Today we’d like to introduce you to Daniel Bergeron.
Hi Daniel, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
Escaped the deep South via a stint in the US Navy. Got my start working in a couple of pro labs. From there, began climbing the ranks as a Photo Assistant. Pack muled equipment and built lights for some of the best (and not so best) in the industry. Paid attention and learned much along the way. Caught the proverbial “break”, in Celebrity & Entertainment Portraiture. Took a brief break during the pandemic in support of my wife. (She is a physician) Returned to my calling a little over a year ago and opened another studio at the Brewery Arts Colony. Continuing this labor of love until we decide it is time to retire overseas.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Better now, but the road was anything but smooth for a VERY long time. Trading the security of a regular paycheck from Uncle Sam for freelance life took some adjustment… but that’s not uncommon. The biggest pitfall.. and this took me many years to grasp/address: Being prepared for things to work out well. Having an impoverished/abusive upbringing, I became very good at planning for all the things that could go wrong. If you relate to this at all, be prepared to step through when a door to something good opens. Our own thoughts can be our biggest obstacles.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
While I have worked within a few genres over the years, I am primarily a portrait photographer. I am mostly known for my Celebrity & Entertainment work. I’ve photographed a LOT of well-known faces. My work has been syndicated worldwide, used by a couple of museums, and even adapted to a few tattoos. On the public side, I’m known for the close portraits. On the client side, I’m known for working exceptionally fast. To do so means testing often and planning in great detail. I am not one for downtime. Side-effect of living in L.A., I guess… there is the constant cloud of “you’re only as good as the thing you are working on RIGHT NOW”. Pride comes in small moments when I’ve done the problem-solving and brought what is in my head to final art. At risk of sounding all hippy-granola, I more grateful for all who have enabled me to do these things than I am proud of the things I’ve done. I feel good when I’m creating something…. photo or otherwise… so I’m always chasing that high.
We’d love to hear about any fond memories you have from when you were growing up?
Big oof… Not much joy there… I grew up in some pretty severe southern poverty. My stepfather did body and fender work for the City of New Orleans. He was crushed by a fire truck bumper on the job. Workman’s comp did what they always do: Deny and delay. We fought the City for a total of 12 years in court. Lost everything. Briefly lived out of a van and on family members’ floors. My stepfather’s mental health went sideways… I have to dig for the good stuff. What was good? My grandparents boarded horses. My Grandma taught me to ride when I was about six years old. We used to go on trail rides when I was little. In 8th grade, we moved to Mississippi. The kid across the street introduced me to skateboarding and punk rock/straight-edge hardcore. That carried me till I could enlist in the Navy and leave.
This past decade has been better than I would have ever dreamed, so I’m happy with that.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.danielbergeron.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/danielbergeronphoto/
