Online forums have allowed people who once might have considered themselves excessively weird to connect with other people just like themselves, and photographer Amy Lombard's new book, 'Connected,' celebrates those people meeting up in real life. The book documents 80 different real-world meetups that were organized through online communities.
The interests and groups in Amy Lombard's 'Connected' vary wildly -- a reflection of the niches that those groups occupy. Some relate to people's obsessions, such as the 'Friends of JRR Tolkien and Fantasy' meetup or the 'Five Borough Paranormal Research Group' for ghost hunters in New York. Others relate to one's physical identity, like 'Rock it Like a Redhead' in New York or 'Women of a Certain Age' for women over 45 in Reno, Nevada.
Internet Meetup Photography
Amy Lombard's 'Connected' Book Shows Images from 80 Live Meetups
Trend Themes
1. Real-life Meetups - Online communities are fostering real-life meetups, creating opportunities for businesses to provide services in a physical setting.
2. Niche Communities - Niche communities are emerging, offering opportunities for businesses to address specific interests and needs of their members.
3. Identity-based Communities - Identity-based communities are on the rise, creating opportunities for businesses to cater to specific demographics.
Industry Implications
1. Event Planning - The rise of real-life meetups is an opportunity for event planning businesses to provide services that cater to specific communities.
2. Personalized Services - Businesses can tap into niche communities and offer personalized services to meet their unique needs and interests.
3. Marketing and Advertising - Businesses can target identity-based communities with marketing and advertising strategies tailored to specific demographics.