A few weeks back, we stumbled upon an Instagram Reel by photographer José Ramos. The video kicked off with the words "10 years" in big, bold letters, and then it took me on a journey through one photo from each of those years.

"Wow, a decade of photoshoots—that's a whole lot of snapping," I thought. Naturally, I couldn’t resist asking him if he'd share some of his stories with me!

(Versión en español abajo ⬇️)

An unexpected start

When you see the stunning quality of his portraits, you'd probably think José had always set his sights on being a model photographer. But, surprise! His photography journey started unexpectedly randomly.

“I got my first camera for the usual stuff—travel photos, random snapshots, you know the drill,” José laughs. He shared his shots on social media, and before long, a friend who just happened to be very photogenic asked him to take some pics of her. “I wasn’t exactly thrilled with how they turned out,” he admits, chuckling. It took him a while to give it another shot with a different friend. But, despite the slow start, people began to notice his work. More friends wanted in, word spread like wildfire, and soon José was a hot commodity on social media. What started as a casual hobby quickly morphed into almost exclusively model photography.

All that glitters is not gold

Lots of people will look at José’s photos and be like “damn, that guy is living the life, hanging out with cute girls all the time!” But, when I asked José what he enjoys the least about model photography, it turned out that the biggest frustration often comes from exactly those ‘cute girls’.

“Sometimes, the lack of professionalism can be a real pain,” he shared. “You get these DMs from girls saying they’re super excited to shoot with you, but when it comes to discussing styling and prep, they just want to wing it on the day or, worse, they cancel at the last minute.”

And then there's the filter obsession. “It’s crazy. Some girls have used filters so much that they hardly recognize themselves without them,” José says. For him, the goal is to capture the natural beauty of his subjects, no artificial tweaks needed.

Working with beautiful models

So, how does José stay professional while working with attractive models? “It’s like second nature,” he says. When he’s shooting, he’s so wrapped up in the technical stuff—lighting, camera settings, poses, outfits—that there’s no time for distractions. Plus, he’s all about creating a chill vibe where the model feels at ease. He even suggests they bring someone they trust to the shoot. “Just offering that as an option helps the girls relax. Even if they end up coming solo, it puts them at ease.”

When I asked him how he chooses who to work with, José said he prefers girls who look natural, have unique features, and are comfortable in their own skin. He’s especially excited by “discovering” new talent—models who aren’t super well-known but have that certain spark. There’s nothing quite like watching a model with just a handful of followers suddenly take off after working with him.

When your work is good, it speaks for itself

So, has José ever thought about ditching model photography altogether? “Not completely,” he admits. He still gets a kick out of it, but he’s been toying with the idea of scaling back on the number of shoots. Why? Because he's all about quality over quantity. For José, it’s not about racking up likes. “I don’t think likes really capture the value of our work,” he says. He’s more interested in genuine feedback—comments, constructive criticism, the stuff that actually helps him grow as a photographer—than in how many double-taps a photo gets.

And since we were on the topic of Instagram, I just had to ask why he never shows his face on social media. His answer? “I mainly use Instagram to showcase my work,” he says. While he totally respects people who mix their personal and professional lives on their profiles, that’s not his style. José prefers to keep a clear line between the two. His social media presence is all about photography, nothing more, nothing less.

In fact, for José, keeping that boundary is key. It allows him to focus entirely on his craft without the distractions that come with self-promotion. He likes the idea that people are following him for his work, not for glimpses into his personal life. That way, he can stay true to his art and let the photos do the talking.

Gear and editing

José’s photography style has definitely evolved over the years, especially when it comes to editing. Even though he’s been using the same tools since 2016, his experience has sharpened his eye for detail. “I’ve gotten better at interpreting that editing style,” he explains. And like any creative, he sometimes looks back at his earlier work and cringes a bit, but he knows that’s just part of the growth process. Those old photos might make him wince now, but they’re a reminder of how far he’s come and how much he’s learned along the way.

When it comes to gear, José likes to keep things old-school. “I’m kind of stuck in the past with my editing software,” he jokes, admitting that he’s still rocking Photoshop CC2017. His camera of choice? The Sony A7R III, paired with his favorite lens, the 85mm f1.4 G-Master. He also keeps a 55mm f1.8 from Zeiss and a 35mm f1.4 in his bag, though that last one doesn’t get much play. As for flashes, he’s got a Godox V1, but it mostly just hangs out in his kit. He doesn’t use it much.

Lessons learnt and still to be learnt

José admits there are still areas he’s working on, like getting better with artificial lighting. But here’s the thing: he’s not one to compare himself to others. “We each have our own style,” he says. Instead of getting caught up in competition, he prefers to learn from others and appreciate their unique approaches.

If he could hop in a time machine and give his younger self some advice from ten years ago? “I should have learned to shoot and edit videos earlier,” he says, not missing a beat. With video content becoming so huge, he wishes he’d mastered that skill sooner. But hey, as he says with a laugh, “It’s not too late!” He’s got plenty of time to catch up and dive into the world of video.

Over the past ten years, José has worked with so many models that even he himself has lost track, so we couldn’t resist asking him for some advice for girls who are just starting as a model in his style of photography. His top tips? Always ask for references from other models who’ve worked with the photographer, bring someone with you if you’re unsure, and make sure to discuss all the shoot details —like outfits and style— beforehand to dodge any awkward surprises.

I had to ask about the ‘84’

And what’s the deal with the “84” in his profile name? It turns out it’s a shoutout to his birth year, 1984. He started using it way before he got into photography, whether it was signing things or putting it on sports jerseys. When it was time to create his social media profiles, he figured he’d start his handle with “84” instead of with “José” since that would be too common. People would find him much more easily by typing in the number first. Smart move!

After chatting with José Ramos, it’s clear to me that he’s a photographer who mixes old-school techniques with a modern, thoughtful approach. Whether he’s sticking to his trusty gear or capturing the natural beauty of his subjects, José’s dedication to his craft shines through in everything he does.

Things to remember

1. Roll with the Unexpected

José’s journey proves that sometimes the best career paths pop up out of nowhere. What started as a fun side gig turned into a full-on model photography career. The takeaway? Keep an open mind and let your passions lead you to surprising opportunities.

2. Go for Quality, Not Just Likes

José’s all about focusing on what really matters—creating great work rather than just chasing numbers. By valuing honest feedback and honing his craft, he’s kept his photography top-notch and evolved as an artist. So, remember: depth and quality beat superficial stats any day.

3. Stay Professional and Real

José’s knack for keeping things professional while staying true to himself is a game-changer. He keeps his personal and professional lives separate, focusing on authentic, high-quality work. This shows us that staying genuine and professional is key to long-term success.

Thanks for the great conversation, José! Here’s to another decade of amazing photos and unforgettable moments! I can’t wait to see what you’ll create next!

With lots of love,

Arnold ✌🏻

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Una década siendo “84joseramos”: la historia de un alma old school con ojo para la belleza natural

Hace unas semanas me encontré con un Reel en Instagram del fotógrafo José Ramos. El video empezaba con las palabras “10 years” en grande y, a partir de ahí, me llevó en un viaje a través de una foto de cada uno de esos años.

“Guau, una década de sesiones… eso es muchísimo,” pensé. Y, por supuesto, no pude resistirme a pedirle que compartiera conmigo parte de esa historia.

Un comienzo inesperado

Cuando ves la increíble calidad de sus retratos, probablemente pensarías que José siempre tuvo claro que quería dedicarse a la fotografía de modelos. Pero sorpresa: su camino empezó de una forma bastante aleatoria.

“Me compré mi primera cámara para lo típico: viajes, fotos sueltas, ya sabes,” se ríe José. Subía sus fotos a redes sociales y, al poco tiempo, una amiga muy fotogénica le pidió que le hiciera unas fotos. “Y no quedé nada contento con el resultado,” admite entre risas. Pasó un tiempo antes de que volviera a intentarlo con otra amiga. Pero, a pesar del arranque lento, la gente empezó a fijarse en su trabajo. Más amigos querían fotos, el boca a boca se disparó y pronto José se volvió muy solicitado en redes. Lo que empezó como un hobby terminó convirtiéndose casi por completo en fotografía de modelos.

No todo lo que brilla es oro

Muchísima gente mira el trabajo de José y piensa: “qué vida, rodeado de chicas guapas todo el tiempo.” Pero cuando le pregunté qué es lo que menos disfruta de la fotografía de modelos, descubrí que muchas frustraciones vienen precisamente de esas chicas guapas.

“Muchas veces la falta de profesionalidad puede ser bastante complicada,” me contó. “Te escriben súper emocionadas diciendo que tienen mil ganas de hacer fotos, pero cuando llega el momento de hablar de estilismo o preparación, quieren improvisar todo en el momento o, peor, cancelan a última hora.”

Y luego está la obsesión con los filtros. “Es una locura. Algunas chicas han usado tantos filtros que casi no se reconocen sin ellos,” dice José. Para él, el objetivo es capturar la belleza natural. Sin retoques artificiales. Sin máscaras digitales.

Trabajar con modelos atractivas sin perder la cabeza

Entonces, ¿cómo consigue mantenerse profesional trabajando con chicas tan atractivas? “Ya es algo automático,” dice. Cuando está fotografiando, su mente está completamente ocupada con la luz, configuración, poses, composición y estética. No hay espacio para distracciones.

Además, le gusta crear un ambiente tranquilo y seguro. Incluso les sugiere que, si quieren, lleven a alguien de confianza. “Solo ofrecer esa opción ya las relaja. Aunque luego vengan solas, se sienten más tranquilas.”

A la hora de elegir con quién trabajar, José busca chicas que parezcan naturales, con rasgos únicos y seguras de sí mismas. Le emociona especialmente “descubrir” talento nuevo. No hay nada como ver a una modelo con pocos seguidores despegar después de trabajar contigo.

Cuando tu trabajo es bueno, habla por sí solo

¿Ha pensado alguna vez en dejar la fotografía de modelos? “No del todo,” admite. Le sigue encantando, pero está valorando hacer menos sesiones y centrarse más en la calidad que en la cantidad. Para él, no se trata de acumular likes.

“No creo que los likes reflejen realmente el valor de nuestro trabajo,” dice. Le interesa mucho más el feedback real: comentarios, críticas constructivas, cosas que realmente le ayuden a crecer.

Y ya que hablábamos de Instagram, tenía que preguntarle por qué nunca muestra su cara. Su respuesta fue clara.

“Uso Instagram principalmente para mostrar mi trabajo,” comenta. Respeta totalmente a quien mezcla vida personal y profesional, pero no es su estilo. Prefiere que su perfil sea fotografía y nada más. Para él, marcar esa separación es clave. Le permite centrarse en su arte sin distracciones y le gusta saber que la gente lo sigue por sus fotos, no por su vida privada.

Equipo y edición

El estilo fotográfico de José ha evolucionado mucho, sobre todo en la edición. Aunque usa prácticamente las mismas herramientas desde 2016, la experiencia le ha dado un ojo mucho más fino. “Ahora entiendo mejor mi propio estilo,” explica. Como cualquier creativo, a veces mira sus trabajos antiguos y sufre un poco, pero sabe que eso forma parte del crecimiento. Es un recordatorio del camino recorrido.

En cuanto a equipo, José es bastante old school. “Estoy un poco anclado en el pasado con el software,” bromea. Todavía usa Photoshop CC2017. Su cámara: la Sony A7R III. Su lente favorita: la 85mm f1.4 G-Master. También tiene un 55mm 1.8 y un 35mm 1.4, aunque este último casi no lo usa. Y aunque tiene flash, casi nunca lo utiliza. La luz natural es su verdadero amor.

Lecciones aprendidas y las que aún están por llegar

José reconoce que todavía tiene cosas que mejorar, como el uso de iluminación artificial. Pero algo que me encanta es que no se compara con otros fotógrafos.

“Cada uno tiene su estilo,” dice. Prefiere aprender de otros en lugar de competir.

Si pudiera volver atrás diez años, se diría a sí mismo una cosa clara: debería haber aprendido vídeo antes. Con lo importante que es hoy, le habría gustado dominarlo antes. Pero se ríe y dice: “Nunca es tarde.”

Después de trabajar con tantas modelos que ya ni recuerda el número, también quiso dar un consejo a las chicas que empiezan. Pregunta siempre por referencias, lleva a alguien si no estás segura, y habla bien todos los detalles antes de la sesión. Eso evita sorpresas incómodas.

Tenía que preguntar por el “84”

¿Y qué pasa con ese famoso 84 de su nombre? Simple. Es su año de nacimiento, 1984. Lo llevaba usando desde antes incluso de ser fotógrafo. Estaba en firmas, camisetas, cuentas… Cuando creó su perfil, pensó que era mejor empezar con el número que con “José”, que sería demasiado común. Mucho más fácil de encontrar. Y sinceramente, brillante decisión.

Cosas que recordar

1️⃣ Fluye con lo inesperado
El camino de José demuestra que las mejores oportunidades llegan sin planearlas. Lo que empezó como algo casual terminó siendo una carrera completa.

2️⃣ Calidad antes que likes
Él apuesta por lo que realmente importa. Buen trabajo, crecimiento real, feedback honesto. Profundidad antes que números.

3️⃣ Sé profesional y auténtico
Su forma de separar vida personal y profesional le permite ser constante, respetuoso y fiel a su esencia. Y eso se nota.

Gracias por la gran charla, José. Por otra década más de fotos increíbles y momentos inolvidables. Estoy deseando ver todo lo que crearás a partir de ahora.

Con mucho cariño,