Photography as a social medium

I've always loved the idea of being part of a community. A group of people who come together for a shared interest, be it for collaboration or just sharing experiences. This seemed like such an inherently difficult goal for me. It felt almost unreachable because I didn't have the right tools.

Even though I admire the concept of socialising, I do really love being on my own. Mentally and physically being separated from external factors, ideas and interactions puts me in an environment where my inner voice becomes clearer and louder. It's where I process my thoughts and where ideas take shape. It's where I feel most myself. Solitude isn't something I retreat to out of discomfort but rather something I actively choose. It's a method that gives me space to observe without having to perform and to think without having to explain.

With that preference, I've assumed that I lacked the social skills or tools that a lot of people seemed to have. Because community implies presence, conversation and a type of outward energy that I'm not always comfortable with. So this got pretty complicated: how do I connect with others without having to constantly speak, keep up and put in a lot of energy into things I don't always get energy back from.

It just clicked

Photography shares a lot of similarities to the ritual of "quiet belonging" that I've described In my experience. When I take photos, I'm present in the moment, observing and taking visual notes. It really surprised me how photography can become a shared language. Two people don’t need much in common to talk about a scene. About light, framing, texture and composition. And of course our gear is a fun topic as well. With all the brands, technologies and history about the tools of the trade, we can somewhat organically start a conversation with just a "Hey, what do you like about your Fujifilm camera?" The opposite also becomes valuable: we can share a silence. It is no longer awkward and instead, it becomes a moment where we both are focused on the same scene while we each have our own interpretation and perspective.

Having a shared passion for photography, together with my partner I've started a photography club in Rotterdam called "Creative Photography Group". It's been steadily growing for almost 1.5 years now since we started in October 2024. (218 members and counting).

Social creatives

Creative Photography Group grew out of that exact tension. We did not intend to build a loud or fast-moving community. We wanted to keep it personal and create a space where all people (including people with no experience) would feel comfortable enough to participate and be a part of the community. Showing up shouldn't feel like you are required to perform.

Our in-person meet ups also reflect that. We might start with a short introduction, a talk or a theme. But we mostly just like to have a personal conversation or share a moment together. Going out and taking photos together, sharing photos, asking and receiving feedback - people drift between small conversations and long stretches of silence. Some walk together without saying much. Others dive deep into a single topic and forget the rest of the group exists. Both are fine. Both count.

Sharing your art is part of it

The core of our group are our our in-person meetup. But we still wanted a digital space that felt aligned with the way we connect offline. A place to share photos between meetups and stay connected without the noise that come with most social platforms.

I built a platform from scratch for that exact reason for our group: creativephotography.group. It's simple and focused on photography. You can share your photos, leave a comment, or just look around. Just like our meetups, it's a space where quiet participation still counts. Our group is about making space for a softer kind of connection. One where having a shared passion is already enough.