Meet Arpad Petrass | Commercial Photographer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Arpad Petrass and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Arpad, what led you to pursuing a creative path professionally?
In high school I was just an average student. When it came to taking art classes or trying out for the school play, there was a passion inside of me that had no direction yet.
My dad at that time worked in Philadelphia and he managed to get the family VIP passes to the Merv Griffin show. The Merv Griffin show was the highest rated talk show at that time.Seeing how a live talk show was being made in front and behind the scenes stirred something inside of me. Since I didn’t want to become an actor, and I was not particularly good at traditional, drawing and painting but working behind the scenes suddenly made sense to me. I realized that I could pursue a creative career and not have to explain to my parents how I was going to make a living.

I wanted to work behind the scenes to create something magical and creative, but I didn’t know how. I went on to college and found my direction in Theatre Department.I successfully graduated with a BA and MFA Degree in theater and create a successful theater career that lasted 45 years a scenic and lighting designer and technical director.
During that time I created over 300 different designs for Theatre, Opera and Dance. Due to COVID I was forced to retire from Disney as an Live Entertainment Technical Director. ……. .And that is when I started the my Photography Business

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
45 years in Live Entertainment. as a Scenic and Lighting Designer and Technical Director. For Theatre, opera and Dance
University Professor teaching Scenic and Lighting Design
Disney Imagineer in Live Entertainment- Technical Director
Owner of Blue Moon Promotions
Current Business Owner . OC Real Estate Visuals
Artwork showing at multiple Galleries in California
Award Winning Photographer
Selected Best Real Estate Photographers in Orange County

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
If this trip was in San Diego here are the places I love:
La Jolla- San Diego Zoo. San Diego Botanical Garden, Del Mar. , Julian. Robert Hubbell home ( Architect and Artist) Gas Light District and Padres Stadium, Wild Animal Park, the Delmar Fair and finally Oceanside ( water side) and Oceanside Museum.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
As we all know, it takes a village to succeed.. Here are a few things that I found invaluable: Getting over my fear of public speaking, a nod to Toastmasters… .. Always surrounding myself with people that are smarter than myself so I can work with a team that I trust….I follow the Tony Robins school of success where you have to learn who you are as a person first, remove your fears and work through them before you rush into the fire of business. Yes I do learn how to walk over hot coals with his training…..Books I found interesting was The Secret, Deepak Chopra, Louise Hay- Wayne Dyer and Ernest Holmes. ( There are way to many to list) and finally my wife we supported all of the crazy ideas that I have had, even the bad ones…..my son Bryan for agreeing to be my partner in the photography business of OC Real Estate Visuals and my fabulous daughter Jessica who always makes sure that I do the right time

Website: https://OcRealEstateVisuals.com

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Image Credits
Arpad Petrass