Jose Luis Sandoval(Mexico)
Luis Sandoval -better known as Sando- is an editorial and commercial photographer based in Mexico City.
He has worked as a Photography professional for about 16 years in several editorial and media companies in Mexico developing himself as a Photographer, Producer and Photo Editor.
He first encountered Photography at a pretty early age when his father, an enthusiastic lover of Photography brought home a couple of Japanese cameras -which Sando wasn´t allowed to touch by then-. Eventually he became very close to Photography and once he got into college he started working as an assistant in a commercial studio where he was able to work with film, chemicals, medium format cameras and clients for the first time. Everything grew up from there and eventually he made his path into the editorial business, where he continues developing himself.
In 2015 Sando started running Mucho Flavor Studio, a photographic studio that offers solutions for editorial and commercial clients specially focusing on food and life style photography. Sando is also working in personal projects that take him into documentary field as well.
I love reading and finding out as much as I can about photography and photo equipment. Around 2011 while still working with other brands and DSLR system I heard about the Fuji X100 for the first time. The thing that got my eye immediately was the sleek retro look of the camera. It looked gorgeous and I knew Fujifilm was known for delivering great image quality, so I though it should be a great camera. Then, when I found out about Film simulations within the X System I just went crazy since I used to work a lot with Fuji emulsions in my film days, specially with Provia and Velvia.
Around 2013 I became a Photo Editor and started going to many studios where other photographers used the common DSLR brands and started thinking that the Fuji X could be such a cool and functional camera for me as a Photo Editor. After all I could use it for registering back stage moments, candid stuff and capturing personal shots while the other guys used their DSLR equipment and I could also get nice compliments about my tiny retro style camera in the process. By then I was pretty much involved with the X System and decided I wanted one for myself.
When I started thinking in my own business I was pretty much excited about the Fuji X-Pro and the X-E1 but didn´t feel like they were my ideal tools. I needed more power and functions. Then, the X-T1 was announced and everything changed for me. There was no doubt anymore, I decided the X-T1 would be my camera and I felt so excited about growing my style on it. Soon I got in touch with Fujifilm and my X-T1 arrived directly from Japan along with the Fujinon XF 56mm f/1.2 R lens. Some months later I got a used X-E1 as a second body and two new more lenses. The 56mm is my most used lens and it definitely contributes a lot to my style.
I knew that the X-T1 wasn´t meant for the studio by nature, but I always knew it could stand a pretty good chance so I went for it. I started using it with a client at first, then with another one and so on. It has become a very good tool for me since I am not always at the studio. I use to go to different places to take pictures so it´s a really nice piece of equipment. Actually I always get something from my clients like “Wow what a cool camera, which brand is it?” or “Wow do you use Fuji at the studio?”, “Wow I though it was a vintage camera but it´s a digital one!” and so on. When people get to see the image quality they always look pleased.
