I will definitely be back... again! This is my second time working with Devi, and she does not disappoint! The first time, she photographed nine of my students (ages 9-14). She took the time to prepare them, pose them, and make sure they felt confident and comfortable throughout the entire session. The photos were stunning! This time around, the session was just for me. Devi knew I had wanted to do a shoot with her for years (since 2021), and she actually remembered. As promised, she reached out when she received grant funding for a special project documenting dancers and movers and invited me to apply. I am so grateful for the opportunity--and for the incredible photos. She keeps to her word and follows through. I appreciate that. As a photographer, Devi is a true professional with an impressive range. I was blown away by the body of work displayed throughout her studio. She has a remarkable eye for movement and for photographing movers, which is no easy feat. I'm a photographer myself, so I especially appreciated her approach. She gave thoughtful direction while also creating space for genuine, natural moments to unfold. Watching her creative process blend with my own felt like a dance in itself. Oh yeah, and her ability to light darker skin is phenomenal. That can be quite tricky. Devi even took a few portraits of my pregnant wife since she was there, which was so nice of her. Devi is kind, easy to talk to, and a joy to create. For this, the time went by quick and the photos came out beautifully! As someone who is usually behind the camera, it took a little getting used to being in front of it, but I learned so much from the experience. It honestly made me want to book another session for myself--and another one for my students. I think I've found my go-to photographer. If you're looking for a photographer, you don't need to look any further. You've found yours, too.... a rare gem. Thank you, Devi! read more

Devi was so kind with our dance shoot in her studio! I was nervous because it was my first time taking photos professionally, but that was quickly dissolved with her calm support. Not only was the experience a breeze, the photos were a beautiful representation of her artistry blending with mine. Her understanding of dance played a huge part and was such a lovely thing to connect on during our session! Thank you Devi for your support through the work you do! read more

Devi went above and beyond for our wedding! She is so personable and fun! It put us right at ease when taking our photos! The photos were so beautiful! We are incredible grateful that we went with Devi as our photographer! She took more photos even after she was supposed to be gone! We adore our photo album! Not to mention how professional the highlight reel video was! We are so thankful! We can't wait to book her services for baby photos in a few years :P read more

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I found Devi on yelp. We set up a min session with a group of friend's for our business headshots. She was easy to communicate with and plan prior. There is tons of parking available. During the session she makes it easy to relax and show a natural and relaxed photo. (I have free options at work for photos and they always feel quick, forced and I never like them.) So, this was a worthwhile investment in myself and my brand. Thank you Devi! read more

My photoshoot with Devi was wonderful expereince! I sought Devi out because I needed professional headshots and had been putting it off because I am not fond of getting my picture taken. That all changed with Devi and she put me immediately at ease with her calm, gentle, and friendly presence which allowed me to relaxed the entire time and I also found it fun which was a surprise. I loved the phots that were taken and I feel like she captured exactly the spirit I was hoping for. I would highly recommend Devi for any photography needs anyone may have. Thanks Devi! read more

One of my favorite things we did was how Devi began the shoot. She invited me to hold my hands up into the air and a "power stance", straight away bringing the energy into the photo shoot. Which is exactly what capturing expression is about, ones energy. I absolutely loved working with Devi, her graceful and assertive way of artistic direction, her calm energy, and amazing professionalism. I highly recommend hiring Devi for ANY photo opportunity, and very much look forward to the next time I can take pictures with her. read more

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We feel so fortunate to have hired Devi to take the photos for our July 2023 wedding (and engagement). We cannot imagine a more wonderful find for our destination event. From our first meeting she put us at ease; she was as warm and personable as she was professional. Throughout our entire photo journey, she proved consistent, easy to work with, dependable, and communicative. And talented. Wow, is she talented! DEVI KNOWS WHAT SHE IS DOING! She is fast and efficient with her multiple cameras to get exactly the right shot, the right angle, the right light, the right emotion. She can time a sunset photo shoot to perfection such that you're stunned by the gorgeous yet poignant outcomes. She can capture the fun, the color, and the colorful personalities. We loved her and we loved our photos. Devi went above and beyond to make our event ultra memorable. She snapped all the unique photos we wanted, plus used her creative flare to capture moments we could not have anticipated. She graciously, of her own accord, stayed extra hours to capture it all! We discovered so many favorites in the rolls she shot. The hardest part was trying to choose between them! Devi worked with us in determining the right package and price. What she captured, we cannot put a price on. We are forever grateful for the stunning quality of the photo memories she preserved, and for what she herself added to our wedding experience. Devi is worth every penny and then some. read more

We were so glad to have Devi made take our wedding photos. She met with us in advance to discuss what we wanted, and this made the process relaxed, less intrusive and we got the photos we wanted. She was very professional and made the picture taking before the ceremony easy and fun. The types and quality of the pictures were fabulous and we got exactly what we wanted including lots of fabulous, unposed, candid photos of our friends and family! They will provide a lifetime of lasting memories of that great event! Further, she was even less intrusive than we expected during the event. We highly recommend her! read more

Devi Pride is an incredibly talented professional. She helped me to feel welcome and comfortable the instant we met. I had seen her work on the website of a wellness practitioner and thought to myself, "Those are the clean, classic headshots I've been looking for to promote my business." After a referral, I went to her studio for a session. Devi's direction, posing, and ability to connect with the heart and soul of a client, combined with her finely-tuned technical abilities, result in high-quality photography. I would recommend her to anyone looking for a portrait photographer who is absolutely wonderful to work with, takes the time to listen, and delivers the images that you've been dreaming about. read more

I couldn't have asked for better more professional photographer than Devi Pride. She spent her time planning many of the shots and adding many candid shots. All our friends commented on her cheerful personality and her ability to snap us at the right moment. She is the best. Bob McMurtry read more

It's no surprise that Devi Pride wins Best Portrait Photographer in Santa Cruz year after year. Her mastery shines brightly through every element of the shoot. Devi put me at ease with how kind and genuine she is. She's such a pleasure to spend time with that by the time the shoot was over I wasn't sure I wanted to leave! Devi looks deeply at every detail, both what can be seen, and what can be felt. She wants her clients to feel at ease, to feel relaxed and beautiful. It took me awhile to warm up to the camera, but Devi wouldn't give up until she was confident she'd got her shot. I think it's fair to say that Devi is a perfectionist, and I appreciate the extra time she spent on my shoot making sure we got there. Devi makes you feel beautiful. I think one of her gifts is being able to see the beauty of each individual. She looks REALLY CLOSELY AT YOU, and this can be a bit uncomfortable as she seems to see EVERYTHING. But her gaze is so kind, and so appreciative that somehow, she makes you feel gorgeous and seen. Devi is a master photographer and I'm so grateful for the opportunity to be photographed by her. read more

I was initially so apprehensive when planning my professional headshot session. The thought of spending hours getting my picture taken, and then having to look at the photos, most definitely did not fill with me joy. Until...my first phone call with Devi Pride! She put me at ease immediately, and from then on, I decided to look forward to my session. From a business perspective, she was organized, responsive, and knowledgeable. But even more importantly, when it came to the photo shoot itself, everything about her manner and the preparation instructions she provided made me feel comfortable and confident. Getting my makeup and hair done by Kamryn beforehand, per her suggestion, was an added boost. When working with Devi, I noticed that she is a perfectionist when it comes to the details of the photo (lighting, angle, color, etc.), but that's just her baseline. Her skill really shines through when it comes to the attention she pays to energy and mood. In addition, she was flexible and thoughtful in helping me decide exactly how to take and choose pictures that would best fit their primary purpose on my website. So now it turns out that I am someone who likes having their picture taken! By Devi Pride, anyway. I will definitely be hiring her for any future personal or business photography needs, which is the highest recommendation I can give. read more

Devi did an amazing job of making the photoshoot a lot of fun, and best of all the photos look wonderful! I will definitely use her again in the future. read more

Had my headshot session with Devi yesterday, and cannot say enough good things about her. From the very first interaction when I reached out to her by phone, all the way through to the delivery of the fantastic photos, Devi was an absolute joy to work with! She is the consummate professional- prompt, responsive, committed and thorough...but perhaps most importantly, she was authentic, kind, accommodating, patient, and cared deeply about ensuring I was getting something I loved. She is that rare combination of genuine warmth and superb talent. I was lucky to find her. Thank you, Devi!! Can't wait to schedule more sessions with you in the future! read more

We were so lucky to have Devi as our special day photographer. She was fun, respectful and super easy to work with, extremely professional and friendly. The pictures are absolutely perfect and above and beyond all expectations. They are vivid and have a wonderful vibe only a real artist could sparkle. We recommend Devi to anyone. read more

Devi Pride is a top notch photographer. I had the pleasure of having her take my pregnancy photos, my newborn photos and my professional headshot. She made me (and my family) feel comfortable, and we got gorgeous photos that we will treasure forever. Devi is incredible talented. She pays attention to every detail, including your pose and the lighting. I give Devi my highest recommendation. If you hire her, I promise, you will be happy. An extra added bonus was how fast she shared the prints after the photo session. read more

100% recommend Devi! She is so greta at what she does-- I was so nervous coming into my first professional head shot, and Devi was so great and helped me feel comfortable. She was able to validate me, tune into my preferences and made it an all around fun experience! She was so prompt and responsive, and personable, I would highly recommend to anyone and everyone. read more

I'm on a journey of self-love and decided to do a solo-shoot. I was a little nervous at first but Devi instantly put me at ease. She is not only professional but fun! I was comfortable and laughing and smiling the entire time. Her photos are absolutely gorgeous and helped me see how beautiful I am as well. If you want beautiful photos and more than enjoyable experience Devi is the photographer for you! read more

Devi has a great style - she helped me tremendously with many aspects of my work, not just the photo!

Exceptional photographer, easy to work with, professional, and kind. I highly recommend! We had professional headshots done in a variety of settings and they were just perfect. read more

Devi is my 'go-to' photographer! I have her photograph all of my interior design/remodel projects and just recently hired her for family photos and headshots (something I've never done!), and as much as I admire her work, I guess I just never felt like making the investment for our own family photos, until I was putting photos up in our home and realized the only family photos we have of us all together are selfies - and as our son grows up I realized how much I wanted to capture each stage of life with us as a family together. Devi is a pleasure to work with and her calm and friendly personality makes it easy to relax in front of the camera for natural photos - this is not the 'stuffy, sit still and look super posed' kind of experience, she is a true artist at capturing the environment, the liveliness, and the personality of her subjects in the most flattering way! We will hire her every year for family photos and I will continue working with her for updated work photography as well (interiors and headshots). She really is THE BEST at what she does! read more

An Amazing Photographer Devi is the consummate professional. She did an amazing job taking photos at our wedding and captured the moments that we will treasure for ever. She is kind, flexible, and knows her craft very well. Everyone enjoyed working with her and the photos turned out amazing. I would not hesitate to refer or work with her again in the future. read more

I was looking for a photographer for professional head shots and saw Devi listed on Yelp. I am so glad I went to her! Other than engagement/wedding photos many years ago I had not worked with a professional photographer and Devi put me at ease immediately. She made it fun and took photos both inside and outside her studio against different backdrops. I love the proofs so much (most flattering photos of me that I have ever seen) that I am now scheduling time for my husband and I to go in for a couples portrait. This is a well-deserved 5-stars! read more

Devi Pride Photography - One of several head shots that Devi took just outside her studio. - Session Photography Near Me - Santa Cruz, California

I had gotten referrals to Devi as the best photographer in town for quite some time before I booked a photo shoot with her. I dont feel very comfortable in front of the camera, but Devi's warm, clear, understanding approach, combined with her crisp professionalism and direction made it easy to relax and enjoy the experience. I was surprised and pleased with how much I enjoyed the photo shoot, and definitely pleased with the results. I have had countless compliments on the photos. :) I highly recommend her! read more

I cannot say enough wonderful things about Devi!! We recently had a family photo shoot at the beach with our 1 year old and our fur baby and Devi was amazing. She made my husband and I SO comfortable as we had no idea what the heck we were doing. She was so good with our daughter and really tried hard to get her to smile and laugh, which she was successful at. Devi is so professional but not afraid to have fun. We received the photos back with in a couple of days and we were just amazed. I actually shed a tear looking at some of them. She helped us capture a beautiful time for our family. 10/10 would recommend Devi and I am sure we will be back as well! read more

Devi is the best photographer I've ever seen! She is super hard working and dedicated to her art. She's amazing at posing you and figuring out the best light and angles. She was so sweet and provided a pregnancy dress for me to wear as well as found the most beautiful place in nature to take photos. She is also excellent at editing the photos and provided me with the digitals. She has many options for prints and photo books as well. On top of all that, she is very reasonably priced! She also collaborates with a wonderful face and body paint artist, Brenda Leach. Brenda did a beautiful belly painting for me and then Devi took photos of that as well. I love all of our photos and will treasure them always. I highly recommend Devi to photograph you and your loved ones. She does weddings, maternity photos, newborn photos, family photos, whatever you are looking for~ read more

This was my first professional shoot ever and Devi was an absolute joy to work with! When we began, I was nervous and very concerned with every little thing (my hair, clothes, etc.) but she assured me that if I just relax, things would be okay. She made the entire process fun and she was an absolute pleasure to work with! I live in San Francisco and requested that Devi take photos of me with the Golden Gate Bridge in the background. Unfortunately, the weather wasn't suitable for an outdoor shoot so I drove to her studio in Santa Cruz and she was able to produce beautiful professional portraits just outside her studio. I was very pleased with the product! If you need high quality photographs from a true professional, I HIGHLY RECOMMEND booking with Devi! read more

Devi is just the best. She did my professional head shot years ago. Recently, I was tasked with arranging professional photos for the Real Estate Team I work for and I knew exactly who to call. I knew that I could trust Devi to get the shots that we need. My favorite thing about her photography is she coaches you on exactly what to do through the entire shoot and you can trust the pictures will be great. read more

Devi Pride Photography - Shanne Carvalho Real Estate Team - Session Photography Near Me - Santa Cruz, California

Dear Devi, What an awesome time I had with you taking photos of me. Light-hearted and fun, chatting and laughing, with me loosening up, and all the while you were looking for the good shots. Putting on music made me move and dance, enhancing a sense of freedom and joy. Your technical knowledge is impeccable, but just as important is your very impressive ability to capture the true essence of your subject. I absolutely love the pictures! read more

The number one thing an aspiring actor/model needs is a headshot. I have been shooting all over the east coast and it wasn't until I met Devi, in Santa Cruz, CA, that I found what I was missing. My headshot, the headshot, the one that will stand out in front of a crowded cluster of submissions. First of all, Devi was a pleasure. We instantly connected over curly hair and good lighting. Devi made me feel very comfortable throughout the entire shoot. She felt like my biggest supporter and wanted my photos to be perfect. She even showed me the photos in between changes and continually asked if I liked what I saw. Secondly, the professionalism that Devi empowers is quiet amazing. From pre-shoot, which I received a full length email explaining the proper things to bring and wear to a headshot session to post-shoot where she emailed a link to her professional site in which I was able to select my favorites and ask questions the whole way the entire process was a breeze. Lastly, I would recommend Devi to any one looking for professional grade and high quality images. My final images are everything I wanted them to be. I would totally recommend Devi to anyone and everyone! Thank you Devi!! You rock! read more

Devi Pride photographed our wedding last December, and I feel like I won the lottery by being able to book her. Devi truly has a gift. The photographs are GORGEOUS, and I get nothing but compliments on them. My brother even said, "I've seen a lot of wedding photos, but these are definitely the best I've ever seen!" Devi is such a professional. She insisted on visiting the wedding site beforehand, at the same time the ceremony would take place, so she could see what the lighting conditions would be. Then she went above and beyond to make sure my photos weren't plagued with "dappled light." :) She also scouted out locations in advance for the non-ceremony pictures, once again attentive to lighting conditions, and as a result we have some of the most amazing sunset shots. She's very organized, professional, and a perfectionist, which is exactly what you want when capturing a once-in-a-lifetime moment. And the video she made? A collage of photos set to music... Oh man, I cry every time I watch it. It's a magical memento to have, just beautiful. Once again, I get nothing but compliments on it. Devi Pride gets my highest recommendation -- one of the best photographers I've ever worked with and worth every penny!!! read more

We hired Devi Pride for our wedding on Dec 22nd and she was the consummate professional in every regard. She has an almost six sense for postcard-style snapshots that us mere mortals can't see. She also created a movie-quality wedding video that is worthy of an award. It is extraordinary, for lack of a better word. It is truly a tear-jerker, not only for us, but for any who's watched it. Thank you for your incredible work and making new memories! read more

Working with Devi is an absolute dream. Her technical mastery allows her to really play in her work. Getting photographed is not always comfortable, but working with Devi put me at ease and has honestly helped me wake up to my bad-ass higher self. Seriously, working with Devi is empowering AF! Thank you Devi read more

I've been putting off writing this review because I don't think my words can convey how absolutely wonderful Devi is! She did a family photo shoot for us and the results were so awesome. They far exceeded every expectation we had. (We had so many photos that we loved that we were able to use them for a Christmas card and a Save the Date card for our upcoming wedding. She designed the cards and we received so many compliments on them.) Before the shoot, I told Devi that I wanted to try to minimize my double-chin and my extra weight, so she guided me on how to pose and it was quite easy with her guidance! After checking out her beautiful website, my first contact with her was by phone and I immediately felt at ease with her and just knew she was the right fit for our wedding. I'd phone interviewed other nice photographers, but Devi just has that *extra spark* that made me adore her. She truly cares about the people that she is photographing. She also goes out of her way (many times over) to make sure you are happy. It doesn't seem at all like she goes out of her way just because it's good business; it seems to me like she goes out of her way for you because she's just a really nice, caring person. We bought a wedding package that included an engagement shoot, but Devi had no problem turning it into a family photo shoot, even though I'm sure it was a lot more work for her. My two young step-children immediately hit it off with her -- so much so that they asked if she could come to the wedding! LOL. My fiance is not that expressive, but even he said he was so grateful that we did a family photo shoot. She immediately put everyone at ease and made it an incredibly fun time! Devi, I'm so excited for you to be the one to capture our special moments at our upcoming wedding. You are a truly gifted artist and an extraordinary person!!! read more

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Working with Devi is an absolute dream. Her technical mastery allows her to really play in her work. Getting photographed is not always comfortable, but working with Devi put me at ease and has honestly helped me wake up to my bad-ass higher self. Seriously, working with Devi is empowering AF! Thank you Devi! read more

Devi is an exceptional talent and absolutely wonderful to work with! I hired her to shoot me proposing to my girlfriend and she was so incredibly helpful with scouting locations, providing scouting pics and info, securing the spot and keeping me constantly updated. She went out of her way to ease my stress during planning so that I could enjoy the entire experience. Most importantly, she put her heart and soul into making our day so sweet and special. She absolutely captured magic that day and now we have these precious memories forever. She captured all the important organic moments without my girlfriend knowing, and she is so experienced that afterward she directed us to pose for several creative shots that really made our photo collection a treasure. Her eye for detail and how to work with people and light is amazing. Thank you Devi for everything you did and all the energy and creativity you brought to make this day so special for us. Your are a superb professional and a delightful soul! read more

I asked Devi to do my son's senior pictures and also head shots for his acting portfolio. I had seen Devi's work before and was very impressed with her creativity and technical ability. We were not disappointed! Devi spent several hours with my son with the goal of getting really special pictures and I felt like she really put her heart into it. Needless to say the pictures came out impeccably and I am glad my son selected the ones he wanted because I would not been able to as they all were so good! read more

I worked with Devi to get professional head shots taken. I had previously never worked with a professional photographer before, and Devi made the experience so easy and enjoyable, plus her photographs are amazing. I brought the wrong clothes and was pretty nervous about it all, but she was so supportive. I truly couldn't have had a better experience, she was helpful and receptive throughout the entire process--from the initial scheduling to the final edits--I couldn't have asked for anything more. She's so passionate about her work, and it shows. Devi is a true gem, she goes above and beyond and is genuinely a kind, passionate person to be around. read more

Devi is wonderful, from the beginning of the wedding process to the end! She is professional, calm, caring and knowledgeable. You can really tell that she is passionate about what she does, both video and photo. She really took the time to get to know us and to find out what we were looking for. Her services and pricing are competitive but fair and she worked with us to build a wonderful highlight reel! Devi captured a lot of the key moments I wanted to see and she paid attention to all the small details. She made sure to capture audio as well as video and even had a backup camera. Devi was also very unobtrusive...like a ninja! She did not interrupt anything and was always very sweet and relaxed! Perfect for any wedding! I would recommend her! read more

Us at Interior Vision Flooring & Design only trust Devi with our professional photography and head shots. She makes you feel so relaxed and comfortable. I was so nervous and she got me to relax and have fun with it. She has a unique eye for catching your personality while making sure you look professional. I wish there were 10 stars!! read more