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1) I take a close look at his or her equipment -

I belive the best camera it is the one in your hands.

2) I look to your life experience / Education / books you have read / movies that you have seen / Music you can relate too /  images that have captured you / your culture and language - not necessarily photography class you have taken.

3) and a sharing of images he or she may preffer to           capture or create

and  with this I design a system of learning that can be based on the time he or she has for the art of Photography.

Fom table top to Architecture. Or a variety of assignmetns to help him or her find there voice in image making.

I am beta testing a new approach to my classes

Mr. Prado is a native of California and calls Hollywood his home.  Unlike most, Mario was born into the film/TV industry, an offspring of artistic production talent.

Mario’s strength is in lighting, Photography and Cinematography.  He fits beautifully in the entertainment capitol of the World of Hollywood. 

Educated at The Art Center College of Design (Lighting) and The Los Angeles Trade Tech (Advertising Graphics) and two years of Architecture at CSUN. 

Including numerous extended courses in traditional photography, and Digital Imaging that has given Mr. Prado a broad base of the art of image making.

He is experienced in production logistics and coordinating different departments in Stage, TV and Feature Films.  Mario has earned a wealth of experience in problem solving and he is known in the industry as the “Go to Guy”.

From a host of projects, recently as Site Manger for a SyFy project Aired - April 2014 “Foxy & Company” working with Eric Westmore and having worked with People Magazine on special assignment and the pleasure of working with the likes of such notable Celebrities as Charlton Heston, Elizabeth Taylor and Funny Man Dom Deluise. 

To add to the list of 30+ international cover magazines for Black Belt Magazine, A series of 12 how to books. Mr. Prado, also played a key role as Lighting Designer for books on Celebrities under Robin Leach (Life Style of the Rich and Famous series) this grand opportunity has given Mario a solid foundation in the day to day of image making in Hollywood.  Mario has covered special events for the G2 Gallery as well as being a key photographer for Celebrities on the Red Carpet at the “Oscars”.

Mario continued wearing many hats in the production field as a Lighting Instructor as well as for a Los Angeles base photography school.  Along with his mastering from film digital Photography to Digital Production this has given insight and experience in both these medias.

He also has volunteered twice in assisting designing, producing, programing running a complex lighting system for the Air Force, Air Museum in California. Bringing his skills to the Multimedia and Public Affairs office of the 163rd Reconnaissance Wing, setting up programing, a theatrical stage lighting system that was instrumental in the Wing’s ceremonial process under as a civilian working with Stan Thompson the creator and director of these Military events.

Mario strong design background for printed media kits as well as EPK’s (Electronic Press Kits) and that of Film and Digital Production including Web Design for the Entertainment Industry high end businesses, Mario brings images that speak volumes in all media outlets around the world.

My base rate begins at $45.00 for a full interview ( 45 to 60 miutes) of the students background and the driving force he or she wishes to learn.  This is done at both our convinence via Zoom ( I contatct the Client )

1) I take a close look at his or her equipment first. For The best camera you will ever have is the one in your hand That is the one that you will cut your teeth on.

2) Life experience / Education / books you have read / Music that you have discovered / people you have met in your journey / all this is locked in side you  / for photography is simply a tool for expression / - not necessarily in photography. 

3) She or he must chose 3 images he or she may preffer to  capture or create -  this should be ready to show me at the time of our review.

With this I then can design a system of learning that can be based on the time he or she has for the Art of Photography. In essence what you will be learning is to see again.

From table top top to Architecture to landscape to Fashion, Dance,modeling - you are the story teller in imaging. Or explore a variety of assignmetns to help him or her find there voice in image making.

I really did not think it was teaching when I started. It began innocently in our home in Hollywood California. My father and mother we would have family gatherings twice a year. And my father made it a point to take photos and it was in my early teens that at one of our gatherings I fell in love with a cousin a crush I guess you could  also say, she was to me an angel on earth and I pestered my father to take photos, but he refused and said next time, and I think he knew why now that I think back.

What could i do but to wait and when the day came, months later, my father was ready to give me a lesson and I would have 2 rolls of film 36 images per-roll on a ancient Exacta a very old I mean very old camera - now remember we are talking about film here - LOL

Well ladies and gentelmen I did not pay attention and I shot 2 rolls - the next day we took it to a processing lab and we had to wait 2 more days to have it processed and a proof sheet made. 

Yes, those were the 2 longest days that I can remember. When I arrived with my father to the lab the technician placed on the counter two canasters  - and he said in a matter of fact tone - there was nothing on them they never went through the camera. My father looked at me and picked up the two camaster and handed them to me and said, Well son, do you I think you are ready to sit and pay attnetion?  He needed to say no more.

Years later as I took my classes (I never forgot the oppertunity lost forever because I did not take the time to sit and learn).  I studied Photography in Journalism then summer classes in fashion, action imaging, time exposure,  then I focused  in and got a scholarship to studied at The Art Center and my focus was on lighting - this was a school a place where only the arts were studied - Photography, music, painting, sculpting, dance, fashion  and design .

 As a Pro-Salesperson at Samy's Carmera in Los Angeles back in 1995, I was often asked if I could help the client from amatuer to semi-pro and show them he camera and as I did it developed a true respect for all camera designs and I found the learning was to make the camera an extension of the owner, so he or she could capture the world they saw fit to share with us the viewer. 

So in a sense my job is to help you learn to see again.

The range has been wide from Teens to Young adults to Senior Citizens.  From Weekend Warriors to Sculptors, Painters and Store Shop Owners, to even lawyers and activity directors.

As an instructor I need to understand what drives you to explore this art - Photography - for those who are photographer have many reasons - and you are no different - so we would set up a zoom meeting and explore what makes you tick - so to speak