Louis Mendes is an American photographer who was born in Queens, New York in 1940. He got started in photography as a child when his sister gave him a camera. He used this to take photos of family and friends.

As an adult, he worked in retail at Macy's for many years. Then, in 1959, he bought a Graflex Speed Graphics camera that was manufactured in 1940. He shot weddings at New York City Hall and then began shooting families at parades and Coney Island. Louis has also photographed well-known people such as Denzel Washington, Count Bassie, Lena Horne, Cab Calloway, Duke Ellington, and Spike Lee.

Louis still uses that Speed Graphic camera today. It produces Polaroid-type prints that he gives to people for a fee after taking their portrait. He is well known in New York City as a portrait photographer. Louis can often be found at Coney Island and Union Square in New York City. When he travels to New Orleans, he stations himself on Bourbon and Canal Street.

I met Louis in Grand Central station on March 17, 2024. He was very friendly and allowed me to take his photo. He told me he was 83 years old.

In this video, Louis gives advice to other photographers on how to use cameras similar to his to take portrait photos .