Mindel received education in Australia and in Britain. He began his career as a camera loader before becoming a clapper loader and assistant cameraman on John Boorman's 1985 film, The Emerald Forest, under French Cinematographer Philippe Rousselot. He soon after moved to the United States and began working on commercials for Ridley and Tony Scott, among several other Directors.
Throughout the 1990s, Mindel worked as a camera operator or Photographer on feature films directed by either Tony Scott or Ridley Scott, including Thelma & Louise and Crimson Tide. In 1997, Mindel was assigned as second unit Director of photography on Ridley Scott's G.I. Jane. This opened the door for Mindel to become Director of photography on Tony Scott's 1998 action-thriller, Enemy of the State.
Director J. J. Abrams selected Mindel to be Director of photography on 2006's Mission: Impossible III. Mindel worked with Abrams again as the Cinematographer of 2009's Star Trek and its follow-up, Star Trek Into Darkness.
Mindel was the Director of photography on Star Wars: The Force Awakens, which was released on December 18, 2015.
