Portland Pin-Ups, Portland

When not re-creating classic poses, Portland Pin-Ups's owner and resident photographer Mike Long travels the world, but it's no vacation: he spends his international journeys teaching other up-and-coming shooters the photography techniques that have come to define his career. His experience now stretches more than 20 years and began with retouching other photographers' work—some clients include Apple and Adidas—long before the invention of Photoshop or smiling. It was a serendipitous learning experience for Mike, who took to heart the many ways mistakes could be avoided during shooting, leading him to discover his own passion for photography.

Mike's career continues to prosper with every shoot at his intimate Portland Pin-Ups studio. Here, he helps customers select poses that flatter their figures, then accents images with vintage patinas and backgrounds such as a beach, a World War II airplane, or a train station. Subjects can also choose to amp up their looks with help from resident stylist and makeup artist Hollie Olsen, who draws from her performance-art background to help bring a photo session's story to life.