Namu Williams

ABOUT YOUR BOY

Hi. I’m Namu.

I take pretty pictures, and that's pretty much it. I could write a bunch of marketing copy, but you've read it all before on other photographers' websites (and most of that was written by AI, lol), so instead, I'll just share a few fun facts.

Namu Williams working security

OLD SCHOOL

I was a bouncer/head of security for 13 years in the SF Bay Area, mostly in Santa Cruz and San Jose, at venues ranging from 400 to 800 occupancy. The Red Room, Emi, Palookaville, Rosie McCann's, The Agenda Lounge, etc.

Namu performing as an underground rapper in the 1990s

THE BOOM BAP

I was an underground rapper in the 1990s, performing up and down California's coast. Though I lived in Santa Cruz at the time, my first paid performance as an emcee was in Santa Barbara, at a college house party on a stage built in someone's back yard across from the ocean. That $50 was well-deserved, lol.

Namu Williams at Tough Mudder Tahoe

I USED TO BE SEXY

now I'm sexy with a big belly.

Sushi at a restaurant

MY TRUE LOVE IS

sushi! But my son is a close second.

THIS IS ME WHEN I WAS YOUNGER

I was a terrible photographer.

For a reaaaally long time. And then, suddenly, I wasn't. And by "suddenly" I mean "over a period of about eight years." I started shooting with film cameras but quickly realized that was a dumb thing to do on my bouncer's salary (I use "salary" very loosely), so I stopped shooting for a few years. Then digital cameras became a thing, and I started back up. And here we are, 20 years later, and you're thinking about giving me your hard-earned money to take photos of you. I love that for you! And me! Well, mostly me, because of the money thing.

THERE'S ONLY ONE QUESTION TO ASK

Q: Am I the right photographer for you?

A: If you want a big-bellied, bald, late-middle-aged man with 20 years of experience and a sushi addiction taking your photos, then hell yeah, I am!

But seriously, most of us photographers here on the Central Coast are really good at what we do. If we assume pricing is similar and our portfolios are filled with shots you like, then everything boils down to personality.

So what's my personality like? I'm confident, great at giving direction, professional when it's important and casual otherwise. And I think you've probably figured it out already - I make a lot of mediocre jokes, lol.

How did you get so handsome?

Good question, and thank you for asking. I got it from my mama.

My mother, Maryann Barrickman, at 16 years old

HAVE YOU WON LOTS OF PHOTOGRAPHY AWARDS?

Nope.

But I've got something even better than awards. I've got a particular set of skills: making clients feel a lot more relaxed than they thought they would be (you thought I was going to say "tracking people down", huh?)

When a client is comfortable, they relax, and when they relax you get great images of them. And I get a LOT of great images of people. By the way, I'm also super humble.

Did you say something earlier about liking fish?

Raw fish, to be exact. Yes. Yes I do. I might have a problem.

DO YOU DO ANYTHING BESIDES PHOTOGRAPHY?

Apparently I contain multitudes.

800 × 450
FIRST WORLD PROBLEMS

My beautiful son loves sushi as much as I do, which is financially unfortunate.

READY TO GET SOME NEW PHOTOS?

If you made it through all these dumb jokes and you're still here, we're gonna get along just fine.

Book a Session!