There is a rise of mental health issues that coincide with the rise of digital platforms. As I have built my brand online, I have learned that it is just as important to curate who you follow as you curate what you share. Being exposed to how others visually portray themselves and witnessing this content on a frequent basis slowly and subconsciously informs our habits and interests. This is why today’s storytellers play a vital role in our future. It is the artists who are observing the most authentic sides of humanity for our generation to be inspired by.

Below images by Jacob Jonas

Through the evolution of social platforms and artificial intelligence, we are collectively being more encouraged to think the same, develop insecurities, and be objects that brands can market to. It wasn’t always like this. Facebook, Instagram and Youtube were all started with a genuine interest for artists to maximize their creativity. They were platforms for work to be more visible and for communities to connect.

Below images by​ Chris Ozer

During the early years of Instagram, I was frequently exposed to artists I admire and learned about new creators. I could follow their journey, see their backyard daily from new angles. I became a fan of their work. Through witnessing their authentic expressions, I developed my interest in photography. I learned about light, composition, and perspective through their posts. Seeing the places they called home, sparked my interest in travel. What they shared online taught me the basics of visual branding- how to build and develop a portfolio and audience. It allowed me to pave my own way in this new world of digital marketing.

Below, in order, images from Erick Urgiles, Kyle Huber, Maciek Jasik, ​ ​ and Jasper De Jesus

Social media can be used for us or against us. I was always interested in bringing people together, exposing them to the people and work I am most inspired by. It was also a deep passion of mine to make the art form of dance more visible and valued. I found I could do that through my community online. I am excited to share with you my project #CamerasandDancers. It started as a way to bring photographers together so they could express themselves by capturing dance through their own perspective. It grew to be a global community, with over 60 events that produced thousands of dance images shared on social media. It proved that digital platforms can still be a place that fosters creative thinking that brings people together, instead of apart.

Below images by Sinziana Velicescu, Ravi Vora, Laura Zalenga

#CamerasandDancers is a location specific Instameet produced by Jacob Jonas The Company and co-hosted by a photographic influencer, a dance company and a venue- typically a cultural institution or architectural space. It is a platform for content creation through the merging of dance and photography.  Each event occurs over a period of 3-4 hours where the artists spontaneously and freely collaborate.

Below images by Oveck Reyes

Past collaborations include Metropolitan Museum of Art, J. Paul Getty Center, de Young Museum, Swiss National Museum – dance companies including New York City Ballet, Paul Taylor Dance Company, The Royal Ballet, Bill T Jones/Arnie Zane Company, Royal Danish Ballet, Stuttgart Ballet and Joffrey Ballet- and architectural films including Zaha Hadid Architects, Renzo Piano Building Workshop, Lorcan O’Herlihy Architects, Rem Koolhaas’s OMA, and Herzog & de Meuron.

Below, images by Tyson Wheatley​

Through these partnerships, the spaces inspire the movement of the dancers and the composition of the photographers, creating a unique portfolio of images, which are then shared to Instagram and other online platforms. #CamerasandDancers allows for and shares the importance of collaborations through the ability for artists to create together and make an impact on audiences who see it and artists who create it.

Below images by Brian Kuhlmann, ​Costas Spathis, Minh Tran