Coffee and Cameras KC sparks inventive connection

What started as Frank Pham’s search for new friends has grown into a Kansas City photography community where dozens of people gather to take pictures, trade knowledge and find connection through a shared creative interest.

Pham created Coffee and Cameras KC nearly three years ago as a free monthly gathering for photographers. The group began with informal meetups at coffee shops followed by photo walks. Today, gatherings regularly draw 50 to 75 people, with some larger collaborations attracting around 150. The growth has led to more structured programming and a regular home at the Crossroads Hotel, where the newer Crossroads Camera Club meets every other Tuesday evening.

“I think photography really has allowed me to have just so many different experiences,” Pham said. “It really is a window or an excuse for my curiosity about the world.”

More than a camera club

For Pham, 35, the foundation remains the same: photography gives people something to gather around. Born in Vietnam, Pham moved to Kansas City with his family when he was about a year old and grew up in the city. He first explored photography through a film photography class at Lincoln Prep, borrowing his father’s camera before later documenting his friends, breakdancing competitions and road trips.

The idea for Coffee and Cameras emerged after Pham became a father during the COVID-19 pandemic. As his life changed, he found himself wanting to expand his social circle. He began considering a monthly gathering where people could meet without the pressure of a formal networking event. Photography became the activity that made those interactions easier.

Nick Calhoun was among the people who joined during the group’s earliest days. Calhoun, who moved to Kansas City from Ames, Iowa, in 2016, started photography during the pandemic after stumbling across a photography video on YouTube. He initially shot only film and met Pham while buying a digital camera from him through Facebook Marketplace. During their conversation, Pham mentioned his idea for a photography meetup.

Calhoun describes himself as introverted and initially hesitant about events filled with strangers. But he decided to attend. In those early days, five or six photographers might meet at a coffee shop, talk about their projects and then walk around taking pictures.

“It was just about trying to make friends and talk camera, talk photo projects and like what we’re passionate about and what our plans are and what projects we have that we’re working on and trying to get ideas from each other,” Calhoun said. “And then just having fun mostly was the goal.”

Cameras turn into community

Coffee and Cameras gradually outgrew that original model. The gatherings became too large to descend on small coffee shops without overwhelming them, prompting Pham to seek larger venues and partnerships. Crossroads Hotel became the group’s most regular meeting space, while other collaborations allow participants to photograph different parts of the city.

The events have also evolved beyond simple photo walks. Gatherings can include community spotlights, guest speakers and discussions of participants’ photographs. Pham introduces concepts such as framing, composition, layering and the rule of thirds before photographers head out together. Portrait setups and backdrops have also been added for people interested in practicing with models.

None of it requires professional equipment or experience. Attendees range from commercial and wedding photographers to videographers, content creators, hobbyists, retirees, children and people who recently picked up their first camera. Pham encourages people to participate with whatever they have, including a cellphone.

“I think it’s important to have spaces for creatives of all ranges to share their experiences and just be able to connect over that,” Pham said. “I think if we all grow, I think we can kind of grow together.”

Removing barriers behind the lens

That accessibility extends to the cost. Pham has kept events free because he views admission prices as another potential obstacle for someone already nervous about networking or entering an unfamiliar creative space. For roughly 2½ years, he funded the effort himself while contributing his own time. He is now exploring sponsorships and collaborations that could make the growing initiative financially sustainable without sacrificing its accessibility.

Calhoun sees the club as a “choose your own adventure.” An aspiring professional can seek advice from working photographers. A hobbyist can find collaborators or feedback. Someone with little interest in turning photography into a career can simply meet people. As the community grows, Calhoun hopes it maintains the informal camaraderie of those early coffee-shop gatherings.

For Pham, that need for connection has become increasingly apparent. Through organizing the gatherings, he has encountered photographers and other creatives who feel isolated by work that is often done alone. Coffee and Cameras gives them a reason to leave that isolation behind, even if only for an evening.

“I think me being able to create and provide a space for folks to feel less lonely and to feel more rejuvenated in their craft” is what keeps him organizing the events, Pham said. He wants people to leave “excited again to create or excited to connect and document their lives and their communities and share that with other people.”