In 1962, Mankowitz began taking photos professionally in Barbados, and when he returned to London, he took a position in the Parisian fashion world, but quickly realized that that style of photography was not for him.

For the next 22 years, Mankowitz was based in his North London Studio, mainly working in the advertising industry, and contributing to major publications.

When asked if he thought that his work influenced the image of the Rolling Stones, Mankowitz stated: I think I contributed a lot when I did the cover of the album Between the Buttons.

My contribution in the earlier sessions was based more on an honesty, a desire to communicate something about the Stones as people and not try and mask their personalities with any sort of technical or theatrical embellishments.

I think that that’s why (their manager) Andrew (Loog Oldham) liked the pictures and why the band were happy to work with me for such a long period of time, because I photographed them as they were.

They were taken in black and white, which was Mankowitz's typical style, but Hendrix's manager insisted on colour photographs for album covers.