We The Creators

Former NKU student hosts third “We the Creators” event

Article written by Nicole Browning, Managing Editor of The Northerner

Preston Saunders leads company event encouraging networking among creatives.

Columbia Plaza’s lobby boasted a calm atmosphere Saturday evening; its minimalist design was blanketed in white ornamentation. Everything was undeniably tame.

Twenty-nine floors up was another world. As photographers, models and other creators from across the community gathered for the third “We the Creators” event, the air held a playful resonance.

The 360-degree view of Cincinnati made the room feel like a bowl; a safe, secluded place for those in attendance to express themselves. The unconfined artists scattered across the unfinished concrete floors, taking photos and modeling in the miniature sets curated by the event’s coordinators.

The event, held from 4-8 p.m., was the company’s attempt at bringing creative minds together to encourage networking and interacting among artists.

Preston Saunders, owner of We the Creators and former NKU student, originally had the idea after attending a photography walk in Covington. He said while he loved the opportunity to meet like-minded creatives, the practicality was lacking. Every time the group turned a street corner, Saunders said, they lost people who branched off to take pictures on their own.

What Saunders sought out in founding this company and holding these events was to provide creators with a contained area to make art and connect.

Artists of all different types were in attendance, from models to stylists to photographers.

Networking was a heavy focus of the event.

When artists were not taking photos or posing as models, they were buzzing around each other with their phones out, asking to connect with one another on social media.

“It’s more about going around and talking to people and building one, your personal network, but also expanding the idea that anything’s possible if you put work to it,” Saunders said.

“I broke 35 mirrors six times each and glued them to a wall. It took several hours. I have a lot of bad luck because of it,” Saunders said. “But a kid can walk in here and be like, wow, you’re only 20 and yeah, it’s rough sometimes, but you’re chasing your dreams.”

To read the full article written by Nicole Browning, Managing editor of The Northerner, click here.