Introducing our first volume and the world it brings you into.

After months of tapings, experiments, near disasters and late night debriefs in studio parking lots, The Showcase Club is stepping out of the studio and onto the internet with the release of its first full volume, VOL/001.

What started as a photography competition “for the homies” has evolved into an engaging filmed show that treats Atlanta’s visual creators with the same seriousness and spectacle you usually only see on network television. It’s the first photography game show of its kind, bringing together photographers, models, and stylists that give Atlanta its visual language and creative identity

This is the official UF Magazine spotlight on the project, why it exists, how we are involved, and where we are taking it next.

Carlos Díaz (@shotbycarlosdiaz) captures Vicky Freites (@vickyfreites)

What is The Showcase Club

The Showcase Club is a live, in-studio Atlanta photography competition and community event conceived by Davincho and built through Sonders Club, hand in hand with K.Lindo acting as co-founder, game designer and co host. The show is presented by Sonders Club and produced by Sonders Club, GAWDSVISION and Unfaithfools.

Each volume brings together a group of photographers, models, stylists and friends into a working studio. They are paired up, given prompts and parameters, then a limited window to concept, light, shoot and deliver an image. While they work, the room fills with people connecting, commenting and watching the process unfold in real time. At the end, the images are revealed, discussed and celebrated in front of everyone.

The Showcase Club is dedicated to redefining the way artists collaborate while maintaining their authentic expression. A lot of creatives turn their passion into work and eventually forget their reason for starting - our solution to this epidemic was to invite a bunch of ambitious artists and give them 10 minutes + 2 shots to show us who they are and what they can do.

Davincho, Co-Founder & Host

Ashley Kay (@sincerely.ashleykay) poses while Artimio Black (@artimio.black) photographs

Baylee Vidal (@bayleevidalco) & Nakia’ Janet (@_janet_chrystal) check on their first shot results.

What might look from the outside as a pretty run-of-the-mill photography workshop and networking event is actually a structure that turns a regular night in the studio into a self-contained story. There are rounds. There are stakes. There are hosts. There are judges and reactions. The tone and energy feels familiar to anyone who’s seen most reality competition shows, but the focus is decisively on craft, collaboration, and the community that shows up around the work.

I think this experience is unique in the fact that we address the elephant in the room which is the expectations we put on ourselves. We want you to feel free in this experience even though it's nerve racking. It brings out the best in you.

K.Lindo, Co-Founder & Host

MK (@itz.marlon) posing for his teammate Laykon.

Laykon Edwards (@laykonart) taking a picture of her teammate MK.

“…[BRING TOGETHER] a bunch of ambitious artists and give them 10 minutes + 2 shots to show us who they are and what they can do.”

The spaces that have hosted us so far, first HYPR Studios and more recently Stephon X Studios in Atlanta, become pillar characters in the story. By hosting the event they open their doors to new audiences and show what is possible when local creative infrastructure is actually used, not just admired. The sets, amenities and overall vibe are present in every shot, giving creatives a sense not only of what the space is like, but how it can be utilized in new and exciting ways.

Ashley Kay (@sincerely.ashleykay) gets ready while Artimio Black (@artimio.black) dials in lighting

The mission: build a stage for the people behind the camera

The objective of The Showcase Club is simple to state, but complicated to execute: To give visual storytellers a high-quality platform to showcase their artistry, process & execution, not just fluff to repost on their socials.

When was the last time you saw a game show about photography? Big fans of the craft might have encountered one or two attempts, but we saw a clear gap for high quality, artist led & creativity driven content surrounding this world that continues to fascinate audiences more and more each day.

Photographers & Creative Directors are usually behind the lens. Their process is rarely documented with the same care as the final images. The Showcase Club flips that dynamic, making up & coming and experienced photographers, models & stylists to be the protagonists. The decisions they make under pressure, the way they communicate their ideas, their approach to lighting and composition, all of that becomes the clear focus of the storytelling.

We want our members to feel seen for the work they do and the dedication they bring because it can inspire the next creative who is eager to start.

Davincho

On a deeper level, the project is about:

Infrastructure for creatives: showing that you can treat local artists with the same production value and respect usually reserved for huge brands and celebrities.
Education without the lecture: giving emerging photographers and curious viewers a way to learn by watching real challenges unfold, the decision made to account for them, and the end result for the audience to make up their mind about the end results.
Community over clout: building a recurring space where people can meet, collaborate, and come back, instead of one-off “networking events” that rarely foster meaningful, long-time connections.

The first episode is our proof of concept that this can be more than a cool night at the studio. It can be a powerful format.

Our Role In This Project

Behind the scenes, Unfaithfools serves as the production partner translating The Showcase Club from a live, in studio experience into a fully realized web show.

Working in close collaboration with Sonder’s Club & GAWDSVISION, Unfaithfools is responsible for shaping how the night is captured, structured and ultimately released. Led by our very own storyteller and director seb se fue, the team approaches each volume as both an event and an episode that has to stand on its own for viewers who were never in the room.

On The Showcase Club, Unfaithfools’ involvement sits in three main lanes:

Format and story development
Building with Sonders Club, Unfaithfools helps define the show structure: how prompts are introduced, how and when interviews happen, and how the different parts of the night tie together into a coherent narrative. The goal is to respect the chaos and improvisation of the room while still delivering something that feels like a series, not just a recap.
Direction and camera strategy
Unfaithfools designs and runs the multi-camera approach that covers the event. That includes camera placement with the hosts, while the competition runs, within the crowd, and on small details that communicate the labor behind each image.
Post-production and editorial shaping
After each night, Unfaithfools takes the raw material into post, where The Showcase Club truly becomes a show. Hours of footage are shaped into episodes that move with intention, protect the dignity of everyone on screen while still putting you in the room for the night the community actually experienced.

VOL/001 Project Files. The entire edit, mix & grade was done by seb se fue in Blackmagic Davinci Resolve. Pictures by seb se fue

First you get asked to come through to get a couple of clips for an event recap, next thing you know you’re show-running an entire series. That’s the kind of enthusiasm that The Showcase Club brings out of every single person that takes part in the events. I had only a few days to materialize the format into a pitch deck, schedule the event as a production and figure out the logistics, but it all worked out very smoothly even when it was the first time most of us worked together.

seb se fue, Director, DoP, Post-Production

We believe this project’s mission, approach and execution reflects Unfaithfools’ broader mission to celebrate the power of art and storytelling, shine a spotlight on talented artists and prove that just because someone does not have millions of followers or big brand deals, it does not mean they lack the ability to create at that higher level.

UF Crew Director seb se fue (@seb.se.fue) & Camera Operator Daniél Gualdrón (@danielg109). Captured on film by Brittney Witherby (@witherby32)

From live event to web show

So how do you even turn an event into a show without fully turning it into a production? We’re glad you asked.

We film The Showcase Club like a hybrid between a concert, a reality show, and a documentary. There is a camera with the host, cameras on the judges and other spectators, getting their thoughts as the competition takes place, and on the smallest, sometimes most crucial details that surface in the process of crafting the perfect shot.

It might feel like good ol’ reality TV at first, but there’s a clear difference in the way the story is told. The stakes are already clear and high enough. Someone’s work is being put in front of their peers and judged in real time. During the show, we focus on:

Clarity: making sure viewers who were not in the room understand the rules, the timing, and what is at stake.
Respect: cutting in a way that honors the artists, their muses, and the studios that host us.
Rhythm: keeping the episode moving so that educational moments, technical talk, and emotional beats all have room to breathe.

...Everyone has their own personal story and so many creatives are craving to have an outlet. Making money from your art is amazing but being able to express it freely is the ultimate blessing of it all, creating moments that last forever every time they express themselves.

Lindo

It was never about putting people on a leaderboard, to be able to say “I’m better than you”. The tight constraints demand complete focus from all the participants, setting up a challenge that pits these artists against their own self-doubt, giving them almost no room to second-guess or overthink their approach.

We dedicate a lot of time to curating the members that compete and pairing the creatives that have synergetic styles. Everyone comes into the room as an individual but leaves as a member of the showcase community.

Davincho

Photographer Ezra Ferguson (@ezratheprofessional) & Model Vicky Freites (@vickyfreites) share their experience in the confesional booth.

During volume 1 I felt a peace come across the room, a space filled with laughter & good vibes. During our prize ceremony I realized that the win wasn't in the competition. It was a once in a lifetime opportunity to change courses. Creating something like you never have before.

Lindo

During these events, talent shines behind the lens just as much as in front of it. None of this would be possible without the small but passionate team of volunteers who help us pull this off every time, including helping with shooting, logistics, catering, music, and more. This is a community that has grown very quickly, and while our budget is mostly blood, sweat and challenges, we’re always thrilled to have amazing creative professionals help us out on every event. Some staples have been Daniel Gualdrón, Nzinga Imani, Carlisa Lynn, Landon Marzz, Anabelle Camp, Baylee Vidal, Brittney Witherby, Josh Kinoshita, the studio owners themselves, and more.

As artists ourselves, it’s been incredibly rewarding to do justice to the amazing work these visual artists can create under pressure. The work we get to capture is always top notch, and anything less than the ‘superstar treatment’ felt like it fell short of what this kind of world deserves.

seb se fue

The first episode is the baseline. It shows what the format is, how the night feels, and what kind of storytelling we want to do around photographers. It’s worth noting that the entire format was conceived and prepared in around 3 days, so if some spots feel a little rough around the edges, not only do we take that in stride, but we can guarantee that it only gets better from here.

What this first episode represents

This piece is more than a recap. It is a flag in the ground.

It proves that Atlanta’s creative scenes deserve to be documented and presented with intention. It says that local photographers are worthy of a full show format, not just getting to claim a credit in someone else’s campaign. It says that in today’s day and age, independently produced shows made for the web can carry the same weight, tension, and joy as traditional television, even if the budget is scrappier or even non-existent.

We want our members to feel seen for the work they do and the dedication they bring because it can inspire the next creative who is eager to start.

David

Model Montae (@1deepkiccz) poses for photographer Lo (@blamelolo)

The camera crystalizes the moment in time, & gives us a chance to really live that childhood memory of being free, in spaces surrounded by creatives for creatives.

Lindo

The episode is an invitation: to the photographers who want in, to the studios that want to host, to the brands that claim to care about culture and might be looking for something real to support.

Where THE SHOWCASE CLUB IS HEADED

A full run of episodes: Future volumes will get the same treatment, with each episode refining the format and spotlighting new photographers and themes.

Partnerships with studios and brands: We are actively open to studios, galleries, and brands that see the value in investing in the people who actually make the images. The goal is to keep the event accessible while increasing the resources we can offer participants.

Live premieres and screenings: As episodes roll out, we plan to host small premiere nights where people can watch together, see their work on a big screen, and keep building the relationships that start in the studio.

I hope their passion only deepens & their love only grows stronger for their stories to be told. Expression is the source of hope & creativity is the notepad for healing.

Lindo

My core mission for the showcase club is to bridge the gap between ego and empathy. We bring very talented people who are ready to show off and then as soon as the clock starts, they are just another creative person with 10 minutes to compete. There’s no social media status, no preparation, and no room for over thinking. Every person has an equal chance of winning no matter how much experience you bring with you.

Davincho

The mission is now very clear: We want The Showcase Club to be a recurring, evolving platform that gives photographers a place to develop, to be seen, and to be remembered

AN INVITATION

If you have been a part of The Showcase Club in any way, this first episode is for you. If you are a photographer who has been waiting for a sign to put your name in the hat, this might be it. If you are someone with resources who says they care about local culture, this is a chance to prove it.

UF Magazine will continue to follow the project closely, documenting not just the images that come out of these nights, but the people, spaces, and choices that make them possible.

For now, the episode is live, the cameras are charged, and the story of The Showcase Club is just getting started. You can watch it here.