Dasha Butler on Nostalgic Photo Editing

“I'm chasing that nostalgic, memory-like feeling. I think people gravitate towards it for the same reason, as it doesn't try to pretend to be something it isn't.”

Dasha Butler doesn't chase aesthetics. She chases the soft imprecision of memory and the quality that makes an image feel like it's already in the past.

That distinction shapes everything about how she uses VSCO Recipes. Not from a single image in one sitting, but across multiple photos over multiple sessions. She returns to a recipe after a day or two with fresh eyes, adjusting until the emotional tone is right, then carrying it across a full shoot so the images feel like they came from the same moment in time.

Based in the UK and working across hospitality, travel, and lifestyle, Dasha shoots in the space between candid and staged. She's drawn to images that evoke curiosity rather than simply document. In this conversation, she talks through how building recipes changed what she notices when she's shooting, how she thinks about phases in her creative practice, and what it feels like to return to an old recipe.

1. What was the first recipe you created? Why did you create it and how did it inspire your creativity?

I believe I made my first VSCO recipe was when the feature was first introduced. I was in high school and didn't have enough of an understanding of editing, so I would often find myself picking a pre-existing recipe and making my own tweaks, which probably involved cranking up the saturation slider.

I found that this inspired my creativity as I began to lean towards real lifestyle photography instead of staging things and holding them up in front of the camera. I started photographing more candidly and found myself seeking out vibrant places, plants, and people.

2. What has been your most popular one to date / why do you think people gravitate to it?

I think my most popular recipe to date is probably “Memory”. I consider it a gentle blend between digital and film.

Film carries a particular kind of nostalgia that can't easily be replicated through digital means, which is why I don't try to pass off my images as film or directly replicate it.

Instead, I'm chasing that nostalgic, memory-like feeling. I think people gravitate towards it for the same reason, as it doesn't try to pretend to be something it isn't. It focuses more on encapsulating a feeling.

Choosing a personal favorite recipe is difficult because every few months I tend to have a new one, usually the most recent creation. At the moment, my favorite is one I call “Amulet”, as it adds a warm touch to everything I apply it to.

3. How often are you creating recipes? What do they help you accomplish in your creative practice?

I tend to go through phases when creating recipes. My creative process and style are constantly evolving, and I move through phases in the same way I might repetitively listen to a good song or eat the same meals. I often stick to the most recent recipe I've created, and then suddenly one day I'll try something new, which quickly becomes my next obsession.

My recipe development process heavily involves working with multiple photos, often up to a dozen images for a single recipe. I rarely sit down and create a recipe based on just one image from start to finish. It usually takes multiple sittings to avoid becoming blind to my own colour choices.

I prefer to create recipes that can be applied consistently across different images, shoots, and locations. Of course, minor adjustments are sometimes necessary, but I typically begin building a recipe based on a specific destination or shoot. I find this creates a strong sense of cohesion between images, so that when they are displayed together, they form a collection that both I and my audience can recognise and connect with.

One of the most interesting aspects of working in phases is that it creates a kind of time capsule. When I return to a recipe I haven't used in a while, it brings back a sense of nostalgia, similar to wearing a perfume from a specific period in your life. Suddenly, memories and emotions come rushing back.

“When I return to a recipe I haven't used in a while, it brings back a sense of nostalgia...Suddenly, memories and emotions come rushing back.”

4. Have recipes made you think differently about photography and the creative process? Have they inspired any new ideas?

Recipes have definitely changed the way I think when I'm shooting. I used to avoid harsh shadows because they felt too dramatic and overwhelming. Recently, however, I've started to embrace them by transforming them into softer, crushed, and slightly faded tones, often adding a subtle tint.

Sometimes I take a photo and immediately get excited thinking about how it will look once a specific recipe is applied. Because of this, I now find myself drawn towards lighting situations I might have avoided before, such as strong light pouring through a window.

5. Do you try other photographers recipes? What do you take from them when you do?

I do enjoy experimenting with recipes from other photographers, but I rarely stick with them long-term. This isn't because they aren't good, but because I prefer my images to maintain a sense of my own identity. It's similar to seeing a character from one cartoon series drawn in the style of another. It's interesting to look at, but it doesn't quite match the original vision.

That said, exploring other people's recipes often gives me fresh ideas and allows me to see my photos from a completely different perspective, sometimes pushing me to try things I wouldn't have attempted on my own. I've particularly enjoyed testing out recipes created by Daniel Casson in collaboration with VSCO.

6. How often do you share your recipes with other photographers?

I've only shared my recipes a handful of times, usually when another photographer is struggling with editing a particular image and needs a fresh perspective. I find it really interesting to compare how someone would typically edit their photo versus how it looks with one of my recipes applied.

The difference can sometimes be quite dramatic, and both versions can stand on their own as separate interpretations.

7. How would you describe your practice right now, and where it's headed?

I would say my photographic practice varies quite a lot. There are many moments where everything comes together spontaneously, and the image presents itself naturally.

What inspires me most at the moment is going for walks in the English countryside. Much of my day is spent consuming media such as books, films, TV shows, and online content, so these walks allow me to disconnect and fully immerse myself in a quieter environment.

Some of my most creative and fulfilling ideas have come from these moments. I often use this time to brainstorm projects or themes I want to explore, noting down ideas on my phone, even if they seem insignificant at first. I'm particularly grateful for voice-to-text, as it allows me to note down my ideas while still walking.

Lately, I've been leaning towards creating more eccentric imagery, particularly in my hospitality work. While I can capture spaces at face value, I find the most compelling images are those that evoke curiosity and ask questions. My work often sits in a liminal space between candid and staged.

I do work with clients occasionally, particularly within hospitality, travel, and lifestyle. I'm looking forward to the point where this can become my full-time career. Most of my clients already align with my visual style, and I find it especially rewarding when they trust me to interpret their vision in my own way.

At this stage, I would consider myself a professional photographer. I recognise that the term can be subjective, and some may argue that being self-taught does not qualify. While I understand that perspective, I believe my current work meets client expectations and aligns with the standards they would expect from any professional.

Over time, I've questioned what would validate that title for me, whether it be a course or a degree. I eventually realised that my background in luxury hospitality gives me a unique perspective. I operate in a space between guest and host, which allows me to understand both the emotional experience and the intended atmosphere of a space.

Shaping style through recipes

Building recipes the way Dasha does takes time. Multiple images, multiple sittings, adjustments made days apart to avoid going blind to your own choices. But the result isn't just a consistent look, it's a creative system that develops alongside you. One that holds the emotional tone of a period in your work and brings it back when you need it.

Save any combination of presets, tools, adjustments, and effects as a VSCO Recipe then apply your exact look to any image in one tap. Refine it over time. Share it when it's ready.

The edit is part of the story. Recipes help that story grow into something you recognize as yours.

“I find the most compelling images are those that evoke curiosity and ask questions. My work often sits in a liminal space between candid and staged.”