We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Randall Richards. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Randall below.

Randall, appreciate you joining us today. Earning a full time living from one’s creative career can be incredibly difficult. Have you been able to do so and if so, can you share some of the key parts of your journey and any important advice or lessons that might help creatives who haven’t been able to yet?

Earning a full-time living through my creative work was far from an overnight success story. In the early days, it was a relentless grind. I clocked long hours, took on odd jobs, and sometimes found myself working on projects that didn’t seem to align with my creative vision, but they paid the bills.

As time went on, a transformation took place. My skills improved, my professionalism grew, and my network expanded. This evolution led to not only higher-quality work but also better budgets and more fulfilling projects.

Reflecting on my journey, I believe that having a mentor or investing more in formal education early on could have accelerated my progress. While not everyone needs to follow a traditional educational path, I personally thrive in structured environments, and I think it would have provided valuable guidance.

One critical lesson I’ve learned is the importance of setting clear, long-term goals and staying true to them. While I always had a vision of who I wanted to become and what I wanted to achieve both personally and professionally, I occasionally allowed external factors to divert me from my path.

Additionally, personal growth is a cornerstone of success. Michael Port’s insight that “business problems are often personal problems in disguise” rings true. By continually working on my personal development and addressing underlying issues, I found myself better equipped to tackle the challenges that inevitably arose in my creative career.

In summary, my journey to earning a full-time living from my creative work was a process of growth and self-discovery. It involved hard work, adaptability, and a commitment to long-term goals. While it wasn’t a linear path, the challenges and detours along the way ultimately contributed to my success, and I continue to focus on personal growth as a key to ongoing achievement.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

My ethos centers on cultivating organic, collaborative environments, a value I hold dear on my sets. My multidisciplinary experience as a director of photography, director, photographer and artist informs my approach, resulting in the high-quality, cinematic imagery I capture, consistently satisfying clients and bringing them back time and again.

My journey in this field began with a deep-rooted interest passed down from my father. Photography was my initial foray, and after winning a Smirnoff photography competition, I secured an internship that allowed me to hone my technical skills. Simultaneously, my fascination with cinematography grew as I embraced the medium’s complexity and the intentionality it demanded.

A decade later, I’m proud to be the founder of my production house, Mint Creative. My extensive experience spans commercial, documentary, narrative, and music video projects, and my global client roster includes names like HBO, Koffee, Protoje, Mastercard, SKY UK, and many more.

Outside the hustle and bustle of set life, my interests are as eclectic as my professional journey. I find myself immersed in astrophysics, anthropology, and exploring the rich tapestry of music from diverse cultures and genres through research and conversation.

Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?

I think my reputation was built by three things, one, my resilience to stick to my path and not be deterred no matter how hard it got. Two, maintaining a positive and professional work attitude with all my clients large and small, and three, consistently delivering and maintaining a high standard of work.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

The freedom. It comes with a risk of sometimes not knowing what’s next but i wouldn’t trade my freedom for anything.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.wearemint.co [under reconstruction and relaunches in 2024]
• Instagram: instagram.com/randyrandeh
• Other: [email protected]

Image Credits
Neochea Flowers Randall Richards