Meet Barry Nadell of Chatsworth

Today we’d like to introduce you to Barry Nadell

Hi Barry, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I graduated from Arizona State University in Finance and had wanted to be a stockbroker since I was 12 years old. I worked at a firm on Wall Street for 6 years before they filed bankruptcy. I joined another firm, but unfortunately it was the 1980s when the stock market was in turmoil and interest rates rose to 21%. I left the industry and became a life insurance salesman. I received awards for my sales achievements and spoke at a national convention (and probably lost 10 pounds in sweat speaking in front of hundreds of agents)! Then, with other top producing agents, we left that firm and decided to form our own company affiliated with a larger organization on the New York Stock Exchange. We also sold real estate tax shelters. Unfortunately, that company went bankrupt as well!

I knew that the best way to achieve my dreams was to begin a business of my own. I started many businesses, including an infomercial company. One infomercial I produced offered a book on Alternative Medicine. At a meeting, I learned about a business opportunity in background screening.  After analyzing the business prospects, my then-wife and I formed InfoLink Screening Services. We hired our first part-time employee after three months, working out of my former insurance sales office.

At first, it was very difficult to talk hospitals and other companies into background screening job applicants. To market the company’s services, I studied the laws surrounding background screening.  We noticed that many large companies were violating federal and state background screening laws, so I would meet with companies and explain the laws.  I also created a book on Amazon, “Sleuthing 101, Background Checks and the Law”.  I hired my son and son-in-law to help me with the business and it became family owned.  After that, the business grew rapidly bringing in many corporate clients to do their background screening. I became a national expert and was invited to re-write the laws on background checks for the State of California. I was one of the original ten founders of the National Association of Background Screeners.

Twelve years later, we sold the business.  Thirty days after selling, I began getting calls from law firms who were seeking an expert witness for legal cases that had background screening issues.  I worked on cases for both plaintiffs and defendants, and it was fun learning about the cases and putting my knowledge to work.  Law firms trusted me because I knew the law and, because of my public speaking background, I could comfortably speak on the witness stand.

After selling my business, I considered some investment opportunities.  My goal was to try to invest as safely as possible. I bought my first commercial property in 2006 and have bought and sold a few properties since that time.  Thankfully, real estate has provided me with a comfortable income and the values of the properties have increased over the years.

Personally, I got married when I was 23 and, like many couples who marry too young, divorced after 19 years. After 6 years single, I married my second wife. She loved horses and I rode my first horse at the age of 50!  I began showing Morgan horses doing saddle seat equitation. From there, I learned about a sport called Cowboy Mounted Shooting, which was like barrel racing, but the rider uses single action firearms like the old west, riding fast, and shoots balloons around a course in an arena. I bought a motor home and enjoyed traveling the country for 12 years loving the Cowboy Mounted Shooting competitions and enjoying all the cowboy/cowgirl friends I met. Unfortunately, I developed arthritis in my hand, so I took up polo.  Unfortunately, I had to quit polo also after hurting my back.

Around the same time that I gave up those sports, an attorney friend called and told me that he needed someone to replace his role judging a bikini contest because he had a court case he could not change.  I figured I’d try it out!  The next week, I flew to the Bahamas.  The next day I was bored watching photographers photograph over 100 models. So, I began to help the photographers by carrying their lights. One told me I should consider photography as a hobby.  He lived close to my home and volunteered to mentor me. When I returned home, I bought recommended photography equipment.  I took lessons, learned from mentors, and began photographing models.  I have been told that my work is good and appreciated.  I started 9 years ago, eventually became a staff photographer for the prestigious SwimsuitUSA International organization, and today I am a globally published photographer.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It was absolutely not a smooth road.  I had many problems as a young stock broker and had issues with the insurance companies I worked for, as well as the one I formed with other people. I also started many businesses that failed. When I started the background screening company, I had no money, and the economy was terrible.  To survive, I borrowed money on credit cards.

I also borrowed substantially to grow the background screening business, because I believed in myself, the people I had hired, and that we were doing important work for companies to screen potential good employees.  Although I was frightened, I began publicly speaking for the background screening business to educate others on the legal issues surrounding background screening.  Eventually, I spoke all over the country at conferences with human resources and security groups.

Both of my marriages also ended in divorce.  Yet all of my struggles, including many that I have not shared, led me to where I am today.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I travel to exotic destinations shooting models and often have models to my ranch to shoot photography with my beautiful horses and inside a cowboy saloon that I built on my property. I photograph models for their use on social media, for calendars that they can sell, and I provide content to many magazines in the United States and globally.

When I became a photographer, my daughter was not pleased because she thought all I was doing was taking pictures of beautiful young girls. Three years later she said: “ok Dad, let me look at your Instagram”. I showed her the pictures and after she complimented me, she asked if I could edit some family pictures for her! She now knows that I’m making art and working with models to help them become successfully published.

Do you have any advice for those just starting out?
I have been asked to speak to college seniors and others, and the one piece of advice I give them is to choose a career that makes them happy and work hard to become an expert in your field. People usually don’t succeed alone, so look for mentors and learn from others. When I became a photographer, I sought out some of the best modeling photographers and took lessons from them. This endeavor of investing in myself jump started my expertise and made me a better photographer.

Pricing: Negotiable

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.barrynadell.com
• Instagram: @weekendcowboyphotography @barrynadellphotography @weekendcowgirls
• Facebook: @barrynadell