Edward:  Welcome to Conne247 family Robert. Tell us about yourself.

Robert:  Don’t really like to chat about myself but I was born in Ozone Park, Queens in a very Italian neighborhood and I had a great childhood with great memories.  Unlike today where most children are extremely superficial one of my most fond memories was getting a quarter to go buy a Pistachio Gelato from our neighborhood bakery Sevirioli’s.

I grew up in a rather large family about 40 cousins but only one brother and sister, our house on Christmas Eve was like Grand Central Station, cousins coming and going all night, it was great!

Edward:  How do you define your style and how did you become interested in a career as a photographer?

Robert:  Photography although a love of mine was not my first career, I studied Fashion Design at the Fashion Institute of Technology and worked as a Designer for 15 years until the industry started to downsize due to imports.

I then made the decision to pick a career that could benefit from my years as a designer and decided to incorporate my love of photography, so I returned to the Fashion Institute to study photography and was lucky enough to have an eye for creating from behind the lens.

Edward:  In a society we live IMAGE is worth more than a THOUSAND WORDS? Why?

Edward:  Tell us about some of your current/future projects

Robert:  I have an editorial that just released in ANDMEN magazine in Australia and two more editorials that were just picked up by Dansk Magazine in Copenhagen and Booklet Magazine in Germany.  I love the European Magazines they love to be innovative and their fashion stories still take priority over advertisements.

Edward:  You have helped some models that are now in great fashion campaigns and fashion agencies. What do you feel about it? Tell us about this process: from an unknown model to a major fashion model star?

Robert:  For me it’s just kind of cool to say I knew them when, I never take credit for the success of anyone’s career that would make me a narcissist and that’s not a quality I would like to possess.

Edward:  I’m sure you might have some unusual/funny backstage stories.  Share some of them with us

Robert:  Oh you mean like models showing up 3 hours late, falling off their shoes during a shoot (nothing less sexy than a woman who can’t walk in heels), Bitchy stylist, props falling, lights exploding, it’s usually only funny after the shoot is done seldom during.

Edward:  There must be special moments when you feel that you have captured a perfect picture... Share this passion with us. How does this special moment happen?

Robert:  Sometimes it’s like clock work and sometimes it just happens and sometimes it’s a mishap that just works out.  Had a shoot once where the front light didn’t go off because the slave didn’t work and it turned out to be one of my best received images, won’t tell you which one that just ruins the magic.

Edward:  Robert, thanks so much for sharing your story with us.  Please, give some hints for the models and leave your info contact.

Robert:  NO PARTYING THE NIGHT BEFORE A SHOOT!!!  Thanks for the interest in myself and my career,

Cheers,
Robert Mendolia
www.robertmendolia.com

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