Daily Inspiration: Meet William Bourret

Today we’d like to introduce you to William Bourret.

Hi William, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
My name is William Bourret. I’m a portrait photographer from Fort Collins, CO, but as of right now, I am based in Provo, UT. I move (again) back to Fort Collins in late April, where I will be bringing back my services there. I am currently a pre-major for the Photo and Lens-Based Design program at BYU, where the dream is to have a sustainable photography business after I graduate from school. As for equipment, I currently use a Canon Rebel T7, but will be upgrading to a Canon R6 Mark II in the next few years. I use Lightroom Classic for all of my editing.

Growing up, I have always been taking photos. I used to steal my mom’s old phone just to take random photos around the house. By the time I was 6, I kind of stepped away from photography, but when I got a personal phone, I started easing myself back into it. Between the summer of my sophomore and junior year of high school, I decided that I was actually going to get back at it with the intent of it being a hobby. Since then, I had no idea about the success (and failures) that I’d have, and now, I’m planning to pursue it full-time.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I’d say it’s been back and forth. Yes, sometimes it’s the off season and it’s hard to find people who want photos done, but also, you get a lot of traction and success with doing these photoshoots. With photography being the way that it is and with rising prices, there are a lot of struggles. People may not inquiry, you might feel a lot burnout, a lot of rejection, but in the end, it will all be worth it.

I know that for me, the main struggles were rejection and burnout. Photographers who are just starting out face a lot of criticism and a lot of “no’s” from people who want to see more experience. Even though I’ve been doing this for a while now, I still experience a lot of rejection. However, photography is also a very saturated and competitive field. With the burnout, the rejection plays a role in it. Sometimes you feel like “oh, I’m not good enough. Might as well quit now.” or “I’m so tired. I can’t deal with this.” These things are valid. However, I try my best to remember that these are learning opportunities for myself to grow.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
With portrait photography, I specialize in a lot of different things. But my favorite thing is couples. I have the most experience with headshots (senior photos, etc.), but couples is what I love to do the most. I have experience with families and events, but I feel the most free with my creative decisions elsewhere. I’m most known for doing senior photos, especially in the Fort Collins/Loveland area. I’m most proud of all the clients and friends I have made, as well as the experience I’ve gained. I think something that sets me apart from other photographers is that I am very chill and laid back. I’ve seen many photographers who are really uptight. But many of my clients have told me that the photoshoots felt more like hanging out with a good friend or they feel right at home working with me.

Do you have any advice for those just starting out?
The main advice for anyone who’s starting their photography journey is to keep going and to learn. Some things that I wish I knew when I first started was composition rules, how to edit, and how to handle negativity. Knowing these things from the get-go will be SUPER helpful.

Pricing:

• $50-300

Contact Info:

• Website: https://meowartphotography.myportfolio.com/work
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meowartphotography.commissions/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100095668835618
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/william-bourret-5b0152320/

Image Credits
All by me!