Create with Pa Chia Campaign

Let’s create together.

Crowdfunding $10K to upgrade my camera and studio equipment for years to come. Every pledge supports the tools behind my creative work.

Be Part of What I’m Creating for 2026

Pa Chia showing Le Nguyen her portrait on her camera

Still Photo from Chue Zang Yang. Photo taken during the Missing Voices of the Vietnam War Era: Stories from Southeast Asian Women photoshoot hosted by Coalition of Asian American Leaders (CAAL).

Hello,

My name is Pa Chia Xiong, a portrait photographer based in St. Paul, Minnesota. This past year, photography helped me find my footing again. I grew at my own pace, welcomed new people into my studio, and created a space where I could show up fully as myself. The camera that has supported my work since 2017 has served me well, but it’s reaching its limit.

It’s time for the next chapter.

This campaign is my way of launching a new creative upgrade for 2026. I’m raising funds to invest in a Nikon Z9, new prime lens, and a few essential studio upgrades that will shape the next level of my portrait and design work. These tools will help me work more efficiently, create with intention, and continue serving my community with elevated imagery and storytelling.

My project goal is to reach $10,000 by Sunday, 1st - 11:59 PM CST.

To thank everyone who joins as a backer, I’ve created a set of Pledge Levels that connect directly to my work: portrait sessions, event coverage, media offerings, graphic art prints from pachiaaa.com, and the option to be listed as a Backer in future creative works produced with this new equipment.

I chose the name Create with Pa Chia because I genuinely want you to be part of what comes next. Your pledge brings this project to life. Your support helps me begin 2026 with a reliable camera, a refreshed studio, and the tools I need to keep creating portraits, visuals, and stories that uplift women, culture, and community.

Thank you for being here and believing in what I’m building.

Kindly,
Pa Chia Xiong

The Create with Pa Chia Campaign is independently organized by Pa Chia Xiong Photography. It is not a nonprofit fundraiser, and contributions are not tax-deductible. All funds support business growth, including new photography equipment, studio development, and creative production. By contributing, you’re supporting an independent artist and helping me continue capturing portraits, stories, and projects that celebrate women, culture, and community.

Create with Pa Chia Campaign

Raised: $0 / Goal: $10000

Updated Daily with additional amounts from Venmo and Zelle. Last Updated: 01/26/2025

Support the Campaign.
Receive a Creative Reward.

When you pledge to the Create with Pa Chia Campaign, you receive a creative perk in return. Rewards include portrait sessions, event coverage, fine art prints, and graphic design services.

Every pledge directly supports the next chapter of my work by funding new photography equipment, future projects, and meaningful creative production for 2026 and beyond.

The Create with Pa Chia Campaign begins Tuesday, December 16, 2025 and ends February 1st, 2026 at 11:59 PM CST.

Pledges are fulfilled in the order received starting mid-January 2026.

Explore different perks

Click a Pledge to Learn More

Featured
$2,500 - 8 Hours Event Photography
$1,750 - Portraits with Pa Kou Beauty (10 Retouched Photos)
$1,250 - 4 Hours Event Photography
$600 - Graphic Design Service
$250 - Social Media Capture Hour
$100 - Community Portrait Day Pass (2 Retouched Photos)
$50 - 8x10 Hmong House Design Print
$25 - Creative Supporter

FAQs

  • After pledging, a receipt will be sent to the email address associated with your order. This receipt serves as confirmation of your pledge and selected reward. Please keep it for your records.

    • The Create with Pa Chia Campaign ends on Sunday, February 1st, 2026 at 11:59 PM CST.

    • Pa Chia will begin outreach by Monday, Feb. 2nd, 2026 to start scheduling sessions, coordinating fulfillment, and following up with any questions related to your selected perk.

    All perks and rewards are fulfilled in the order pledges are received. Supporters who pledge earlier will be contacted first for scheduling, redemption, and fulfillment.

  • To ensure fairness and clear planning, all rewards must be redeemed by the deadlines below:

    • Community Portrait Day Pass:
      Must be booked within 1 week after the official Community Portrait Day event

    • Event Photography:
      Must be redeemed by December 20, 2026, unless otherwise stated

    • Graphic Design Services:
      Must be redeemed by November 1, 2026

    • Portraits with Pa Kou Beauty:
      Must be redeemed by October 31, 2026

    • Physical Prints:
      Ship beginning February 2026

    Rewards not redeemed by their stated deadline will be forfeited.

  • (Applies to All Session-Based Rewards)

    All session-based rewards must be booked and redeemed by the stated expiration date listed under each pledge. Supporters are responsible for scheduling their session within the allotted timeframe.

    If a supporter does not book, attend, or redeem their session within the required period — including any provided grace window — the reward will be forfeited. Forfeited rewards cannot be rescheduled, refunded, transferred again, or redeemed for cash or credit.

    Missed sessions, late bookings, or failure to communicate within the required timeframe will result in forfeiture. This policy ensures fairness and allows availability for all supporters.

    This policy applies to all photography, portrait, event, and content-based rewards offered through the Create with Pa Chia Campaign.

  • Supporters are responsible for responding to scheduling and fulfillment communications in a timely manner. Failure to respond within a reasonable timeframe may impact availability or result in forfeiture, as outlined in the Forfeit & Redemption Policy.

  • All contributions made to the Create with Pa Chia Campaign are non-refundable. Contributions support independent creative work and are exchanged for the specific rewards outlined in this campaign.

  • Travel fees apply to all venues located 10+ miles outside ZIP code 55106.

    Events scheduled later than 12:00 AM or located 50+ miles outside ZIP code 55106 may require additional hotel, car rental, or lodging fees.

    Additional equipment fees may apply if required for the scope of the project.

  • Unless otherwise noted, session-based rewards are transferable to another individual. The recipient must meet the session criteria and redeem the reward within the stated timeframe.

    Transferred rewards may not be transferred again.

  • All rewards offered through the Create with Pa Chia Campaign have no cash value. Rewards cannot be exchanged for cash, refunds, or credits, and may not be applied to past services or purchases. Contributions are made in support of this campaign and are redeemable only for the specific rewards outlined above.

Support the Campaign

Join as a Backer

6% Cover the Fee

Preferred Ways to Contribute 

You’re welcome to make your pledge directly on this page or through the payment options below with no additional fees. Once I receive your contribution, I’ll reach out by email to confirm your details, share your backer reward, and personally thank you for supporting this project. I truly appreciate you being part of this next chapter with me.

Venmo: https://venmo.com/u/pachiaaa
Zelle: pachiaaa@gmail.com

  • Please include your contact information with your pledge:
    Full Name
    Email
    Phone Number
    Pledge Level/Reward (or if none)
    Optional Message

pachiaaa venmo link
pachiaaa zelle link

My Story

My Return to Photography

In late 2024, I returned to portrait photography after years of treating it like a side hobby. I was struggling to see myself, my direction, and my career path. So I chose to quiet the noise and refocus on me. I stepped back into photography slowly, with many hesitations, and little by little, I began rebuilding my confidence as an artist.

Finding My Foundation Again

In 2025, something shifted. I began offering new portrait sessions, creating small packages, and capturing events in ways that felt natural to me — portraits, connection, and the moments in between. I welcomed many new faces into my studio, something I didn’t picture myself doing again.

Over time, my studio became a grounded space for creative and personal growth, helping me rebuild my foundation and move toward the direction I’ve been wanting.

Why I Need to Upgrade My Camera

As I took action, I realized my Nikon D810 DSLR could no longer meet the standards I’m reaching for. I bought it in 2017 and have pushed it past its lifespan. It’s slow, less accurate, and unreliable for the portraits and large-scale events I photograph. My biggest concern is that it may stop during a meaningful moment.

Newer mirrorless cameras offer the speed, autofocus, and tools I need now. For larger projects, I’ve had to rent newer systems because I can’t risk missing anything for my clients. Through renting, I saw the difference — and I’m ready for equipment that supports my growth.

And yes… my Nikon doesn’t autofocus in video. It records the sound of the lens trying to focus, which makes small productions nearly impossible. I want to create short, intentional videos that pair with my photographic storytelling.

Create with Pa Chia Campaign

This is why I am launching my Create with Pa Chia Campaign.

I’m inviting supporters and backers to join me in upgrading to a new mirrorless system, so I can keep capturing portraits, stories, and community moments with the quality and intention they deserve. This upgrade is more than new gear — it is an investment in the next chapter of my artistry and the experiences I want to bring to life.

Your pledge helps bring this project to life. It supports a more efficient studio, reliable equipment, and the creative projects I’m building for 2026 and beyond. Each contribution connects directly to the work I create — portraits, event coverage, media work, art prints, and storytelling centered on women, culture, and community.

Thank you for walking with me into this next chapter.

A Future I Want to Create

As I plan for next year, here are a few things I hope to capture with the new equipment over the next two to three years:

  • Tethering for Studio Sessions
    Use live viewing during portrait sessions to guide posing, refine details instantly, and eliminate guesswork for clients.

  • Timeless Portraits of Hmong Women
    Expand my body of work centered on Hmong women and prepare for a future exhibit gallery within the Twin Cities.

  • Photobook Release
    Develop and publish a photobook featuring a yet-to-be-announced theme that reflects my artistic growth and storytelling.

  • Small Documentary Productions
    Create short video documentaries capturing family members and their stories to preserve culture, memory, and connection.

With the creativity and knowledge I’ve built over the years, my goal is to do good and give back through my work. This campaign is one way for me to continue creating with purpose, serving my community, and offering art and photography that uplift others.

Pagnia Xiong

If making a pledge isn’t possible right now, your support in other ways still means so much. Sharing this campaign with a friend, sending a referral, or simply cheering me on helps this project move forward.

Share with Family and Friends! Copy & Share this URL:

www.pachiaxiong.com/createwithpachia

Thank you!

Contact Us

For any other questions and/or comments:
please text/call: (213) 949- 7985
email: pachiaxphotographs@gmail.com