter Souza Barack Obama's best moments in the White House Sept. 22, 2015 "The Obama family and Biden family greet Pope Francis as he arrives in the United States for the first time at Joint Base Andrews," Sept. 22, 2015. Peter Souza Barack Obama's best moments in the White House Feb. 21, 2014 President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden participate in a "Let's Move!" video taping on the Colonnade of the White House, Feb. 21, 2014 Peter Souza Barack Obama's best moments in the White House Feb. 18, 2016 President Barack Obama watches First Lady Michelle Obama dance with 106-Year-Old Virginia McLaurin in the Blue Room of the White House prior to a reception celebrating African American History Month, Feb. 18, 2016 Peter Souza Barack Obama's best moments in the White House Jan. 21, 2013 "The President and First Lady wave to supporters as they ride in the inaugural parade. I had asked the President if I could ride in the presidential limousine and the President joked, 'But Michelle and I were planning to make out," Jan. 21, 2013. Peter Souza Barack Obama's best moments in the White House Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama share a private moment in a freight elevator at an Inaugural Ball, January 2009 all pics: Pete Souza Barack Obama's best moments in the White House Barack Obama rests his hand on the bible that President Lincoln used for his swear-in, being held by his wife Michelle Obama as he is sworn in as the 44th President of the United States of America Rex

But "she just has this way of just calming everything right down and just making people feel loved," she added.

In a new book Chasing Light, the Washington photographer shares 150 behind-the-scenes shots of Ms Obama, many of which have never been seen before.

Explaining why she decided to publish the book, Ms Lucidon said the four years she spent at the White House "went by so quickly" the book had enabled her to plunge herself back into some of the moments spent with the Obama family.

She added the process of making the book had also been a way to reflect on the lessons she learned from observing Ms Obama navigating everyday challenges during her time in the White House.

Ms Lucidon revealed that the biggest lesson she learned from Ms Obama was "to look on our challenges that we experience in life as our strengths, and not our weaknesses".