Today we’d like to introduce you to Susan Bourgoin.
Hi Susan, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
As a teenager, while all my friends were reading Cosmopolitan Magazine, I was obsessed with Bon Appetit and Food and Wine Magazines, reading each issue cover to cover. I knew that I wanted to be in food photography, but in the 80’s no one had heard of a food photographer before or could advise me on how to get into the profession, so I went to The Culinary Institute of America and a few years later moved to Daytona to go to The Southeast Center for Photographic Studies at Daytona State (then Daytona Community College). When I finished the photography program, I ended up getting a freelance gig as an assistant to a food stylist at a studio in Orlando that had the Red Lobster account. After two years, I opened my own photography studio, which specializes in food.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Nothing worth doing is easy! From the beginning, there was a lot of opposition–people who did not want local competition and would talk badly about me. It didn’t help that I was a girl and looked younger than my age. Convincing accounts to take me on took a lot of persistence. In 1998, all my cameras and lighting equipment were stolen in a robbery. Since all were top-of-the-line brands that had been purchased used, my insurance replaced everything with brand-new versions, giving me a technical edge. Then, September 11th happened, shutting down all work for nearly a year. By year 10, I finally had a name in the community, and a brand people could trust. In 2020, my company was acquired by Wellcom Worldwide, which has expanded our offerings to a world-class level.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
The acquisition by Wellcom Worldwide has tripled our capabilities from a single photographer in a studio into a company that can offer creative production from start to finish, depending on the client’s needs. We start with two great photographers in a boutique-style studio with a comfortable client viewing loft, oversized proofing screen, and client amenities. An onsite producer makes sure that jobs work seamlessly. Our top-of-the-line camera systems are great for shooting for large output work and technically challenging packaging, and the connection to Wellcom’s top editing team in New York, as well as creative services, if needed. We work with world-class food stylists for food-related work, and our agility with creative options as well — the “creative” being from a vast food background, as well as 30 years of experience with food; two photographers, social media, we do it all.
Alright so before we go can you talk to us a bit about how people can work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
We work with clients ranging from individual entrepreneurs to very large corporations. There is a contact form on our website: https://www.wellcomorlando.com
Pricing:
- Since each project has its own set of individual circumstances, estimates are handled on a project basis.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.wellcomww.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wellcomww/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wellcomworldwide
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/wellcomww
- Other: https://www.wellcomorlando.com/
Image Credits
Personal Photo: Working Studio from the loft (left) and Senior Photographer, Susan Bourgoin (right) Photography by Wyatt Peck Image #1: The Glass Knife – Food Styling by Aracelis Thompson Image #2: Infamous Cocktails spread by Visual Cuisines Image #3: Memphis BBQ – Checkers Food Styling by Jess Forson Image #4: Promotions for Hard Rock Cafe© Hard Rock Cafe International Food Styling by Miki Knowles Image #5: Qdoba for National Burrito Day© Wellcom Worldwide Food Styling by Aracelis Thompson Image #6: Studio A, Two views. Images by Chad Baumer
