2027 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 outdoor photographer, David Akoubian, for this ‘in-the-field’ workshop – from landscapes at sunrise and sunset, to the abstracts of macro, to capturing wildlife and bird images. This course is designed for photographers of all levels seeking to elevate their skills, refine their techniques, and create gorgeous images They can enjoy and market. If you love nature photography, don’t miss this class!
Journey with artistic visionary, Maria Arellano, creating provocative imagery that speaks to the soul. Whatever your genre, this hands-on class will refine your lighting, posing, styling and thought process, so that you can bring fine art into every frame. DO NOT MISS THIS CLASS if you want to develop an artistic mindset that lets you shoot with confidence and purpose.
Join the amazingly brilliant, Scott Detweiler, as he shares his first-hand knowlege. This intermediate program skips the fluff, and cuts right to the bone. You’ll dig into the tools, like LLMs, and how to use them like a pro. If fine-art imagery is your game, and you want to grow your wall art sales, THIS IS A MUST-TAKE CLASS. Get ahead of the curve – the future is now.
Join headshot guru, Jenn Lewis, as she shows you how to make headshots work for your business. In this hands-on class, you’ll learn to stand out in job markets and professional opportunities through pre-session prep to helping clients feel confident in front of the camera. This is a MUST TAKE CLASS to help you book smarter, shoot with intention, and grow your business.
Join the uber-talented, Scott Robert Lim, in this hands-on class where shooting in real-world situations takes center stage. You’ll learn to create bold, cinematic portraits with a modern, editorial edge, by mastering light, and gaining the confidence, to craft compelling images inspired by fashion and travel. DON’T MISS THIS OPPORTUNITY to consistently produce high-impact portraits in any light, any time, anywhere in the world.