Conversations with Abdul-Amir Williams

Today we’d like to introduce you to Abdul-Amir Williams. 

Abdul-Amir, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
The story started officially about a year and a half ago, however, I’ve always felt creative when it came to expressing myself. Growing up in South Georgia, Albany/Leesburg Area to be exact, everything is as it is imagined to be. It’s a rural area which has a lot of culture behind it that go years back. I feel like that influenced me to want to keep that culture throughout anything that I shoot. Moving out to the Midwest 4 years ago gave me another perspective of the world and allowed me to infuse multiple cultures into one style of my own. I shoot digital and film currently at the moment and have continued to grow my name out in both the Kansas and Missouri areas. A lot of patience, time, and money have gotten me to where I’m currently at in my journey with photography but it’s also brought me into a different aspect of life being able to create memories from either a digital or film camera. 

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I feel as if anything that you’re pursuing that involves a multitude of different individuals and personalities, it will always be some roadblocks. Me being a naturally reserved person, I tend to want to be behind the scenes, not the main focus of the room. I learned quickly that sometimes that comfort level has to be stretched and you have to blend in on some occasions. Some shoots may require me to be a little more vocal and others may be in front of a large area of people, however, both and other situations have allowed me to grow personally outside of photography which is another life bonus. Dealing with different individuals also gives room for different opinions and you have to be real secure and confident in not only what you do but who you are as a person. 

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
As I mentioned earlier, I currently shoot digital and film photography. I believe that I can shoot anything so my body of work ranges from film candids of friends/architecture/cars/engagement ceremonies and cinematic shots of local artists in the Kansas City area. I just like to take pictures, plain and simple, and add my own personality to each shot that I see and try to portray. I’m known for working with a local moving company that goes by the name of “The Dudes”, in which I take media shots of jobs and merchandise. I also do shoots for friends and artists that are up and coming in the city currently. I’m most proud of staying disciplined in this craft and really being patient with the overall process. I feel like what sets me apart is my work ethic and being able to be consistent in all areas creating and just the overall final edits. I don’t try to shoot like anyone but myself and that’s the only way I feel like you can be different in this line of work. 

If you had to, what characteristic of yours would you give the most credit to?
I feel like the main one is having some form of discipline because it’s a lot that goes into it that gets sometimes overlooked. Being able to understand each camera model and also know how to correctly (from each one’s own perspectives) compose a shot is key. Photography to a degree is something that you can pick up and do but if you want to dive a little deeper, you have to pay your dues in research as well. Another key quality is patience. A lot people kind of go into this thinking that they’re going to blow up after their first shoot and then reality sets in on how many other people are doing the same thing in a way with their own journey. I focus mainly on getting sharper with my eye from shoot to shoot, allowing myself to gradually get better over time. I do believe that one day my work will be seen across a multitude of people in the near future, God willing. 

Pricing:

• 1 Hour=$100
• Studio=$200 as a flat rate which includes studio booking.

Contact Info:

• Email: abdulamirb.williams@gmail.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amirabdul_/

Image Credits
Zarin Jerrells
Jocelynn Gayden
Marwa Raja
Brandon Bothwell
Alexandra Johnson
The Fearless Females
Sequoya Guinn