We were lucky to catch up with Angie Mandl recently and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Angie , appreciate you sitting with us today to share your wisdom with our readers. So, let’s start with resilience – where do you get your resilience from?
I am an avid yoga and meditation practitioner, and through studying the ancient philosophy of yoga for many years, have come to understand that the only constant in life is change. I embrace change with an open heart, even if that is sometimes challenging initially (not all change presents as a great adventure…) – for example, when I found myself battling health challenges in the beginning of 2022, my life as I knew it took a turn and I was not able to keep teaching yoga. I decided to go back to school and freshen up my photography knowledge, pivoted and am now working full time as a professional photographer. Looking back often helps going forward with grace and purpose, and when I do look back, I see that every step of my journey informed the way I am living and working today. All my experiences, trainings, and encounters contribute to the quality of my life and work today. I am a proud mother of two young adult sons, a happy wife, a loyal friend, a passionate yogi (again), and my photography is informed by all of it – so ultimately, resilience is the result of meeting change with an open heart and mind, with grace, and with faith.
Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?
I founded Angie Mandl LLC in 2022 with the aim to offer professional photography services to people and companies that align with my personal ethics – all of my clients, though from different walks of life and industries, share a passion for sustainability.
As a yoga teacher, I love capturing yogis, and am proud to call some award-winning studios my clients, and as a yogi, I am also interested in clean skincare, sustainable jewelry, and products that naturally support my well-being. It brings me great joy to have collaborated with clients in those fields, and I am always looking to connect with another creative to expand my portfolio.
My European roots inform my sense of aesthetic, as well as my love for accuracy, and so it comes as no surprise that I fell in love with LEICA cameras and lenses – they are like the Porsche of cameras, German engineering at its best. Some of my most loyal clients, like Grown Brilliance in the sustainable jewelry sector, have complimented the excellent sharpness and color accuracy of my images, which makes me truly proud.
Having lived in many different countries over the years, I love connecting with different people, learning different perspectives, and hearing different stories – personal branding photography is therefor something I very much enjoy. Over the past years, I have captured PR managers, yoga studio owners, clean tech executives, artists, entrepreneurs, and other photographers. I enjoy every encounter, and every story shared with me that I get to capture in images.
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
I had to think a bit about this one – of course the first thing that came to mind is mastering your craft.
However, when I think of the reason why my clients book and rebook me, it is these three qualities that are often pointed out:
-Punctuality – I am always on time and prepared; my clients’ time is their most valuable commodity, and I intend to make the most efficient use of it. This works best when optimally prepared prior to every shoot, and showing up early (early is on time!)
-Listening Skills – In order to create outstanding imagery, one has to listen with all their senses: what does the subject want to convey, what is their vision/mission, what does the client imagine the result to look like (think asking five people about their favorite wall color, and you’ll likely get five neutrals that sound like white, off-white, light grey, cream, beige – yet, what they might envision might differ from what someone else envisions when hearing those colors); I take the time to listen carefully and tune in, so that I can connect with their vision
-Composition – I learned on film, and I still treat every press of the shutter as I had back in the day: with intention; I don’t just click away, but deliberately plan every capture with a composition in mind that uniquely represents a client and/or their brand; the result is a gallery that delivers what was asked for, and imagery that is unique to a client, as well as timeless (not solely trend focused)
Who has been most helpful in helping you overcome challenges or build and develop the essential skills, qualities or knowledge you needed to be successful?
My husband Michael has supported, coached, and encouraged me every step of the way, for over twenty years. I am truly lucky to have such a wonderful partner and friend.
I have learned much from his business expertise, as well as his personal insights about resilience, leadership, and discipline.
Contact Info:
- Website: http://www.angiemandl.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/angiemandl/
- Linkedin: http://www.linkedin.com/in/angelikamandl
Image Credits
Nina Duncan, Martin Richter
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
