Picture Day Professional

Peter Lars is a self-proclaimed “antique collecting, Swedish loving, bluegrass impassioned entrepreneur,” and if your children attended any of the Moorpark schools during the last 15 years, you've almost assuredly done business with him.

Aside from being an active member of the , Lars is the founder and owner of , a studio that does a wide range of photography from fine art, to weddings, and most prolifically, school portraits. Lars estimates that he and his staff have photographed nearly 50,000 elementary school portraits and 2,000 senior portraits.

“One school led to two schools, and then there were five, and then there were 15, and now I've worked at 91 schools,” Lars said.

Lars' favorite part of working as a school photographer is working with the kids.

“I got my start photographing kids in the Head Start system of Ventura County and the preschools. Working with three and four year olds is probably the most fun day of work, and also the hardest,” he said. “I also love working with high school seniors. It's an awkward moment for some kids—especially when some of the guys begrudgingly come in here, their mothers pulling them by their ears to get their photograph taken. By the end of the shoot, they're shaking your hand going 'Oh my god! That was so much fun!' I really enjoy that.”

Lars got his start when he moved out to southern California from his home in Chicago. He needed a job to pay his way through the radio, television and film program at California State University Northridge, so he worked in an entry-level portrait photographer position.

“I was kind of like a duck in water. I took to photography so fast, and I realized how much I enjoyed it, that it really directed my professional path,” said Lars.

In addition to being a busy photographer, Lars is the proud father of a 2-year-old son.

“At 45, I thought I'd start to have a family,” said Lars. “I've never wanted to go home more at night than I do right now. He's so much fun at this age. The last three months have been really cool!”

Lars' enthusiasm spilled over into the discussion of all aspects of his life and he burst with advice for the younger generation of entrepreneurs.

“It takes a long time for anything to actually catch traction and move forward. It's important to surround yourself with really good people if you're opening up a business,” Lars said. “I think just being prepared to put in the long days, seven days of the week is incredibly important as well.”

Lars also has faith in Karma.

“I'm a big believer in taking the high road. It always comes around to help you in the end. You might lose a little battle, but you end up winning the war,” Lars said.

When Lars is recovering from all those 14 hour work days, he can be found playing bluegrass banjo or enjoying his cherry red 1960 Volvo 445.