Michael Williams Photography

15/10/2025

Shannon and I go waaayyyyy back…maybe further than I’d like to admit. 1987 Tokyo when we were both getting our start(s) in the fashion biz. Pre-digital era. No social media. Only meeting meeting in person, or as the kids now say; IRL. When we first met I was “Elvis” but I’ll save that story for another post. I remember working with Shannon when he was a much sought after model and having such a fun time with him. I think we both share some very boyish and slightly mischievous vibes but hopefully that’s what keeps us both young as we get older. Thanks again Shannon for this impromptu portrait at your Hudson NY gallery. Always a pleasure to see you!

30/07/2024

and by from the 90’s archive! (Sorry. Terrible remembering subjects names so if anyone remembers please hit me up!)

02/03/2023

We love learning about and helping to share stories from the trail—like this one that made the newspaper!

"1928 in New York City five ladies; Marylou Jackson, a student at Hunter College, Velva Jackson, a nurse at Gramercy Hospital, Ethyl Miller, a public school teacher, Leolya Nelson director of Physical Education for the Y.W.C.A and Constance White a student at Sargent School of Physical Training embarked on a 250 mile bicycle journey to Washington D.C. in three days.
.. According to the article the ladies challenged any women 21 years or older to take the same trip and do it in less time." - myrootsmyblog

A special thank you to Black Girls Do Bike, the myrootsmyblog, The Bicycle Story podcast and its guest speaker and historian Marya McQuirter, and BICYCLING magazine for highlighting this amazing bike ride!

“Have you heard about the five black women who biked from NYC to D.C. in 1928? Don’t worry if you haven’t, I didn’t know about them either until I started doing some research.“

https://myrootsmyblog.wordpress.com/2020/08/05/five-black-women-cycle-250-miles-in-1928/?fbclid=IwAR2zp59Hdog6IwaKVBiW6WkXScQkCsvoFn-mOtf6nUsTjr7lyR4R5DgSwqc

13/10/2022

There’s nothing quite like having decades long collaborations with people who you love and who genuinely inspire you. In this case working with my dear friends (creative director) and (hair) was both a joy and an honor. I mean that with complete sincerity. I think we all felt especially energized and inspired on this day. Ian and I started out together in the business in Toronto in the late 80’s. I first met Christian Marc when I lived in Paris. He was only 17 or 18 years old at the time and was training to become a hairdresser. I took a chance on him and booked him for a shoot for Vogue when he was only 19 or 20 years old. he did an incredible job and from then on we collaborated nonstop.

This shoot for was Ian’s incredibly talented and thoughtful wife Min who is the designer of Ms.Min. They are such a beautiful and inspiring couple and I feel blessed to call them close friends. Although Min was born and raised in China, and her style feels uniquely Chinese, the depth of her influences extend well beyond those borders. Her designs are incredibly iconic and timeless.

I’d be remiss not to mention the inspiring our model and the talented (makeup)

I love these photos in and of themselves but tied to them are these incredible friendships. for me that is at least half the reason why I’ve remain the photographer as long as I have. I love the creative process but I also love the relationships forged within it. ❤️

13/10/2022

04/10/2022

I always love working with Not only is she an amazing professional but, as a journalist - she’s a Columbia University journalism graduate - she always is on top of politics and world events. She recently covered the election in Brasil on her Instagram stories and offered a really unique perspective.

Shot for

29/04/2022

The beautiful, talented, and also very funny Such a beautiful day in Montauk.

Many thanks to my buddy for generously supporting the production that day as well as for his genius drone footage.

Shark tooth necklace by

12/02/2022

It’s almost impossible to believe that has hit the big 5.0!!! 🎂 Days before his 50th he won the most prestigious surfing contest in the world while beating out somebody more than half his age. There’s so many great lessons to learn from this amazing human!
I feel honored to have spent some time with him in Hawaii 🌺 I took this photo shortly before the pipe masters. He’s standing next to another legend of the sport Who is also an amazing human being and one of Kelly’s best friends.

Photo: 📸

16/01/2022

I love this quote because I love being bad at something I’m new to. In the beginning everyone is bad at something that’s new and challenging to them. I love that feeling of failing and then getting better and better at something…and then… low and behold…stick at it long enough and tower enough dedication and soon you find yourself becoming really good at that thing.

“People don’t want to do new things if they think they’re going to be bad at them or people are going to laugh at them. You have to be willing to subject yourself to failure, to be bad, to fall on your head and do it again, and try stuff that you’ve never done in order to be the best you can be.” - Laird Hamilton

“People don’t want to do new things if they think they’re going to be bad at them or people are going to laugh at them. You have to be willing to subject yourself to failure, to be bad, to fall on your head and do it again, and try stuff that you’ve never done in order to be the best you can be.” - Laird Hamilton

10/11/2021

Ato Essandoh is one of those people who’s at once just so damn likable and so damn cool. His acting career has been on a steady rise since he first appeared on screen so I’m betting a stardom for this awesome guy.

It was such a pleasure shooting with him and he left me with every photographer’s dream challenge… so many amazing pics which ones do I chose? 🔎 📷 🤔

I hope you all like this edit! 🙏🏻


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