TNT Pictures is the business of Tue Nam, an energetic and relaxed photographer with a small office in Berkeley. I'm a graduate student and needed headshots as I approached graduation and the working world. Tue Nam had me meet him at his downtown Berkeley office, walk five minutes to campus, and take some outdoor photos in a four different natural settings. He didn't phone it in--Tue Nam gave consistent attention and care throughout the shoot. He joked and made me feel at ease, which showed up in the photos. We then went back to his office and together we selected, ultimately, two photos from the 250 he took. He did some touch ups. He said he was more of a photographer than a photoshop guy, but for me his photoshop skills were more than enough: taming my unruly hair and correcting some skin blots. I went home with the two touchups plus a selection of other good ones. Great experience and will use again. read more

While Tue Nam is a talented photographer, his work at our wedding resulted in a lot of disappointment and tears after the wedding. We hired Tue Nam after meeting with him and reviewing his previous work. We were enthusiastic about having him as our photographer. On the day of the event, we saw him throughout the day taking photos. However, when we received the photos, I was really disappointed to the point of tears. About 1/3 of the photos were the empty room where our wedding would take place or where the reception would be. All the posed group photos had at least one person who wasn't looking at the camera and they were all adults in the photos. And, the largest group photo was 10 people. It's reasonable to expect you can get 10 adults to look at a camera and smile all at the same time. There was no photo of just me and my husband after we were married. You know that picture that you frame in your living room, we didn't get one. There's no picture of me by myself that shows my dress (and it was an amazing dress) He missed the "you may now kiss the bride" photo. There was no photo of our wedding musicians who were friends and family members. And a number of other standard shots were missing as well. Prior to the wedding, I asked what he needed from me and he said just a list of the group photos I wanted taken, which I provided. He said he had a list of standard photos that he always takes. I assumed photos of the bride and groom were included in that list. Tue Nam did offer to do a make up photo shoot at no cost to take photos of me and my husband at the wedding site to make up for this miss. However, that meant I got to pay for hair and makeup again, my husband got to pay for his tux again, I got to make a new wedding bouquet and a boutonniere for my husband. Total cost for the 'free' photo shoot, $400. And then, even though he must have taken about 100 shots that day, we got 11 and still, not that photo you frame in your living room. I'm really not sure what happened that day, but the result was not what we expected. Thank goodness he brought an assistant as his assistant took some beautiful photos of our guests. If you decide to hire Tue Nam, be sure you provide a complete list of all the photos you want including the ones you assume he'll take (like a photo of the bride and groom) and insist on a pre-wedding meeting at the location to review what pictures will be taken. Also, designate someone at your wedding to make sure the photos you requested are being taken (unless you want to take on this role yourself) I regret that I didn't do this and that I said "ok" when he said, "we don't need to meet before the wedding, I have it under control". read more

First review so please bear with me. Tue Nam in all intent and purposes is a great photographer with great communication. He will really listen to you about what you want and the aesthetic behind every picture. He is a fun and lighthearted guy with a lot of passion for his photography and has years of experience behind him that only adds to his immense talent. I had a 1-2 hour session with him and we took over 200 shots (I wasn't taking just headshots aha). We both got so absorbed into and both had so much fun. Communication was clear and he was very attentive to my needs and wants while being creative. He is also very versatile able to work on the fly and change his thinking to suit what you want. The location is also great since there is public transportation right outside of his studio which makes traveling to the studio easy. The price for his work is on the expensive side of things, but with the higher price does come better quality and I can assure you that the quality is terrific! Overall, my experience with Tue Nam was great and I would highly recommend anyone to come here yourself to experience it. EDIT: So Tue Name contacted later saying that he was not satisfied with the headshots we had done and he offered to retake them free of charge. Never in my line of experience has this happened before! This really shows how much he cares for his craft. I'm truly glad I met Tue Nam and will be gladly working with him in the future and you should too! read more

I have shot with Tue Nam twice now for both head shots and body shots and I will shoot with him again. Tue Nam is a very professional photographer that is friendly and easy to work with. He produces high quality work. He knows exactly what will and won't look good on camera and thinks a lot about the composition of his photos. If you select a photo where the composition is off when reviewing the images with him he will tell you why he thinks another shot is better, but does so in a very friendly and professional manner. Tue Nam's downtown Berkeley studio is in a very convenient location. I use Tue Nam's images almost exclusively when applying for promotional modeling work. read more

We hired Tue Nam only 6 weeks before our wedding because we had to part ways with our original photographer. Thankfully he was available because he took great photos of our wedding. When we met with Tue Nam, he showed us his Berkeley studio and a bit of his editing process and I was impressed by his process and professionalism. It was obvious that he not only had a great eye for composition but put in a lot of work making sure the photos were properly edited. Although he didn't have experience shooting same-sex weddings, he seemed very comfortable and even eager at the chance to diversify his portfolio. He showed up before us at the wedding venue and he took some of our family group photos before the ceremony. He was friendly and efficient and he worked HARD! He was running around to get "the shot" with the right angle and composition and I think it showed in the final product. I was really amazed at the amount of gear he brought for some of the group photos--full lighting setup like you'd see in a studio. Less than 2 weeks after the wedding, we got a DVD with the photos and we were very pleased--we got the photos we wanted, they were carefully edited and optimized, and the compositions were great! He's not the cheapest photographer out there but he's far from the most expensive, a great value for the quality. read more

Tue Nam took both our engagement photos and our wedding photos. He is an amazing photographer -- a real pro -- and a total perfectionist. We were very pleased with the way the pictures turned out! Tue Nam is really a great guy and we will definitely hire him again if we have a need for a photographer. read more

I used TNT Pictures to get some new headshots. I have had headshots done three times in the past and these were by far the best. Tue Nam took the time to make sure that everything was just right. He was very professional throughout the process. He also did not mind working with me to make sure that I was happy with the end product, i.e. if I said I didn't like this little thing or that little thing about my face, he found the right angle and lighting to work around it without making me feel totally vain. He also showed me some of his other work and it is incredible. I would definitely recommend TNT Pictures for any event photography (e.g. wedding photographer), business photography (corporate execs, interiors, sales collateral/spreads) and of course for headshots. FYI - my profile photo (1/29/2010) was taken by TNT Pictures. read more

TNT Pictures is the best! It was worth every penny, and I use my professional head shot on my LinkedIn & Twitter (and I'm sure that it helped me get interviews for many jobs). Thanks TNT pictures (highly recommended you support this amazing photographer). Cheers! read more

The public relations firm I used to work for hired Tue Nam on a few occasions to shoot wine industry events (grand opening, wine tastings. etc.). Each time, he was extremely professional and easy to work with, and he always captured the key shots we were looking for. He was also able to accommodate our quick turnaround requests and get us the digital shots by the next day. He's adept at many different styles of photography--takes great food/product shots, people shots, crowds and individuals, posed and candid. Tue Nam also knows when to interact to draw people out and when to back off and be a fly on the wall. I would definitely hire him again for any personal or professional photography needs. read more

Tue Nam took the engagement photos for me and my husband last year and the photos turned out to be really great. And the experience of working with Tue Nam was very pleasant. He is not only professional but is very fun and creative. He has an amazing way of capturing the feeling of the moment. Tue Nam picked the location based on his judgement of where would be a good place to take engagement photos -- for us it was the Berkeley Rose Garden. I was surprised and amazed at how he observed the surroundings and picked the perfect spots for perfect pictures -- he was spot on! The whole experience was fun, relaxed and enjoyable. We were very happy with the the way the photos turned out. I definitely recommend TNT Pictures. read more

I hired TNT Pictures again (see my previous review), this time for some product shots at his studio. Yet again, Tue Nam (owner & photographer) impressed me with his work and professionalism. I am very happy with the results! My photos came out far better than I ever expected, he was super friendly and made sure I got exactly what I needed. I will definitely be calling Tue Nam again when I need more photos. read more

Family this is the wonderful photographer that had shot with me. Tue Nam Ton I seriously couldn't of asked for better!! He made me feel so comfortable &he was so helpful &the same time. So professional. Couldn't have done this without him. So lets take the time to thank him! (Photo by Tue Nam Ton/TNT Pictures) read more

Tue Nam is a fantastic photographer. He is professional, casual, and very talented. Tue Nam knows how to get your best side and expression in the type of photo you're looking for. My husband and I had business head and half-body shots taken and even the pictures straight off the camera looked great, before any retouching. He was also very efficient and we were able to do several costume changes during our shoot. He was a pleasure to work with and would definitely recommend and hire him again! read more

I had Tue Nam take four pictures of me before my graduation at Berkeley. Needless to say, I was really satisfied with the quality of his work. He was very efficient in using the hour we had to produce four great quality headshots and retouch them properly. He is very easy-going and approachable and I felt comfortable having him as a photographer. I would highly suggest Tue Nam! read more

Tue Nam is just perfect. We were recommended him by a friend to photograph our wedding and I loved every minute of working with him. And we got the pictures back super fast and they were so pretty that I had a hard time picking which ones to print! They were all awesome! My family and friends who saw the pictures are amazed at how beautiful everything looked. We love you Tue Nam! read more

Tue Nam's work is dyNAMite! TNT Pictures blows all other photographers out of the water. Each shot is like an explosion of genius. Okay but seriously, Tue Nam is an excellent photographer and a joy to work with. I had the pleasure of working with him on some modeling photos at a fun location, and later in his studio on Shattuck Ave. He took care to make me feel totally at ease during the entire shoot, while tactfully directing me for the most flattering shots. He is professional and friendly. He has a great eye for composition, down to the tiniest details. An extra plus--he got the photos back to me very quickly. All around a great experience and I look forward to working with him again in the future! read more

The best shots I've ever had taken. TNT is very experienced, professional, and has something you can't really teach... I think he's humble about it, and can tell he works hard - this is rare. I would love to work with him again. Thank you! read more

We hired TNT productions to take pictures at your wedding in September. The key to Tu Nam is that his background is in photo-journalism and the quality of his work shows. There were pictures he took at our wedding that guests have printed and framed as art. He doesn't just pose you in 10 set picture frames. He goes to venue hours before, scouts out the best picture scenes, and then takes photos of you, based on the background and lighting. He was able to frame the venue we were in (a winery) so that it was an integral part of the pictures. He also worked like crazy during the wedding. There were times at the wedding where I looked over and Tu Nam was standing on a chair over the crowd to get the picture he wanted. When the wedding was done, he turned around the pictures within days (even though he was traveling the week after). His price is also very fair. I seriously feel like hiring Tu Nam was like getting a Pulitzer Prize level photographer for my wedding (you can see what I mean by this if you check out his web site for all his non event/wedding work around the world). read more

We hired Tue Nam Ton for our Manhattan Beach wedding last month. (He's based in Berkeley.) This was after asking several photographers to send us their wedding shoots, and discovering that Tue Nam's work was leagues better. On our wedding day, we were surprised to learn that Tue Nam had thoughtfully arrived hours before the shoot at our venue, to scope out great shots for us in various settings -- in a garden, in downtown Manhattan Beach, along the beach. Because of his prep, we have some breathtaking shots -- shots we would never have thought of ourselves, particularly with all the other planning we had to do. Tue Nam also captured, along with the big events, all those tiny moments that made the day so special -- the way our parents looked at us as we were tying the knot, how my husband's groomsmen goofed around with him before the ceremony, my quick glance at my husband before the ceremony began. We'll have these moments forever, thanks to Tue Nam. It's one thing to take pictures, but another to discern what makes a couple and their wedding day special. Tue Nam is a gifted artist with an eye for beautiful things, big and small. And there's a kind of magic to the pictures he takes. We're so grateful that we chose him, and recommend him to anyone looking for a photographer. We couldn't be more delighted with his work. read more

I am going to be completely honest, $195 for 2 pictures (especially for a college student) is extremely expensive. However, $195 got me more than just 2 pictures; it gave me a session to collaborate with one of the most talented photographers I have ever met. From the moment I walked in, the communication was extremely clear and Tue Nam knew exactly how to accomplish the aesthetic objectives I sought to accomplish with the pictures. If you want someone who is experienced and honest enough to consult you on how to approach achieving the artistic goal, then Tue Nam is your guy. So, if you want 2 pictures for the sake of having two pictures, most smartphones have a camera. However, if you want to be taken step by step through the process of capturing an instant in your life in a way that makes the viewer feel something, then $195 is the best deal that you are going to find. I would recommend TNT to anyone looking to create a meaningful peace of Art through photography. read more

Just had a session with Tue Nam. I live in Southern California and found him on Yelp and decided to give him a call from all his positive reviews. I was in the Berkeley area for a wedding and thought it may be a good opportunity to have family portraits since my family would be all dressed up. Have to say he was extremely professional, accommodating and his prices were great! We had plans to do a shoot outdoors but when I told him that we were pressed for time, he immediately set the lights up in his studio. The portraits came out wonderful and he even went out of his way to drop the proofs off at the hotel I was at. Would highly recommend him to anyone looking for a photographer. read more

Back in 2006, as we were planning our wedding, we didn't really know what we wanted specifically. We could only think of a few general principles: we wanted something simple yet interesting, something unique that yet nods a little to tradition. Then it came down to selecting a photographer, and Tue Nam seemed to fit those principles. True to his own word, he proved not to be a traditional wedding photographer. He did several things that I think few traditional wedding photographer would do: he took pictures of the nervous groom pacing as the time approached; of the bride and bridesmaid in their private quarters as they prepared. During the outdoor ceremony, his assistant climbed up to a nearby roof for a truly unusual perspective. He captured the audience, their expressions and the many others in the process of documenting the event. He bowed to the necessary tradition of formal group pictures, but the best image of all was one he captured of us in a candid moment between posed shots, when bride and groom turned to look at each other and smile at a private comment, and a fortuitous breeze took the bride's veil and ruffled her bouquet. His images are artistic and have a sense of motion. His work shows that he don't just photograph, but also observes. Fast forward three years.... we recently wanted photos of us with our 7-month old son. While we posed for some of the pictures, they don't seem forced. Then, when my son got fussy, I asked Tue Nam to take some pictures of me breastfeeding my son - and those ended up being some of my favorite shots. Plus, we got a CD of all the photos that same afternoon, allowing us to e-mail them to family and order as many prints as we wanted. I don't know what else you could ask for from a photographer! read more

I had to get a business headshot in a pinch, and Tue Nam more than exceeded my expectations. Not only did he deliver a great shot, but he made me feel so comfortable and at ease during the whole process. I hate getting my picture taken, but he made me laugh and feel really natural -- which led to a bunch of good pictures. He helped me nail down my final choice, and retouched it beautifully. I will definitely call upon his services when I need photos taken in the future, and highly recommend him to anyone! read more

I loved working with Tu Nam on my portrait head shot! I am not a photogenic person whatsoever but he worked his magic to produce a nice headshot picture of me! And I really enjoyed the session with him as he made me feel very comfortable. He was very accommodative, flexible, patient and professional!! I highly recommend him if you need a portrait/ head shot quickly. I got my pictures in less than 30 min after I finished my photo shoot. Overall, I loved the service and quality of my pictures. I will definitely come back if I need any professional photo services in the future!!! read more

Hands down Tue Nam is the most talented photographer! Went in for executive headshots and was beyond impressed with the warm, professional and fun session. The pictures were amazing and Tue Nam really listens and is a true artist. Would highly recommend anyone looking for exceptional quality and experience to go no where else but to Tue Nam at TNT. read more

I recently hired Tue Nam to do a wide variety of shoots in the course of producing a newly released book, Fashioning Women. His photography was excellent, his versatility impressive, and his interactions with all the participants were highly professional, yet fun as well. He photographed artwork, fashion photo spreads, headshots, staged outdoor scenes and pop-up events. In all cases, Tue Nam did an excellent job of coaching the models, some of whom were non-professionals; working effectively in highly controlled settings with a previously developed shot list, and equally effectively at shoots requiring in-the-moment intuitive and instantanenous judgment. In addition, his own creative ideas were spot-on, and as a result, I trusted him completely. Tue Nam sets a high standard for himself, and that translates to excellent photography. read more

I recently hired Tue Nam to do a wide variety of shoots in the course of producing a newly released book, Fashioning Women. His photography was excellent, his versatility impressive, and his interactions with all the participants were highly professional, yet fun as well. He photographed artwork, fashion photo spreads, headshots, staged outdoor scenes and pop-up events. In all cases, Tue Nam did an excellent job of coaching the models, some of whom were non-professionals; working effectively in highly controlled settings with a previously developed shot list, and equally effectively at shoots requiring in-the-moment intuitive and instantanenous judgment. In addition, his own creative ideas were spot-on, and as a result, I trusted him completely. Tue Nam sets a high standard for himself, and that translates to excellent photography. read more

I needed a "head shot" photo for work and contacted Tue Nam Ton. He was able to do the shoot the very next day in his studio. Tue Nam has a very pleasant personality and spent a lot of time with me. He tried many different lighting and angle combinations and made one set of photos that we looked at together on his computer. After he figured out what I liked and disliked about the first set of photos, he took another set. Afterwards, we chose the best one, and he then cropped it and touched it up, doing a beautiful job. I found the entire experience 100% satisfying and ended up selecting the three shots that I liked the best. The photos were of extremely high quality. read more