Building Cleveland’s Photography Community
The Story of Forest City Collective
When Kristen and I started spending more time in Memphis, TN, where we have a vacation rental, I stumbled into something that stopped me in my tracks: their vibrant photography community. Groups like Grind City Meet brought photographers together in the streets, from seasoned pros to complete beginners. People weren’t just taking photos; they were building each other up.
Back home in Cleveland, I didn’t have any photography friends. Selfishly, that’s where Forest City Collective began, me looking for my people. But it didn’t stay selfish for long. I’ve always been a connector at heart, someone who introduces people who should know each other. This was no different.
What I realized, though, was that Cleveland’s creative scene was highly fragmented. Maybe it was a lingering effect of COVID, but too often, people worked in isolation. The Memphis motto “Fast alone, far together” stuck with me. I knew Cleveland had the talent; we just needed the trust, the connection, and the platform to bring it all together.
A New Vision for Cleveland’s Photography Community
Cleveland isn’t short on photographers. What’s been missing is the collective spirit. Too often, it feels like the same 4–5 names are shared again and again, while dozens of talented voices remain underrepresented.
Forest City Collective exists to change that. Cleveland’s creative scene isn’t just the handful of Instagram handles you see shared over and over again. It’s everyone:
The wedding photographers documenting love stories across Northeast Ohio.
The sports photographers freezing epic Browns and Guardians moments.
The street photographers capturing Cleveland’s grit and character.
The drone pilots showing the city from bold new angles.
Our mission is simple: Connect. Inspire. Create.
What Forest City Collective Stands For
Breaking Down Barriers
Cleveland’s photography scene doesn’t thrive when gatekeeping keeps people out. We believe creativity grows when everyone feels welcome, whether you’re just picking up a camera or have decades of experience.
Celebrating Every Perspective
Cleveland is beautifully diverse. Too often, a narrow slice of voices get the spotlight, but our city deserves the full picture: every neighborhood, every style, every story.
Community That Lifts Each Other Up
For us, community means genuine support, sharing knowledge, offering encouragement, and celebrating each other’s wins. This is a space to grow, together.
Content with Meaning and Heart
Likes and trends fade quickly. What lasts are images that matter, photos that tell a story, capture emotion, and preserve the soul of Cleveland.
Embracing Grit as Well as Beauty
Cleveland has polish, but it also has grit. We celebrate both the Terminal Tower sunsets and the hidden alleyways, the skyline views and the quiet corners.
Pushing Creative Boundaries
Playing it safe won’t move the culture forward. We encourage experimentation, bold edits, and stepping outside your comfort zone. Growth comes from risk.
Looking Ahead: Collective Value Over Individual Gain
The goal isn’t short-term attention, it’s long-term value. By breaking down barriers, building trust, and focusing on collective growth over individual gain, Forest City Collective is shaping a photography community that’s more authentic, more connected, and more representative of Cleveland’s spirit.
If you’re a photographer in Cleveland, whether hobbyist, professional, or somewhere in between, you belong here.
👉 Join us on Discord and Instagram to connect, share your work, and be part of our upcoming photo walks and events.
Because Cleveland’s photography story is bigger than any one of us. Together, we’ll tell it the way it deserves to be told.
