Last Updated on 06/27/2024 by Chris Gampat
Several photographers over the years have been hired via social media. But they all have the same complaint: it’s getting harder for that to happen. So many of them have taken to other platforms to get work. This year, photographers have been finding success on the new VSCO Hub platform — a space that helps brands find professional photographers to create the imagery they need. One of the most fun parts of this are the brand challenges — where the cream rises to the top of the community. And most of all, it’s giving back power to the photographers who deserve it.
This article is brought to you in partnership with VSCO. Lead image by Hunaid Merchant. All images are used with permission.
For our readers’ clarification, we’re talking about photographers here. Not creators — who typically have to create “content” for social media campaigns on their own platform and use play to their followers. Instead, these are folks who actually shoot for a living — meaning that it’s providing them with gainful employment and taxable income.
Images by Natalia Blauth
That’s a whole layer of authenticity that you don’t really see or hear about all that often anymore. If you think we’re speaking about all the big name photographers who’ve been around for longer than we’ve been alive, you’re mistaken.
Lots of them have been getting to the new VSCO Hub: a place for freelance photographers to find gigs, connect, and get hired. VSCO connects photographers with brands and even finds fun collaborations through various brand challenges for its members.
And before we even get into the great VSCO Hub, we’d be remiss to not speak to the authenticity that the platform held even before the latest feature. For that, we should start with Natalia Blauth. “I’ve been discovered by a stock image website recruiter on VSCO, and been working with them for more than a year now,” she tells the Phoblographer about her gainful relationship. “I can say it changed my life.” Natalia was into photography since she was a young child and was surrounded by a family that supported her love of photography — even in school.
What helps make her so unique is the fact that she’s really into real moments. “…when we see a photo that was actually shot, being film or digital, we know that that moment existed, for real, tangibly,” she explains. “It’s a personal memory, it has a before-click and an after-click. Just as a movie ‘based on a true story’ has a different impact on the viewer, a real shot has a sense of realness that AI will never be able to deliver to us.” And she translates this philosophy into her images so well.
Images by Hunaid Merchant.
Photographer Hunaid Merchant was licensed by Gymshark — a brand making athletic and athleisure wear. Some brands are using Generative AI to make their photos while cutting out the human aspect of the marketing asset. But Hunaid brings it to his work with what he feels is a deep sense of emotion. It starts with how he’s holding the camera, composing the shot, etc. If he’s not feeling the shot, then he won’t take it — and he attributes part of this to his introverted personality.
“It’s not just about vision; it’s my heart that guides me to capture the decisive moment,” Hunaid tells the Phoblographer. “This realization led me to understand that capturing human emotion is far more satisfying than photographing landscapes. I became an observer, documenting the human drama around me.” He continues to state that when he recognizes the decisive moment, he just knows it. This is something that sets him apart so much from Generative AI — and it’s a big reason why he was deservedly chosen by Gymshark.
“…real art comes from within, without any fixed method. Epiphanies occur when you’re ready, and this human element is something AI or a prompter can never achieve.”
Hunaid Merchant
Hunaid started out with watercolor paintings while growing up in India and experimented with mixed media as he got older. But he faced challenges when it came to making a living from his art. “Making a living from art is challenging, especially in the early years, and coming from a background where practical career choices are prioritized made it even harder,” he tells the Phoblographer. But with time, he moved to the Bay Area and picked up photography — all with a creative vision stemming from watercolors.
“Taking a photo and eagerly waiting for the prints felt like receiving a gift,” he explains. “I fell in love with photography, and the more I practiced, the more I understood that my skills needed constant improvement to match my vision. This challenge kept my interest in the medium alive till today.”
Images by Marius Indrei.
Of course, other photographers embody the cream that rises to the top, such as Marius Indrei. Marius is the winner of a VSCO brand challenge that awarded him a license from Labrada — a nutrition company. His winning photo, like Hunaid’s, focused on fitness and the great outdoors. So for the challenge, Marius tapped into his affinity for stuff like hiking, camping, kayaking, fishing, etc.
“Photography allowed me to capture the moments, experiences, and incredible places I visited, helping me remember them and share them with others,” Marius tells the Phoblographer. “I believe that every photo I take carries a piece of me, reflecting my unique perspective, emotions, and experiences. It’s this personal connection and the ability to convey genuine human experiences that make my work irreplaceable by AI.”