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 us on a journey through one photo from each of those years.

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

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 we 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 we 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, we 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 the 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.

*One of José´s models wearing his jersey with his famous ´84´ trademark on the back.*

We 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 us 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! We can’t wait to see what you’ll create next!

Lots of love,

Arnold

Founder of HEATWAVE Magazine