Through VSCO Spaces I’ve met a bunch of great creatives and photographers. Some of them have become my friends on a professional level.
Daria Epiphanova is an illustrator by trade and a photographer by compulsion. She picked up a camera not to build a following, but to freeze the beauty other people walk past. When she joined VSCO in 2022, she was looking for a quieter alternative to Instagram, a place where the work could speak without the noise. What she found through VSCO Spaces was something she hadn't expected: a community that pulled her into film photography, still life, and eventually a photowalk through Paris.
We sat down with Daria to talk about how a space dedicated to staircases changed the way she sees, why she vets every contributor before adding them, and what it means when an online creative community becomes a real one.
1) How long have you been on VSCO, and how did you first discover it?
I’ve been on VSCO exactly for 4 years now.
It was interesting, I had been looking for a place where actually I could share my photo “diary,” to share my passion for photography.
I never considered, for example, Instagram as the right place. To me it was rather congested and not about creativity. And then I came across VSCO on App Store.
Of course, I’ve heard of VSCO before, especially according to the famous post-processing presets. So I decided to try a little bit more than just presets. It was the beginning of my journey.
2. Why is photography so important to you?
I do not consider myself as “professional” photographer, but it is not my hobby either. It is more. It is one of the ways I can express the way I see world. I deeply love it.
My main occupation is drawing. The fact that photography is my passion lets me feel more free and more experimental.
For me photography is the fastest way I can catch the beauty I see around me, that other people might not see, and freeze it for eternity.
3. How did you first learn about VSCO Spaces? What was the first space you joined and why did you join it?
I think one of the first spaces I joined was probably infra-red by Luisa or Take a Seat by Brian. I cannot say precisely.
It was the time when only 20 people could join. I think the first space I’ve ever joined was “Black and White photography” and “Doors and Windows.” I joined because I got the invitation link from the owners, Jason and Andrey. I was curious.
I immediately understood that I needed to create my own space, my head was full of ideas. So inspiring.
4. What was the first space you created and why did you create it?
The first space I created was Stairs. Secluded Corners. All sorts. I thought, I had so many pictures of stairs, and stairs going somewhere, like, a secret nook or a beautiful garden. They can take any shape, form, length, material. The stairs made in snow, or cut in the mud, or made by the roots of trees, tiny stairs in the middle of the road, leading nowhere.
Fascinating, isn’t it? It’s an object by itself. When I sent the invitations to some of the creators I knew on VSCO, and when they started sharing their own pictures, I was stunned.
The stairs from all over the world, all different, impressive, tiny, majestic, funny, giant, Lilliputian, fake, ancient now were united! It was beautiful.
5. Your spaces are some of the most engaged on VSCO. What do you think makes them special?
I could only guess, that it is probably an idea I put in each of my spaces. The idea echoes in people, it inspires them, and this is my goal.
Also, for me is important to maintain a friendly and amiable environment. As a curator, I always go through the profiles of people (briefly of course) before adding them.
For some spaces such as “Photographed. Developed. Published!” it is crucial. I also believe that it’s important to breathe life into spaces, to keep it up to date and alive.
The idea echoes in people, it inspires them, and this is my goal.
6. How does VSCO Spaces help fuel your own creative inspiration?
It is a huge source of inspiration. It changes the angle abruptly. It refocuses attention, inspiring you to see things in everyday life that you haven’t seen before. It is like a new filter in front of your eyes, through which a new reality unfolds.
In general it boosted my creativity greatly. When I created my space Naturemorte, I could not imagine that it would lead my photography journey to exploring the still life genre so much.
7. Are there any personal anecdotes you have about VSCO Spaces? Any special connections, moments, relationships, or instances where something about them changed your perspective on photography and the creative process?
Through VSCO Spaces I’ve met a bunch of great creatives and photographers. Some of them have become my friends on a professional level.
I’d say because of this I’ve developed even more interest for film photography. We’ve discussed a lot cameras, film stocks, and it was somehow natural to keep going in this direction in real life.
I’d say it has changed my perspectives too, and I turned into analogue photography more than before. And all this because of Spaces and the great connections along the way. You meet artists from all over the world, it is fascinating.
8. Have you ever connected with anyone from your spaces in real life?
In 2024 we managed to arrange a photo walk in Paris with John Jase and some of our colleagues from VSCO. Everyone brought camera, we walked for a couple of hours and took pictures, talked.
It was an unforgettable experience. I’d love to do it again.
Explore VSCO Spaces
Join Daria and a global network of photographers with VSCO Spaces. See how new perspectives sharpen your eye, honest feedback moves your craft forward, and connection opens the door to creative growth.
It is a huge source of inspiration. It changes the angle abruptly. It refocuses attention, inspiring you to see things in everyday life that you haven’t seen before. It is like a new filter in front of your eyes, through which a new reality unfolds.
