Today we’d like to introduce you to Lelund Thompson.
Hi Lelund, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I’m a storyteller. I started making them up at a very young age. I remember watching the reactions from family and friends, they were laughing, they were crying, they were moved, and they always asked for more. That response stayed with me. It taught me early that stories have power. They connect people, they heal, and they help us understand ourselves. That encouragement inspired my love for acting and eventually led me to pursue storytelling as a life’s work.
Over time, my journey expanded beyond performing. I realized I wasn’t only interested in being in stories, I was interested in helping create the conditions where stories could exist at all. That realization became the foundation for Lelund Durond Studios. I created the company because I saw a future where I could be empowered and supported while also creating opportunities for others to tell meaningful stories for television and film on a global scale. Becoming an entrepreneur was my first real step toward building that future for myself and for the artists around me.
Photography entered my life unexpectedly, but in hindsight, it feels inevitable. I was producing a gospel album for my aunts and had hired a photographer to shoot their cover. At the last minute, the photographer cancelled. My aunts had traveled from North Carolina to New York, they’d spent hours in hair and makeup, and we were standing on a rooftop on Wall Street with no plan. I took a cab to B&H Photo, bought a professional camera, and shot the session on automatic. I didn’t know it then, but that moment changed everything. Photography became a gateway, first as a way to support myself between acting jobs, and eventually as another storytelling medium entirely.
I learned by doing. I went to what I jokingly call “YouTube University,” studying technique and lighting while continuing to work as an actor. When the industry shifted and actors began taping auditions from home, I was ready. I began offering self-tape services, which led to an opportunity with a New York talent agency, and from there doors continued to open. Photography, coaching, and storytelling all began to intersect in a way that felt natural. I found myself helping actors not only look like themselves on camera, but feel seen, sometimes for the first time.
Today, my work lives at the intersection of storytelling, mentorship, and visual storytelling. Whether I’m coaching actors, photographing artists, teaching, or developing projects for film and television, the goal is always the same: to help people step fully into who they are and tell stories that matter. Lelund Durond Studios has become more than a business; it’s a creative home for that mission. And I still feel like I’m doing what that younger version of me loved most: standing in service of stories that move people and make them feel less alone.
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 wouldn’t describe my road as smooth, but honestly, what road worth taking ever is? Every meaningful journey comes with bumps, curves, potholes, traffic, and unexpected detours. I’ve experienced all of them, but I can’t imagine a better route for myself. Looking back now, many of the challenges that felt difficult in the moment were actually invitations to grow. They pushed me to keep going, to adapt, and to become clearer about who I am and what I’m here to do. So when I look in the rearview mirror, I’m grateful for all of it.
One of the biggest challenges was learning to trust my own journey, especially when it didn’t look like anyone else’s around me. I’ve always been someone who could do multiple things well, and for a long time that confused people. When people saw me acting, they would ask why I was coaching. When they saw me coaching or photographing, they would ask why I wasn’t only pursuing acting. At times, those questions created doubt. It’s easy to wonder if you’re doing too much or if you should narrow yourself down to fit into a box that makes others more comfortable.
But over time, I realized my path was never meant to be singular. I had to trust my intuition and say yes to the opportunities that felt aligned, even when they didn’t make sense on paper. My gut kept telling me, “You’re an actor, but you’re not just an actor.” I’m also a writer, a director, a photographer, and a producer. Long before the term “multi-hyphenate” became popular, that’s simply how I existed as an artist.
Learning to embrace that fully was a turning point. Once I stopped trying to explain my path and instead committed to it, everything began to make more sense. The struggles taught me that success doesn’t come from becoming what others expect, it comes from becoming who you’re called to be. I’m grateful I didn’t allow outside opinions or temporary doubt to stop me from growing into that.
As you know, we’re big fans of Lelund Durond Studios. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
Lelund Durond Studios is built around storytelling and transformation. At its core, my work is about helping people see themselves clearly and present that truth to the world. I work primarily as an acting coach, photographer, and creative director, and those disciplines all inform one another. Whether I’m coaching an actor, photographing an artist, or developing a project for film or television, the goal is always the same, to help people step into their most authentic and powerful version of themselves.
I specialize in on-camera acting coaching, editorial and headshot photography, and creative development for artists and storytellers. Many of the actors and creatives I work with come to me at transitional moments in their careers — when they’re ready to elevate their work, shift how they’re seen in the industry, or step into new opportunities. Because of my background as a working actor and storyteller myself, I approach photography and coaching from a performance perspective. I’m not just capturing how someone looks; I’m helping them understand what they’re communicating.
I’m known for creating an environment where people feel safe enough to be vulnerable and confident enough to take risks. That’s often when the most honest work happens. Clients frequently tell me that they leave sessions feeling more confident than when they arrived, and that’s something I take pride in. The image or performance becomes a byproduct of that experience.
What sets me apart is that I don’t see these disciplines as separate. Acting, photography, directing, and producing all live under the same umbrella for me. I understand how casting directors see actors, how cameras interpret emotion, and how stories function from both the creative and business side of the industry. That allows me to guide artists in a holistic way, not just technically but creatively and strategically.
At the heart of my brand is community and opportunity. Lelund Durond Studios isn’t just about my work — it’s about creating space for others to grow, be seen, and tell stories that matter. My hope is that people who encounter my brand feel encouraged to take ownership of their own voice and trust that their story deserves to be told.
We all have a different way of looking at and defining success. How do you define success?
Success has never been a fixed destination for me, it’s something that evolves as I continue to grow. My goals change daily, but they’re almost always connected to finishing the story and sharing the story. Sometimes that looks like teaching a room full of actors, coaching someone on set, writing, or taking a photograph that allows someone to see themselves in a new way. I feel most successful when I’m being creative and helping others access their own creativity.
The years I’ve spent working as an acting coach and photographer, both on set and in the studio, have prepared me to pull the best out of people. That experience naturally led me toward directing, where all of those skills come together. I know I’ll feel an even deeper sense of success as I continue directing television and film, especially when I’m collaborating with artists, I’ve had the privilege of helping grow along the way.
Ultimately, success for me is about opening doors, not just for myself, but for someone else too. When I’m in a position to create opportunities, tell meaningful stories, and help others step fully into who they are, that’s when I know I’m successful.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.lelunddurond.com
- Instagram: @lelunddurond
- Other: IG: @Lelunddurondstudios
