My camera loves you

Posts from the ‘news’ category

People love us on Yelp

People love Positive Vista Photography & Art on Yelp

A congratulations letter saying “People Love us on Yelp” received from Yelp from all the 5* reviews! There are 20 five-star active reviews as of today on Yelp. There are a few more, but Yelp doesn’t display them all.

Here are some examples of what people have said on Yelp

Here are some examples of what people have said on Yelp which Yelp does not display maybe because they were several years old. I remember working with all these people and love their feedback on the studio experience, so I will share them here.

“Portia welcomed me to her studio for my professional headshots!  What a fabulous experience! She worked with me in various poses, different backdrops and finally we were able to see the digital shots right then.  

Portia is a fabulous certified photographer, and so much more! She has a great eye for what looks right for the image you are trying to portray.  Thanks Portia!!” —- Geogianne W. Scotts Valley, CA

 4/12/2011 


“Portia did an excellent job photographing my daughter and myself for our business website. She got equipment, talent. good test and above all very professional.” —- Shlomo V. Aptos CA 3/14/2011

“During the photo shoot I had with Portia I felt so comfortable being in front of the camera.  In her studio full of props and lighting I had fun and forgot to be nervous about my picture being taken.  Portia is a true professional artist with the camera and the print as her medium.  I recommend her highly and look forward to using her services again.  Thank you Portia” —- Gregory L, Santa Cruz  3/13/2011

“I went to Portia’s studio to have a professional head shot taken for my website. I haven’t had a professional photo taken since high school, so I wasn’t quite sure what to except … Portia’s studio setup is AMAZING and she was able to capture me in a way that is professional, but still friendly and approachable. Thanks Portia! 

… now if I could only fit into those little fairy costumes … :)” —- Brook T  Santa Cruz, CA 3/14/2011

“Portia runs a first rate professional studio that is equipped to provide first class portraits. She did a holiday greeting card with pictures of me and my son that were outstanding.
Thanks Portia” —- Harvey M. Santa Cruz CA 3/11/2011

“Critical eye.  Cool props and backdrops.  Whether you want to look like a movie star or just a professional, Portia has the skills and set-up.  I’ve been really impressed with her professionalism and the end-result quality!” —- Melanie S. Capitola CA 3/11/2011

“I love working with Portia! Each time I have worked with her she exceed my expectations. For Christmas last year I had Portia take some shots of my dads poodle that she then put on a blanket. When my dad opened up his present he was so surprised that he was put to tears by it.” —- Darcy C. Aptos, CA 3/9/2011

TV and newspaper appearances

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Model Jason being interviewed for CBS Insider

Model Jason being interviewed for CBS Insider

It’s not everyday I get to be on TV, actually I don’t think I had ever been on TV before, but recently my model and studio have been featured in newspaper appearances, and tonight, even on TV!

Whether your dream is to surpass Fabio like Jason, or to get a great family portrait for your mom, or just a super confident headshot for your business, photography may be how you get there, and I am ready to help make your dream come true.

I have been working with Jason Baca the romance novel cover model featured in the photo here for several years, and now he is breaking the record of Fabio’s book covers, so there were a few newspaper writeup’s over the last few months, and tonight, the CBS Insider featured a segment of the photo shoot in the studio with Jason. They came to film it yesterday! If you missed the show, here is the short clip! In the same episode were featured some real big names, like Oprah, Ben Affleck, Chris Hemsworth. All people I love, so, very amazing!

The article appeared on March 30, 2016 in New York Times

Los Angeles Times article on Nov 13, 2015

Santa Cruz Sentinel on 11/8/2015

are just the most recent newspaper appearances of Jason in my studio. I love working with models or people who have special ideas about what they want to create the more unusual images.

In the newspapers

Jason Baca models as a cowboyThis has been a week of being in the newspapers! On Nov 9, a front page article in the Santa Cruz Sentinel mentioned the studio in relation to the model Jason Baca I have been working with. If you have seen my old blogs or posts, you would have seen Jason mentioned along with the Romance novels covers he showed up in. Here is a link to the article in the Sentinel

and on Nov 14, the Los Angeles Times had this article which also featured me and Jason Baca working together. Too-Hawt-to-handle?

If you are dreaming of becoming a model, it would be a good idea to try it out in a studio session to see if you really like it. It is hard work to be a model, the photos may make it look easy, but it is definitely not easy.

Santa Cruz Photographer has created 10 smiles

Photographer can actually create smiles, not by saying “cheese”.

One of the rewards of being a professional photographer is to help bring families together, to create great memories to cherish forever, and to change lives! As I wrapped up Family Portrait Month in association with PPA charities this year, I was a little surprised to find out that I have donated enough through the 7 years in business to pay for 10 surgeries! That means 10 kids somewhere have their smiles restored to them, their mothers and family are happy, and they have a chance to live a normal life. Even though I have never met these children in person, I feel gratified to know that I am able to change their lives for the better. For only $240 per surgery, the doctors and volunteers of Operation Smile have been creating smiles since. My studio is an Operation Smiles studio in 2013, I thank you for making it possible. If you were one of the clients who came to me in Oct-Nov, your contribution made a difference!

Operation Smile restored smiles to these children

Operation Smile restored smiles to these children

My Santa Cruz photography book now in local book store

My first photography book of Santa Cruz photography, done using Polaroid time-zero film, manipulated, painterly and unique was published last month. Now you can find it in a local book store. Specifically, we have a wonderful local book store here in Santa Cruz called Bookshop Santa Cruz, it is right downtown on Pacific Avenue. If you go in the store, check out the local authors section, you will find my new book “time-zero Santa Cruz” there! The book has been available on Amazon, but some of my friends are interested in getting the book locally, and now you can too. Please check it out in person at the store, and let me know how you like the book!

Time-zero-santa-cruz-on-bookshelf-by-portia-shao

Time-zero-santa-cruz-book-by-portia-shao

p.s. you can also order it from Bookshop Santa Cruz web site.

time-zero Santa Cruz, a photography book is now in local book store

time-zero Santa Cruz, a photography book is now in local book store

Don’t miss Family Portrait Month

Don’t Miss Our Special Family Portrait Month Promotion

before-after

Before and after operation by Operation Smile

I thought you would want to know about a very special family portrait promotion we will be participating in with an elite group of photographers around the country.  From October 16 to November 15, we will celebrate Family Portrait Month, a wonderful opportunity for you to update your family portrait (or portraits of your children), and support Operation Smile, which treats children around the world who suffer with cleft lips, cleft palates and other facial deformities.

Along with other studio members of Professional Photographers of America (PPA), we have pledged to contribute your $98 session fee to PPA Charities which has chosen Operation Smile as its charitable beneficiary. Every $240 will enable one child to have the needed surgery to have a normal smile that the rest of take for granted.

What’s more, we want you to benefit from this special offer: so I am offering

  1. Saturday Oct 19 sessions for those of you who like a weekend appointment
  2. 12pm-5pm Oct 31, Halloween specials for kids (or adults) in costumes, $40 package (includes 20 minute mini-session, and one small digital file of your favorite pose, additional orders are 50% off normal price). ALL proceeds from this day will go to Operation Smile!

Recording the faces of children and their families is our greatest pleasure. That’s why we are so pleased to support the work of Operation Smile. Each year this incredible organization of more than 6,000 volunteer doctors, nurses, dentists, and specialized health care professionals, perform free reconstructive surgeries for children suffering with facial deformities. More than 100,000 children are born with a facial deformity each year in Operation Smile’s 26 partner countries.

We hope you will join with us in helping to make this vital work possible. Don’t forget that the holiday season is right around the corner, so there’s no better time for a family portrait, which is always appreciated as gifts for family and friends and to send along with holiday greeting cards.

Your Family Portrait Can Create Smiles and Change Lives!

Celebrate your family by helping a child! Call now 831-426-1400. Appointments are limited! Remember… Your family portrait is perfect for holiday cards! Family Portrait Month is sponsored by PPA Charities.

As always . . . we look forward to creating some truly wonderful portraits of your family.

You will always get my BE THRILLED OR BUST guarantee on any portrait taken at my studio. This is a great opportunity to experience for yourself or to gift a friend or loved one something they will treasure.

time-zero Santa Cruz – my first photography book

Today is a milestone day, I have published my first photography book time-zero Santa Cruz. Have you thought about publishing a book? It is actually a lot easier now than in the past. If I had to print 1000 copies of a book I probably would never have done it. But it is now possible to have them printed on demand, with very little upfront cost to the author, so I decided to give it a go.

Order on Amazon here.

 


It is a look at Santa Cruz where I have lived since 2001. I started taking photos of places around Santa Cruz using a Polaroid SX-70 instant camera, and really enjoyed manipulating them to make them interesting and different. My Polaroid SX-70 manipulated images have always been a personal project. I love the uniqueness of them, and the painterly look. You may have seen them in my Polaroid gallery.

Making photographs look more like paintings by manipulating Polaroid SX-70 images is an alternative art form which has been around since the 1970’s.  Although Polaroid no longer makes this camera and film,  the SX-70 camera can still be found on eBay or in people’s garages and attics. The more challenging part is getting the time-zero film which can be manipulated. The Impossible Project, a very interesting story by itself, currently produces film which can be manipulated similar to the time-zero Polaroid film. The results are not exactly the same, but one can still create one of a kind images today.

I got my first SX-70 camera in the 2000’s, when the film was still available from Polaroid. I love watercolor paintings, and I love photography. This is a happy union of  these two activities. I enjoy the process of creating something different and interesting, while having fun with it. The photos are manipulated using hand tools, scanned into the computer, and sometimes further enhanced using computer software. To me, it is just a fun process, and the results are often unexpected!

I especially enjoy meeting people who are curious about the odd camera I use when I am out taking photos, and showing them what can be created from the photos.

In this first book, I have included 50 images of Santa Cruz, many street scenes downtown, on Pacific avenue over the the last few years and some new images of the Santa Cruz Boardwalk, which is so identified with Santa Cruz as a summer holiday destination.

Please visit my Polaroid gallery, and if you like the images, check out the book too.

The book can be ordered now on CreateSpace  and it is also available on Amazon here.

CPP logo

I am now a CPP certified professional photographer

I am now a CPP! But you say “What is a CPP?”

What is CPP? CPP stands for Certified Professional Photographer. I bet you didn’t know professional photographers can be certified? Everybody has heard of CPA but CPP is not so well known.

When I started my studio, I joined the PPA (Professional Photographers of America) to keep up with the latest industry news and knowledge. I took classes to Read more