Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Jeff Mondlock. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Alright, Jeff thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Taking care of customers isn’t just good business – it is often one of the main reasons folks went into business in the first place. So, we’d love to get a conversation going around how to best help clients feel appreciated – maybe you can share something you’ve done or seen someone do that’s been really effective at helping a customer feel valued?
Customers are everything. They are the reason I get to be creative for a living! Why shouldn’t we appreciate the heck out of them?!?!? Ever since I picked a camera up, I have been glued to helping my clients (and anyone near me) find self value. This being said, it is often a way I show appreciation. If someone books a video shoot with me, I will pull them aside and shoot a quick lifestyle shot for them to replace their profile photo or just to show them in a light they never thought of. Maybe it’s deeply rooted in a feeling that I want everyone to get their money’s worth, but clients always leave with a plethora of content that they can use for their website or social media pages. This is big for my branding and commercial clients. On the fine art side, I seldom watch the clock on “hourly” shoots and make sure they know they have my full attention. This includes the shoot and even during the editing process. I make myself very easily available. And I like to throw in little extras every once in a while as I grow my own future offerings. For example, I recently did a portrait session with a lovely couple that eloped at the courthouse. We took bridal portraits in a nearby park and although they only ordered digital images, I gave them matted prints that I put together of two of their favorite shots from the session. This worked two-fold… it showed how much I appreciate the business while also helping me create a new product offering. Along the same vein, I ask the clients for feedback. This gives them a bit of insight into what they receive as a service from me and helps me for future clients.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.
I am a commercial and personal branding visual storyteller. I know your next question… what does this mean?? I use visual mediums to tell the story of you or your business/brand.
I went to school for broadcast journalism and worked a few jobs out of college as a TV reporter and anchor. The daily grind wore on me and I found myself only wanting to focus on telling stories about people rather than what would lead the broadcast. I started Mondlock Moments as a small side project for fun. It was a way for me to get familiar with different types of camera tricks and new forms of storytelling. It has grown into a full media production offering.
Product wise, I have two segments of the business: Commercial/Personal Branding and Fine Art. Let’s start with the Branding portion. Clients come to me with projects as quaint as a headshot session or as large as a full social media rebrand. I help them create content such as lifestyle portraits to use for marketing, websites, and social media. We also create video content to help tell the story of the business through Reels, Youtube and any commercial needs. I am always open to finding new ways to tell a company’s story! Whether it is by creating a web series, or just sets of photos to go along with marketing campaigns… If you’re looking for personal branding, this is where I can help grow your image along with some of my partnering agencies. I work along side social media marketing managers, copywriters, event spaces and other photographers in the industry to make sure you get all of the coverage you need to get exactly what YOU want.
On the fine art side, this encompasses studio portraiture, lifestyle portraits outdoors, artistic concept shoots, editorial shoots, fashion portraits, food photography, music videos, dancer portraits/reels, maternity shoots, family shoots and anything that falls under creating something with a camera. I am able to create a studio space just about anywhere with either my surroundings or my portable backdrop. Working with folks throughout NYC, I have learned to turn closets into portrait studios!
At the business’ core, it all comes back to one thing. Telling a story visually. I’d love to work with anyone looking to turn an idea into a reality.
What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?
The best way to build your reputation is by being human. Being a kind human is even better! I try not to treat my shoots like a transaction or a business exchange. Instead, I like to make sessions feel more like a ‘hangout” or a more lively recess from the mundane work day.
Now this one may seem obvious, but respect and communication go a long way. Sure I would love people to spread my name around and say “Jeff is the most skilled photographer out there,” but I am not shooting for this. My goal is to make sure everyone walks away feeling super happy with the content and that they feel comfortable the whole time. This is especially important with fine art portraiture. When I work with shoots that are a bit intimate like a burlesque performer or a boudoir session or even a maternity session, the best compliment to receive is how they felt so comfortable during our shoot. As a 6’3’ large dude taking the photos, I always worry about coming off the wrong way, but I try to start off a shoot making boundaries clear. Some people get into this form of creativity for the wrong reasons, and the best way to combat this stigma, is to communicate, set boundaries, and for me, act a little bit like a goofball.
For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?
This may be a little silly, but I LOVE when people use a photo from our sessions as a profile photo. It is so rewarding to see someone represent their professional brand or even their Facebook photo with something we created together. For example, before I even started my business, I attended a portrait conference in Manhattan. One of the booths included models with cartoon makeup on to look like real life animations. Hundreds of folks took photos of this one model. Many more creative than the one I took, but this person chose to make my photo as his profile photo. I am pretty sure it still is the profile photo to this day 7 years later. I don’t mean this in a sense of vanity, I don’t look at this like that. It is just nice to see others utilize what I create. Definitely helps boost self value during times when business may be slow. 
Contact Info:
- Website: www.mondlockmoments.com
- Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/mondlockmoments
- Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/mondlockmoments
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mondlockmoments/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXfqy8Kz-tc8chIVPVl3eiw
- Other: https://poplme.co/hash/oULO4X07/1/dash
Image Credits
First photo is a self portrait of me
Alexis Lombardo – @Sort_and_sweet
Allison Cipris – @AllisonCiprisMusic
Alyssa Lombardi – @AlyssaMarie_Photography_
Jenna Dirk – @Jenna_Dirk
Amber Norton – @Amber_Jennifer
Arielle Eden – @TheArielleEden
Compass Realty – @TheJoeTironeTeam
Matt & Crystal Wedding Portraits
Amanda Haglicostas – @HappyTailsByAmanda
Jen Biana – @JenniferBiana
Maddie Crump – @MaddieCrump
Mel Sarkesian – @Mel_Sarkesian
Teresa Mercedes – @Teresa_Mercedes_SunshineForYou