Meet Mario Lopez | Photographer, entrepreneur, philanthropist

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

Hi Mario, can you talk to us a bit about the social impact of your business?
We are Sacramento and what we do, we highlight local creatives and entrepreneurs and how their efforts positively affect Sacramento. we invite them to be a part of our we are Sacramento photoessay. that later becomes part of a beer label. yes we have our own beer with a local brewery Oak Park Brewing co. we also produce 15 podcast out of our head hq. we also curate art shows mostly in the outdoors our goal with that is to help artist keep all the money from their art. we are in the process of opening our own art gallery. the name will be THE GALLERY by WE ARE SACRAMENTO
I believe in investing time and money to help our creative demographic. the way we help is with exposure, sales, and traffic

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.
I don’t know if it was by accident or if it was faith. I came to the states when I was 13 years old, but I quickly learn I wasn’t home anymore. El Salvador was home it was everything. I quickly got in trouble as an adolescent. hungry and on a 3rd night on the street I was hungry I was breaking into cars to find money and buy food, I git caught by one of the car owners and he showed mercy gave me a card with an address and told me to be there the next day. I showed up the next day and come to find out he owned a local photography studio, there I learn all and everything about photography. he has now [passed but thankfully Robert saw something in me I didn’t see in myself. I learned that discipline wins over talent and honesty at all cost is the catalyst to progress. I learned to be honest with myself and that there’s no way one person can be good at everything. my self and my brand We are Sacramento we lead with love. where I’m at now it wasn’t easy if was like I chose the hard road on purpose but I think now that helps me when I mentor others and allowing them to see what is takes to become successful, in what you love and sometimes that’s not something that always lines up.

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?
Given that we have our own beer were definitely going to OPB.co in Oak Park Sacramento. Old Sacramento is definitely a go to for visitors, Tower cafe for breakfast, Bodega Kitchen and Cocktails in the pocket area great drinks and food a most go. Stoney’s in North Sac I love going Salsa dancing on Thursday’s. The DOCO Area is always happening with a bunch of bars and restaurants. hiking in the Auburn area. day trip to Lake Tahoe

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I want to thank my We are Sacramento family Mari Padilla, Miles Jolly, Kayla Chew, Santana, Gabe lopez, Uli, and Beto

also Oak Park Brewing co.

Website: wearesacramento916.com

Instagram: wearesacramento916