We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Nick Mango a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Nick, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Before we get into specifics, let’s talk about success more generally. What do you think it takes to be successful?

Before I became a photographer, I worked with photographers. As well as illustrators, production companies and, of course, clients. I was an account manager at some very large, and very small, advertising agencies in New York City. This meant that I ran accounts and performed a balancing act between the different forces at an agency – creative, media, research, production – and the demands of the client. I had to lead, but also to know when to step back. And to do all this I had to learn a very basic, but not much practiced, skill: listening. One of course needs to have a point of view (that’s part of leadership), but to understand where one needs to go, one must understand the needs of others. And this can only happen when one asks questions, listens to the answers, and then acts on the learning. Going off roughshod, i.e., listening only to yourself, might lead to a good solution, but it can very easily lead to disaster: arguments, disillusion, and lost clients. I have found that listening to clients’ needs and only then adding your creative perspective creates a much better, symbiotic and longer-term working relationship.

Asking questions and carefully listening is also integral to my portrait work. People confronted by a camera and lights directly in front of them tend to freeze. And the outcome is a fake expression. I want to know who that person is. Their likes, their dislikes. What gets them excited, what gets them anxious. By having a real, upbeat and interesting conversation (and this certainly doesn’t need to be a lengthy process; it can be 5-10 minutes long), a person is able to relax. And that’s when I’m able to get a real expression, and a good, representative portrait of that person.

Don’t forget. In these situations, it’s never about you. It’s always about the other person.

Nick, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I am a portrait and corporate photographer based in New York City. For many years I was in advertising, building brands for some of the largest companies in America. It was the best way to combine my interests in business and the creative arts. And it was fun! Until there was a downturn in the industry. Job hopping forced me to think hard about what I wanted to do. I have always loved photography – ever since my father bought me an Olympus OM-1 film camera. And I had been very lucky to have worked with many top photographers. I always enjoyed the shoots and was fascinated by all the behind-the-scenes and technical stuff – so much so that I took classes at the International Center of Photography. I thought that if I was going to make the change and do what I loved, this was the moment. I have not regretted the change one bit.

Having worked with many different companies in my advertising career, I believe that I have a unique perspective on how to create images that meet client needs. I understand marketing, branding and corporate culture. I love meeting people and finding out about them and their companies. And I know how to bring a creative perspective to shots that I hope makes them stand out and be something that companies can be proud of.

While I totally enjoy corporate work, I am very proud of a recent personal project. Hand in Glove is a photographic examination that focuses on a quintessential small Vermont town, and explores the ideas of attributes, identity and community. By juxtaposing portraits of people with images of the gloves they wear for their work or play, I hope that a more nuanced picture of these people emerges.

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

To riff off Catcher in the Rye, not be phony. It’s too easy to ‘call in the work,’ go through the motions, and rush through things to get a job done. It might make life easier, but people can spot such an attitude a mile away. You won’t get the results they want. And you definitely won’t get the results you want. A phony portrait doesn’t capture the essence of the person that I try to get. Having an expensive camera with a large lens doesn’t make you a photographer. Caring about the people you photograph, working with them, learning about them, whether it’s a multi-day production or ‘just’ a head shot, makes you a good photographer. (And, of course, knowing when to take the shot!) All this will allow you to capture a true image of that person – and not just a phony, cheesy smile.

Any advice for growing your clientele? What’s been most effective for you?

Networking. I have found that getting recommended by friends, colleagues and clients has worked best for me. These are the people who know me, trust me, and know my work. They can confidently and, I’m hoping, enthusiastically put my name forward for new jobs and new clients. After every job, I ask to be recommended to somebody else. Basically, I have proven myself to them, so they know I will be able to deliver for somebody else. I always make sure I have a good supply of business cards on hand to give out. And I make sure they are well-designed and eye-catching. I also send out holiday cards to everybody. It’s possibly old-school, but it’s a good reminder at the end of the old and the beginning of a new year that I’m around and a good reminder of my work.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.nickmangophotography.com
• Instagram: @nickmangophoto

Image Credits
All images by Nick Mango Photography