Creating Community Through a Different Lens
Philly Shutter Club shows how to model connection
Happy holidays to you all. And thank you for reading our final newsletter of 2025.
I know it’s been a heckuva year for many of us. This Join Philly project has unexpectedly—and quickly—connected me with people across the country who are grappling with the same challenges establishing community, building connection, and conquering social isolation that we are here in Philly. The wonderful by-product of all these discussions is witnessing the extraordinary optimism and enthusiasm from people from all different backgrounds and corners of this country, which only fuels the Join Philly team to create as much impact as possible back home.
And if you are reading this and raising your hand to say: I want to join a club; I want to start a group; I want to get involved with my community; I want to make Philly a better place to live, you should be proud of your actions. Philly is quickly becoming a model for other cities on how citizens can create grassroots social infrastructure. Turns out we CAN have nice things in Philadelphia.
As we close out 2025, I want to send a heartfelt thanks to everyone who has been involved with this initiative, whether offering to help, giving advice, making introductions, hosting an event, or simply sharing your enthusiasm. I’m excited for what 2026 will bring. And I hope you are, too. The creativity, dedication, resolve, and overall attitude of striving toward greatness we Philadelphians have never fails to impress and inspire me.
~ Brian Adoff
Director, Join Philly
Save the Date: Philadelphia Activities Fair!
Sunday, April 12, 11am to 3pm
Philadelphia Ethical Society, Rittenhouse Square
Join Philly and the Philadelphia Ethical Society are hosting a citywide Activities Fair this spring. It’s a free, public gathering where clubs, civic groups, and community-powered organizations from across the city come together in one place. If you’ve been looking for your people or trying to build community around something you care about, this is the place to be!
If you run a club, lead a community group, want to table, want to volunteer, or would like to sponsor the Fair, reply here and let us know. We’re collecting interest now and will open the formal application soon!
Featured Club: Philly Shutter Club
This month, Civic Glue spotlights Philly Shutter Club, an open creative community for photographers, models, and visual artists who believe collaboration makes everyone better. What began as a spontaneous group shoot has become a thriving network that meets monthly across the city. We spoke with co-organizer Brenda Franco about how the club started, what makes it special, and why creating together feels so different from creating alone.
How did Philly Shutter Club first come together, and what inspired you to start organizing group shoots?
Philly Shutter Club honestly happened by accident. A photographer once asked if I offered mentorships, and since I wasn’t ready for that, I told them they could just come shoot with me. I posted it on my story, and suddenly 25 people showed up, models and photographers. We had such a great time that I decided to keep going. Now, three years later, we have a whole team (that includes models and photographers) helping plan and run the events — Brenda, Auggy, Irena, Shaun, and Maca — and the community has grown into something so much bigger than I ever expected.
What makes your meetups different from other photography groups or creative gatherings in the city?
Our events feel like a real community. At this point most of us know each other, respect each other, and genuinely enjoy creating together. A lot of friendships have been made through the club, and people hang out outside the events too. It’s not just about photos, it’s about connection.
What’s the vibe like at a typical shoot? Can you describe a moment that captures what makes it special?
You’ll see models and photographers collaborating nonstop. A photographer will start setting up a cool shot and suddenly a few others join in. People share tips, help each other, and move around in little groups throughout the day. It’s super collaborative and very chill.
How do you see collaboration between photographers, models, and other creatives shaping the community?
Collaboration is really what shapes our whole community. We see people working together outside the events all the time, and that’s honestly the best part. A lot of photographers and models actually started their journey with us, and some of them are now doing it part-time or even full-time. The constant collaboration keeps the community strong. When events start, everyone already knows each other, so the energy is fun, familiar, and welcoming. And no one is protective about shooting the same setup or the same model, because everyone’s style is different. Even in the same moment, the final photos always come out unique.
What have been some of your most memorable locations or shoots so far?
Definitely our beach shoots at the Jersey Shore, they’re always a blast, and the photos come out incredible. We also host events at Novalight Studios from time to time, and those are always a hit. And the roller skate rink shoot was another favorite. The theme, the energy, the location, you honestly can’t take a bad photo in a setting like that
How has being part of the club changed the way people approach their craft or their creative confidence?
Having people to rely on changes everything. You become more confident, more open to trying new things, and you actually walk away with a portfolio and friends in the industry. It gives people a space to grow and practice without pressure. We’ve seen people who were shy at their first event now directing full shoots, landing paid gigs, or modeling with so much confidence. The community really pushes everyone to level up in a supportive, low-pressure way.
For someone who’s curious but nervous to show up alone, what would you tell them?
Everyone will be welcomed with open arms. Our community is full of fun, supportive people who are always willing to help and collaborate. There’s no experience needed, no requirements, and absolutely no pressure. You can come as a model or a photographer to create content, meet people, and start building your portfolio at your own pace.
Join Info: Free monthly meetups | Open to photographers, models, and creatives of all levels | Follow @phillyshutterclub on Instagram for event details
Club Roundup
A shortlist of groups all about Learning & Building:
Skill Swap Club — A neighbor-to-neighbor exchange that reconnects people by sharing what we know.
Fishtown Connect — A business networking group dedicated to creating connection, community, and growth for Fishtown business owners.
Green Philly — Connecting residents to practical ways to live more sustainably through original journalism, a weekly newsletter, and citywide events.
Have a happy holidays and here’s a to a great 2026!
xo
The Join Philly Team
Brilliant piece on the shutter club's evolution. The shift from spontaneous meetups to structured collaboration really shows how organic communitybuilding scales when people genuinely support each other's craft. I've seen this in my own local tech groups where the magic happens when folks stop competing and start sharing setups. The point about everyone's phtos looking unique even in the same moment is spot on.