About the Artist

A MESSAGE FROM A HUMAN ANGEL, “This is your job”

A Magician delivered God’s message to me, and it changed everything…

Much like you, life has handed me a lot of sour lemons. The road I have walked, filled with curveballs, has been exhausting and has, on a few occasions, brought me to my knees. Praying was really the only thing I knew how to do anymore. Fear is crippling, and keeping what you have (no matter how unhappy you are) is “safe,” and I kept my life “safe” for a long time. It was on a drive to an indoor water park with my young children and now ex-husband that I looked out the window at the snow on the mountains and I prayed. I prayed for the entire 2-hour drive. The walls were closing in, everything was falling apart to say the least, and I just hung on to safety for dear life. “Dear God,” I would say in my head, “show me a sign, any sign, that if I leave my job that is destroying me and start a photography business that I will be OK, that my children will be OK. God, just show me a sign—I just need to make enough just to support myself—please, just a sign,” and the 2-hour drive came to an end.

Arriving at the indoor water park in January of 2006 with my 6-year-old son and 4-year-old daughter was joyful for them and chaotic for me. As we strong mothers do, I smiled and was happy they were happy. They quickly changed into their suits and off to the slides we went. On the way there they saw a sign… “Captain Magic! 6pm” — “Mommy, mommy can we go???”

At 5:45pm, when I could finally get them out of the water, I rushed them back to the room into dry clothing, their hair still smelling like chlorine and matted down… We got to the magic room a bit late and had to sit in the far back of the room. The show—presented by Captain Magic himself—was a huge hit with the kids… yet I just remember looking and feeling so empty. So many happy families and people—I just didn’t feel anymore and held everything in as much as I could. I wasn’t happy. I felt like a failure in every sense and was in a toxic relationship. Life was pretty hard, emotionally painful, and I did not talk about it to anyone—ever. I never aired dirty laundry in public. I had to be strong.

Towards the end of the show, Capt. Magic needed a volunteer for his very last act. My daughter had been trying to partake, but we were so far in the back she never got picked… but this time she was not taking no for an answer. As he called for one last child to come up, she climbed on top of a chair and jumped up and down screaming, “Pick me! Pick me!”—and he did, and she beamed!

She proudly walked up in front of over 100 people where he welcomed her and said that he would be levitating her for his last act. She was so proud. And then he said something terrifying. He said, “Where is this child’s mother?” What??? No. I was not part of this, no way. My hair was matted and smelled like chlorine, I was 50 lbs overweight, sad, and embarrassed. He asked again. I cringed. He asked once again, and I slowly, holding back tears, made my way up to the front. I wanted to hide. I wanted to cry. It took everything I had that day.

He greeted me, turned his back to me, fumbling through a bag that I could not see… my daughter laying on the levitation table. He finally found what he had been searching for and held it with two hands, covering the item so I could not see what it was—and he said: “Give me your hands.” As I reached out with my hands, he placed the “item” in my hand. He stared at me in the eyes so intentionally… his eyes were blue and soothing, and they were filled with purpose. And as he looked at me, he placed the item in my hand and he said, “This is your job,” and he placed a camera in my hand! I will never forget that moment ever in my life. It was a turning point. It was God’s message from a human angel He put in my life. Nothing has ever been the same since. It was the little bit of fuel I needed to light a fire so big and hot that it has changed my entire life. So this is the most important picture I have ever taken. It is framed on my desk. It’s a Polaroid of Captain Magic levitating my daughter that day—the day that God sent me a human angel and a sign to light my torch.

Maria Sampaio, M. Artist, M. Photog., Cr., CPP

Watch a quick video of the artist telling this story here: MY STORY

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Maria Sampaio, Founder & Master Artist

Maria Sampaio is an award-winning Master Artist, Master Photographer, and Photographic Craftsman with more than 22 years of experience creating fine art portraiture. Known for her passion for storytelling and preserving family legacies, Maria has dedicated her career to creating artwork that celebrates love, connection, and the moments that matter most.

Before relocating to Charleston, South Carolina, Maria owned and operated a highly successful portrait studio in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania for more than a decade. In pursuit of a lifelong dream—and a desire to never shovel snow again—she sold her studio and moved south to begin a new chapter. There, she founded Castelo Portrait Art, naming the studio in honor of her late father, whose middle name was Castelo.

"Although my father didn't know the first thing about art, he and my mother were always my biggest supporters," Maria says. "I miss him terribly, so naming the studio after him felt right. Seeing his name on the front of the building every day fills me with pride."

Maria believes that life moves quickly and can change in an instant. Her work is driven by a deep desire to help families preserve the people, relationships, and memories they cherish most. Through her mastery of composition, lighting, posing, color harmony, and portrait artistry, she creates timeless heirlooms designed to be passed from one generation to the next.

While Maria loves all forms of portraiture, her greatest passion is painted portrait art. Each piece is carefully crafted by hand, with meticulous attention to detail, transforming treasured moments into artwork that families will display and cherish for generations. She is also known for her whimsical children's portraits, celebrating imagination, wonder, and the magic of childhood.

In 2023, after more than two decades behind the camera, Maria officially retired from photographing clients on a regular basis. Today, she focuses her energy on leading Castelo Portrait Art, mentoring artists, and continuing to elevate the client experience. She has personally trained and developed the talented team of artists at Castelo, ensuring every client receives the same level of artistry, care, and attention to detail that built her reputation.

Although retired from daily photography, Maria remains actively involved in the creation of many of the studio's most treasured pieces through her portrait painting. Her true passion has always been transforming photographs into handcrafted painted portraits, carefully refining each piece to create a timeless work of art. While she only photographs clients on special occasions and select projects, Maria continues to bring her artistic vision to life through the painted portraits that have become her signature legacy.

Beyond her work at the studio, Maria is an active member of the Professional Photographers of America and travels throughout the country teaching and mentoring fellow artists. Her passion for education and excellence has inspired countless photographers to elevate their craft and embrace the art of portraiture.

Charleston brought Maria more than just a new business—it also brought her greatest love. In 2020, she married what she affectionately calls "the most amazing man on earth," her "Sergeant," who retired from the United States Army after 21 years of service. Together they share a deep love of family, adventure, and making the most of every moment life offers.

Today, Maria leads an extraordinary team of artists who share her vision of creating meaningful, timeless portraiture. Together, they continue her mission of helping families celebrate their history, preserve their legacy, and remember the people they love most. For Maria, portraiture has never been about photographs—it has always been about people, love, and creating artwork that becomes more valuable with every passing year.

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Maria has been a member of PPA (Professional Photographers of America) throughout her career and has received multiple awards for her work.

She has been awarded the degrees of Photographic Craftsman, Master of Photography, and finally, the degree of Master Artist. Her work has been published in multiple books and many of her images became a part of the PPA Loan collection.

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