“I never made a site in my life because personally, I think it was too complicated and driving traffic to your page would take years,” says photographer Alvaro Gil to the Phoblographer in an interview. “But when I saw VSCO Sites, I was so excited that I had all my work on VSCO, and with just one click, you can create a webpage portfolio with your images and create galleries.” This helped Alvaro overcome one of a photographer’s biggest fears: making a website. Now, clients can browse through his projects and embrace the minimalist pages that he calls, “aesthetic.”
All images by Alvaro Gil. Used with permission. This article is presented in partnership with VSCO.
Alvaro experienced love at first sight with photography when he was 14 years old. His first camera? The iPod Touch 2nd generation. He grew obsessed with taking pictures of all the things he did in his daily life. “Professionally, I started in my first year of university when I bought a Canon Rebel T6, and curiously, my photos of the beginning of my photography journey are one the oldest pictures on my VSCO Profile.
These days, he uses an Osmo Pocket 3, a Sony camera, and a few different lens filters like the Black Mist. It brings him a lot of joy — especially when he’s visiting another country. Like a child on a playground, he finds himself taking photos of everything.
I feel connected spiritually through nostalgia and melancholy. Personally I try to put something of it in the pictures I take, I really love when I get to transmit those emotions or states of memories to people. I always try to play with nighttime scenarios or with lights during daytime to achieve those results!
Alvaro Gil
Alvaro started, like many other photographers these days, on social media. But he was always afraid to make a website. However, the new VSCO Sites provided the perfect option for him. VSCO Sites integrates with his profile and uses galleries, blogs, and the latest photos he’s uploaded to make a professional-looking website. Alvaro has stuck with them for so long because he feels that they’ve always been true to themselves. He describes VSCO as, “…a photo driven app where you can edit, upload and find inspo from others! And what I love the most is that you can get opportunities like this interview! Alvaro continues to state that the community feels listened to and treated like humans.
VSCO is still a platform Alvaro uses for inspiration and editing. He works as a freelancer and is often paid to do portrait photoshoots. “…almost everything is product placement on people, and also I work on architecture projects,” he tells us.
Alvaro is also huge on being what we call a “human photographer.” That’s to say that his work can’t be easily duplicated by generative AI. In fact, he barely even does any editing. “Personally, I don’t like AI images because they alter reality or it can create false expectations for photographers, but if used correctly, it can be a great tool for creating something you have on your mind and recreate it on a real-life photoshoot.” But still, most of his inspiration comes from VSCO.
When I also find most joy is when I plan with friends a photoshoot and I have to choose the spot, the lighting and create a moodboard, the process is as exciting as taking the picture.
Alvaro Gil