Naz

You’ve probably seen your favorite artists photographed by Naz, also known as @nazthegun on IG - one of the most respected photographers in the national scene. Known for his distinctive aesthetic, he has been expanding his work beyond photography and exploring new creative areas. Come get to know him a bit more!!

Who is Naz as a person, beyond the camera and photography?

Honestly, these days my life revolves around my work. I’ve managed to create space to simply be myself, both in my art and in my personal life. It became an inevitable consequence, but also an intentional one. At the end of the day, I’m living my dream.

You’re from Alentejo. In what ways did growing up there influence how you see the world and how you create?

The place itself never really inspired me creatively. There aren’t many opportunities there, and in this world they’re practically nonexistent. However, I’ve always been interested in culture and naturally curious, so I tried to inform myself and understand things as best as I could with the information that was available to me. It didn’t take long for me to realize that part of the solution was moving to Lisbon.

Now that you’re living in Lisbon, what are the main differences you feel between Alentejo and the capital?

After seven years in Lisbon, I moved back to Alentejo about two years ago, when I decided to take a risk and dedicate all my time to my art. I learned to manage myself this way, separating peace and quiet from stimulation and social exposure but lately, Porto has been calling me.

How and when did you develop your passion for photography?

Before photography, there was video. When I was a kid, I used to film, write and direct sketches with my group of friends. I must have been around ten or eleven when I started. A little later I got a slightly better camera, and that’s when I began exploring photography more seriously - that’s when the interest and passion really started.

You’ve worked with some major names in the national scene. What has that experience been like for you?

There’s something incredible about it - sometimes it’s even hard to put into words. I’ll always have a special place in my heart for the underground, and I’ll continue working with lesser-known identities in the national scene but of course, the bigger names bring a different kind of challenge, places and experiences that I’ll carry with me for life in different ways. And it’s fulfilling to feel that I can also have an impact on their art, just as their work has an impact on mine.

2025 was a very strong year for you, with projects alongside Lhast, Van Zee, Ed, among others. Which one stands out the most to you, and why?

It was really a year of consequences - a full circle of what I had been aiming and working for. Seeing that return, and being alongside people I admire, follow and listen to every day, is, in a way, very reassuring. It makes me feel like I’m making the right choices.

Violetta is without a doubt the biggest project of my life so far, and the one where I had the chance to be involved in more stages of the process of building an album. And with Lhast being my favourite artist, it means even more to see my name across so much of that project. I’ll always carry that experience with me - especially because of the people I met and the final result we achieved.

You were involved in Alta Costura, which many consider one of the albums of the year. What was it like being part of that project?

The whole process was incredibly rewarding - from photographing part of the rollout to being part of the cast of Insular, as well as the Coliseu shows and the Queimas das Fitas. It was a project that gave me a lot and allowed me to tick off several things on my to-do list, and it was probably the one that opened the most doors for me.

Beyond photography, you’ve been increasingly investing in video and creative direction. What has that transition been like?

Beyond photography, video has always been present in my work - mostly filming parties and events - but not in the format I’m creating today. I feel like I never really invested the time to develop a strong aesthetic or to fully bring my personality into those projects.

Last year, the opportunity to shoot visuals and music videos came up, and that made me realize there’s a whole new world to explore. 2026 has probably been the real switch for me. I’ve been investing a lot of myself into it, and it’s been incredibly challenging in a way that really captivates and motivates me.

I think it was also very important for me personally, both in terms of personal development and in expanding the range of services I can offer - ones that I now feel I truly master and where I can inject my personality 100%. I can say that soon you’ll start seeing a new perspective of my vision.

Recently, you started releasing products under the name Bendecido. Is it another way for you to express yourself?

Yes, it’s another area I’ve been working on for a few years. Bendecido is a project that started in 2022, but only now did it truly make sense to move forward with it. Fashion has always interested me, and I’ve always wanted to explore that world more from a creation and development perspective. Being able to see people wearing pieces I’ve created is a new feeling I’ve recently discovered.

Later this year there will be some news on that front. We’re currently working on something bigger to celebrate these nearly eight years of my career and to bring to life what was originally envisioned - and in some ways already started - in 2023, but now on a scale that better fits today’s reality.

Looking ahead, is there any area you’d still like to explore?

I don’t think there’s any area in this universe that has its doors closed to me. But right now, I want to do something bigger with video while also exploring the fashion industry in a lighter way. I still have a few ideas in the drawer that will come out into the world in their own time.

A positive message for our community :)

Be open to new eras and to change.
Everything is variable - in art, there is no constant.
Mistakes open doors that expectations close.
Enjoy and absorb the process, not just the final result.
The ability to mutate defines the dimension of the artist.