Luceo Images

In case you missed the launch of my new collective in August, then here it is again: www.luceoimages.com.

It all began with a phone call from David Walter Banks which soon spiraled in to our first meeting in Atlanta last year. I was so sick during that time and was barely conscious for most of the conversations. But I was so inspired by people who were sleeping on the floor next to me in Banks' home. At that moment I had the feeling that this was the beginning of something very special.

Since launching our members have been published in Time, Newsweek, The Fader, SNOB, Vanity Fair, Outdoor Life, The 37th Frame, SPIN, ESPN, NYT and National Geographic, among others. It's been amazing and I am so happy for all those who have received exposure and additional work.

I recently responded to a photographer's email asking if we would represent his work:

"Thank you for the email. At this time Luceo Images is not accepting new members. We will however take your work into consideration at our annual meeting in NYC in December.

A few things you should know, however. Luceo Images is not a photographic agency. Luceo Images is a collective formed by like-minded, passionate photographers that simply wish to have a greater voice by banding and branding together. Our collective could not serve as a representation of your work ... in fact, it is quite the opposite. It is the photographer who represents the collective. Actively promoting and searching out new clients ... not just for themselves, but for the other group members as well. When one of us do well, we all do well eventually.

Being a member of Luceo Images is a commitment not only to yourself, but a commitment to the members in the group. Please take that under advisement when submitting your work for consideration."

And every member in our group feels exactly the same way. We all have put great thought and work into this beginning. Banks was recently interviewed on APhotoEditor.com about how we are received by editors:

“The other reason for all this is our belief in helping each other out and being open in the photo industry rather than the one-for-all mentality that is so engrained. We can all work together to edit new projects, work up budgets, make pitches and generally have power in numbers.”

I love that he said that. Photographers are by nature tremendous competitors ... to a fault. I worked in newsrooms for several years and there has been a coworker or two that I have butted heads with only because I felt some sort of competition. We were on the same team ... it just doesn't make sense.

The US economy is in the tanks and the newspaper industry is producing more and more unemployed journalists, but you know what? I don't see them as competition. I see them as my friends. Friends I would gladly help out in any way that I can. Because there is enough work in this world for us photographers. It's time to band together and help each other out. It's just about getting your work in front of the right people. And now I have six other photographers helping me do just that.

Below are photos from our first meeting. Only five of us were present for the beginning. We will all meet again in NYC at the end of the year for the second annual Luceo Images meeting.