VSCO is often considered a superior platform to Instagram for those focused on photography as a creative art form due to its distinct user behavior and content emphasis, according to insights into how users share.
Content Focus: Professional Artistry vs. Personal Updates
A fundamental difference that makes VSCO preferable for serious photographers lies in the type of content users typically share. On VSCO, users lean towards showcasing their best visual work.
- VSCO: Users tend to share more professional, interesting photos rather than ones of themselves or with other people. The platform cultivates a space where the focus is on the image itself, its aesthetic quality, composition, and the story it tells visually. This results in a feed often filled with curated, high-quality photographic pieces.
- Instagram: In contrast, while photography is present, Instagram's nature as a broader social networking platform means content frequently centers around the individual and their social life. As noted in descriptions of user habits, content is often "rather than ones of themselves or with other people, as seen on Instagram." This can dilute the focus on photography purely as an art form.
The Intrinsic Reward of Creative Photography
This specialized focus on VSCO directly aligns with the motivations of many photographers. The act of creating images is inherently rewarding.
- Photography gives people the satisfaction of being creative.
- Capturing a memory that is attractive is a great accomplishment.
VSCO provides an environment where this creative accomplishment is the primary currency. Sharing on VSCO is less about getting likes or comments on a selfie and more about presenting a visual piece that reflects skill and vision. This dedicated focus allows photographers to gain satisfaction from their craft within a community that values the same goals.
In summary, for individuals seeking a platform specifically dedicated to sharing and appreciating photography as a creative and professional pursuit, VSCO offers an environment better suited to these goals than the more socially-focused Instagram.
