In 2003, Prasad Pankar made the bold decision to leave his secure banking job and pursue his childhood passion: photography. After an initial period of struggle, opportunities began to emerge, leading to his work being featured in national publications like Femina, Cineblitz, Darpan, Gladrags, as well as all major Goan publications.
Prasad has worked on numerous national and international projects. Notably, his photographs were used in a storybook on drug awareness for John Hopkins University in Baltimore, USA. He also collaborated with '80s pop icon Belinda Carlisle on her jewelry line.
Over the years, Prasad has photographed many celebrities, including Bollywood stars Jackie Shroff, Aishwarya Rai, and Raveena Tandon. He particularly enjoys working with other artists, and their portraits are some of his most cherished work.
Specializing in fashion photography, Prasad is inspired by the human form, believing that every person is beautiful. To him, "fashion photography is about striking the perfect balance between a garment and the human form—blending together natural and man-made miracles with the magic of light". He is particularly passionate about shooting on location, where he mixes natural and artificial light to create stunning fashion images. His work has been featured in numerous national and Goan publications, and he is known for his minimalist, black-and-white fashion photography.
A major turning point in Prasad's career was the launch of his dream project, CMYK Academy of Photography. The academy has become a benchmark for quality education in photography, having trained over 10,000 students. Prasad offers various courses, including fundamentals, aesthetics of photography (a course he personally researched and developed), advertising photography, and a one-year diploma in fashion photography. He is also in the process of developing more advanced courses. CMYK Academy has expanded beyond photography, engaging in charity events and addressing social issues.
Recently, Prasad launched another dream project, Fashion Triad International, a fashion event company co-founded with two friends. The company organizes and choreographs high-quality fashion shows, catering to clients across India.Prasad has held 17 successful exhibitions to date, the most recent being in Lisbon, Portugal. His talents extend beyond photography; he grooms fashion models and has launched many new faces in the industry. He has also written five successful columns in various Goan publications.
A voracious reader, Prasad never leaves home without a book and encourages everyone he meets to develop a reading habit. During the first lockdown, he wrote over 25 short thriller stories. In his spare time, he enjoys listening to rock music and playing the guitar, harmonica, and flute.