Vaporwave

Nostalgia for a past that never existed, distorted through a pink gradient and a marble statue

Vaporwave aesthetic photography reference
Referencevaporwave
Shoot Brief · Call Sheet● TC 00:00:00:00
AestheticVaporwave
Roll041
Status0 / 5 Shot
LightMagenta from above, cyan from the side the
WardrobePastel windbreakers, sunglasses at all tim

Shot list

Tap a frame to mark it shot — grease pencil, saved on this device

FR·01A
Deadpan portrait of a classical plaster bust in a neon-lit pink and purple environment
FR·02A
Subject in sunglasses sitting at a pink-lit table with an old computer and a Roman bust beside them
FR·03A
VHS-tracked shot of an 80s mall food court at night, everything slightly out of focus and color-shifted
FR·04A
Environmental shot of a pool or fountain at night with magenta and cyan lighting on the water
FR·05A
Flat-lay of vaporwave signifiers: palm tree plush, grids printed on paper, retro packaging, and a cassette
Roll
00 / 05
⌁ LightingMagenta from above, cyan from the side the two-color split is foundational; do not blend them too gently, let the competing colors fight and create a pink/blue divide on the subject

magenta from above, cyan from the side the ✦

⌁ WardrobePastel windbreakers, sunglasses at all times, retro sportswear in salmon and teal, minimal jewelry

pastel windbreakers

Director noteShoot on a prosumer video camera from around 2000 and photograph directly from the screen playback the interlacing artifacts, color bleed, and NTSC color space shift are authentic in a way that digital simulation cannot replicate

Locations

Abandoned indoor shopping mallNeon-lit pool at nightJapanese arcade (Game Center) at nightHotel lobby with marble floor and retro furniture

Explore the aesthetic

Style guide
Color palette

About this brief

How do I photograph the Vaporwave aesthetic?
Nostalgia for a past that never existed, distorted through a pink gradient and a marble statue. Shoot on a prosumer video camera from around 2000 and photograph directly from the screen playback the interlacing artifacts, color bleed, and NTSC color space shift are authentic in a way that digital simulation cannot replicate
What shots should I get for a Vaporwave photo shoot?
Capture: Deadpan portrait of a classical plaster bust in a neon-lit pink and purple environment; Subject in sunglasses sitting at a pink-lit table with an old computer and a Roman bust beside them; VHS-tracked shot of an 80s mall food court at night, everything slightly out of focus and color-shifted; Environmental shot of a pool or fountain at night with magenta and cyan lighting on the water; Flat-lay of vaporwave signifiers: palm tree plush, grids printed on paper, retro packaging, and a cassette.
What lighting works for Vaporwave photography?
Magenta from above, cyan from the side the two-color split is foundational; do not blend them too gently, let the competing colors fight and create a pink/blue divide on the subject
Where should I shoot Vaporwave photography?
Good locations include: Abandoned indoor shopping mall, Neon-lit pool at night, Japanese arcade (Game Center) at night, Hotel lobby with marble floor and retro furniture.
What wardrobe works for Vaporwave photography?
Pastel windbreakers, sunglasses at all times, retro sportswear in salmon and teal, minimal jewelry

Generate shoot references in the vaporwave style

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