Today we’d like to introduce you to Vico Velez
Hi Vico, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I’ve always seen the world through a lens of bright colors and beautiful lights. For me, color isn’t just a visual element—it’s a language, a way to communicate energy, emotions, and stories that exist in the world around us. One of the stories I aim to tell through my work is the beauty of being a woman. The female experience is so vast and multifaceted, and I’m forever inspired by the complexity.
Being a woman means balancing strength and vulnerability, it’s a spectrum of experiences that can’t be captured with one singular image. I want my art to reflect that, to showcase not just the conventional beauty of womanhood but its contradictions and rawness. Whether it’s through the colors I choose, the textures I create, the lighting or modifiers, or the way I compose a photo, as well as the fellow creatives I rely on to bring their magic to the set, I strive to communicate the full richness and vastness of the woman experience. I believe deeply in acceptance and living your truth, and love being able to help my subjects bring those visions to life through my photography.
I was born in Mexico City, where I was always so in love with the richness of colors and the elements of art sown into the fabric of society. I brought all of that with me when I moved to Los Angeles to attend school. I started my schooling at Brooks Institute of Art in Santa Barbara, and graduated at Art Institute of CA with a Bachelor’s of Science in Digital Photography. During that time I got the opportunity to intern for a year with my favorite photographer David LaChapelle, which solidified my love of color as a tool for storytelling and as a form of expressing big emotions. Since then I’ve been able to work on a lot of personal photography projects with incredible people, done a lot of commercial work with companies in the fashion and beauty world, and had my work published around the world in magazines I always dreamed about. I’m still always looking for opportunities to work with likeminded creatives.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
One of the biggest challenges I face in my work comes from the ongoing censorship that exists for women, especially in the intersection of art and technology. There’s a long history of women being silenced or overlooked in both fields, and unfortunately, that still manifests today in subtle and not-so-subtle ways. In the art world, we’ve seen countless examples where women’s voices are diminished, and now with social media’s war on women’s bodies we’re going to see a lot more of it. Our bodies have been exploited and sold for millennia but as soon as women regain control over their own image and have autonomy over how it can be monetized then society finds a way to demonize it.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
Ultimately, I want my work to invite others to see the world the way I do—with a sense of wonder, warmth, and an understanding that beauty exists in all of the layers of life. Photography, for me, is about capturing that essence, amplifying it, and celebrating it in all its forms. I want to showcase the beauty I see in everyone, no matter what their walk of life looks like.
If you had to, what characteristic of yours would you give the most credit to?
Authenticity, compassion, creativity, and self expression. I would consider those essential qualities in most aspects of life.
(Not sure if that’s what this question is asking)
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.vicovelez.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vicovelezphotography
Image Credits
Rainbow Photo:
model: Roshany Afridi
makeup: Chanel George
Giant Compact Photo: model: Farrah Moan
Pink Handcuff Photo:
model: Cosmopolitan Douglas
makeup: Daniel Ruiz Smith
hair: Daved Anthony Munoz
wardrobe: Jane Doe Latex
Blue Dream Photo:
model: Deonna Tillman
makeup: Kasha Lassien
Green Photo:
model: Manila Luzon
Beige Photo:
model: Sena Nasser
hair and makeup: Autumn Skibinksi
Snow Photo:
model: Lily Blanchard
hair and makeup: Erin Nakashima
Sunset Photo:
model: Brittany Mason
hair and makeup: Autumn Skibinski
