Introduction
¡Hola, amigas! Hey there!
I’m Isa, and if you’re reading this, I’m guessing you’re also in love with capturing moments that go beyond just snapping a photo. Growing up, I learned quickly that the small details are what make moments worth remembering—the subtle sonrisa my mamá gives when she’s proud, the rough callouses on my papá’s hands after a long week, and the way the sun hits the walls of our neighborhood. For me, using a vintage camera, or even one that mimics that style, has helped me capture the soul of these everyday details in a way that feels so real and intimate.
The Art of Slowing Down
Why vintage? There’s something about the way these cameras work that forces me to slow down and really look at what’s in front of me...to think about what I’m trying to capture. It reminds me of the stories my parents tell about their own lives before coming to the U.S. They didn't have smartphones to record every second, so every memory is precious to them. When they tell me about life en México, it feels like flipping through an old family album—hay una calidez, nostalgia, y una magia that I can almost touch. With a vintage camera, I can capture my recuerdos with that same magic. Every photo is intentional, like it holds a piece of my family’s story within it.
Beauty in Imperfection
Another reason I love vintage-style photography is that it doesn’t try to “perfect” the moment. It lets the scratches, the tiny blurs, the imperfect lighting—those “flaws” that make every shot unique—shine through. So many of the photos I see on social media today are filtered to perfection, but I crave the realness, la autenticidad. It’s like life: a mix of beautiful and messy, and all those layers add up to something more meaningful. When I’m using my camera, I feel like I’m not just freezing a moment in time; I’m saving un sentimiento. And every time I look back at a picture, that feeling comes flooding back.
The Essence of Hard Work
I took a photo last week of my dad working in the garage. The picture wasn’t perfect—the lighting was low, and his face was half-hidden by the shadows—but you can see the focus in his eyes, the grit in his expression. To me, that’s mi papá. Un hombre who has worked every day of his life to give me and my hermanos more opportunities than he ever had. That one shot says more than mil palabras ever could. I can't lie, it makes me tear up just thinking about it.
Preserving Legacy
Capturing my family and my friends with a vintage-style camera lets me feel like I’m preserving our story in a way that’s more than just a memory stored on my phone. It’s a legado, a reminder of where I come from and quién soy. Every time I look at a photo from my vintage camera, I’m reminded of all the reasons I take photos in the first place: to remember, to hold onto the people and places I love, and to celebrate la belleza in each messy, imperfect, unforgettable moment.
Final Thoughts
If you’re on the fence about trying out a vintage camera or even just a retro-style app, I say go for it. You’ll be surprised cuánta magia y significado it brings into your life, un click at a time.
-Isa💓💃
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Do you have a story to tell? For information on how to publish your 1990\retro journey on our website, reach out to us at: submissions@1990retro.com.
