2026 Classes
Your week at MARS will be an intense study program.
Classes are held in the hotel. Each instructor has his or her own designated, and distinct, classroom. Rooms are equipped with a projector, screen, and sound. Depending upon your instructor, and your course curriculum, your instructor may have a studio setup in the classroom, and/or may take equipment on location for various lighting techniques and demos. Some classes may have models..
Sunday evening, after school and hotel check-in, you will meet with your particular instructor in your designated classroom for a brief orientation and overview of the week.
M-Th classes are generally 8 am – 5 pm** (depending upon your particular instructor)
Friday classes is 8-10 am to ‘tie-up loose ends’.
**note– these times are guidelines and may change or be modified based on your instructors desire. Some classes, particularly the environmental classes, often head out much earlier and may stay out later.
Depending upon your instructor, your class may go on location within the hotel, outside the hotel, or to any one of the great places in the vicinity. Fellow students in your class are usually happy to carpool, so everyone can take advantage of some of the places that are not within walking distance.
IMPORTANT NOTE -Instructors and classes are encouraged to go on-location if the curriculum dictates. However, please keep in mind, there are designated times for meals. The hotel kitchen and staff works hard to prepare those meals at the designated times. But the kitchen and staff also need to cleanup and ‘reset’ for the next meal or function. You must attend during those times if you want to eat your included meal. so be mindful of your time while ‘out-and-about’. Understand that if you arrive after the designated end time for a particular meal, you will not be served.
Join renowned photographer, Michele Celentano, for an immersive workshop dedicated to the art and business of family portraiture. This intensive program is designed for photographers of all levels seeking to elevate their skills, refine their techniques, and create timeless family portraits that resonate with emotion and authenticity. This course will change the way you shoot and help the way you do business. DO NOT MISS THIS CHANCE!
Join master photographer Rick Ferro as he teaches you his approach to creating stunning portrait imagery that sells. With proper lighting and posing techniques, and hands-on shooting in the classroom and on-location, Rick will share his methods, tips and tricks to unleash your creativity so you can create dramatic, evocative imagery that stands out from the rest. Do not miss your opportunity to study with this legend!
Join renowned photographer, Rick Friedman, in this hands-on class, where the idea of alternative lighting techniques takes center stage, regardless of the location or time of day? And do you want to learn how to do that with portability and speed? This coourse will go beyond posing, and will help anyone with questions about their equipment, lighting or any aspect of photography. DO NOT MISS THIS CLASS!
Hold on to your seat and buckle up, because the incomparable Richard Sturdevant will pull the trigger on the class he’s been waiting to teach for years! This advanced class will be the most in-depth digital class ever. Richard will take you on a fantastic, deep-dive journey into composites – from concept to finished masterpiece. DO NOT MISS THIS OPPORTUNITY!
This week-long, best-of-both-worlds, deep dive into the art of branding, sales, and how to evaluate your images for image competition and commercial success, has been designed to focus on these two topics in a way that will be fresh, fun, and interactive. Take your business to the next level with the tools you’ll need to get to the top of your game. A MUST. DO NOT MISS IT!