Meet Rico Mandel of Rico Mandel Photography

Today we’d like to introduce you to Rico Mandel.

Thanks for sharing your story with us Rico. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I was raised in Woodland Hills, CA. I developed my first roll of film when I was 8 years old – a friend of mine called me to see if I had any B&W film to develop I said yes. He brought over his developing kit and we developed the film – I was hooked. He taught me how to make prints and introduced me to the classic photographers Ansel Adams, Edward Weston, Imogen Cunningham etc… My friend moved to Santa Monica when I was 10 and I started riding my bike from WH to Santa Monica pretty regularly to use his darkroom. I hung out at Woodland Hills Camera as a kid where the salesmen let me see the cameras and taught me about darkroom materials and explained the different cameras and lenses and other accessories they had. I was the first freshman to go into Advanced Photography at Taft High School my first semester in school – that’s where I learned to use a 4 x 5. I got my first professional assignment at 18 to photograph the city of Palmdale. I bought my first business at age 20 which was a rental darkroom custom B&W lab. Later, I managed the photo department for an ad agency and eventually went out on my own to begin my freelance photo career.

Has it been a smooth road?
Not really. I’ve shot for a variety of clients, ad agencies and design firms over the years. Through this, I learned how to properly estimate jobs so I’m not losing money. The biggest downturn for me was when the dot com bubble burst and most of my clients put everything on hold. After that I went to culinary school to become a Chef. The experience was amazing and it helped me get into food photography.

We’d love to hear more about your business.
My photography business has been doing mostly industrial and food photography. More recently I’ve helped some agencies with their social media photography which is another niche that has its rewards. I enjoy the collaborative process when working with agencies or design firms – for me to be able to bring their vision to life through photography is very rewarding. When I am dealing more client direct I have more freedom to bring my vision to help my clients better sell their products and services. I understand that my job as a commercial photographer is to create images that sell. Whether I’m working on an ad campaign or doing social media photos or something for a brochure the images need to be compelling to attract the attention of the viewer.

My clients tell me that I’m very easy to work with and make the process painless for them. Part of my business is helping my clients with their marketing creating websites, brochures, ads etc…

Is our city a good place to do what you do?
Yes, Southern CA is just as good a place as any to get started in photography. It’s not about the city it’s about a photographer’s own drive, willingness and personality that will get them work.

Contact Info:

• Address: 432 N. Ventura Ave.,
  Studio 99,
  Ventura CA 93001
• Website: www.ricomandel.com
• Phone: 8054977401
• Email: [email protected]
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ricomandelphoto/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ricomandelphoto/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/ricomandel
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/rico-mandel-photography-ventura

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