Josh Aronson: Photo Book Speed Date, Pérez Art Museum Miami, Florida, 2025, © Josh Aronson.
Given the dominance of AI and social media in our lives, I believe the world (and the photography world, specifically) needs more in-person events and opportunities for deep and meaningful connection. How exciting to come across Photo Book Speed Date, an initiative by Miami-based photographer Josh Aronson, “where people meet up to share and talk about photography books in a fun, fast-round format”.
Josh Aronson: Photo Book Speed Date, Pérez Art Museum Miami, Florida, 2025, © Josh Aronson.
What made you decide to combine photo books and speed dating?
“In 2022, I had an exhibition at a commercial gallery and wanted to find a way to bring people in. An artist’s talk felt too self-gratifying. I wanted something more democratic. An event where guests felt just as important as the artist. I’d been to a speed-date–style photo night in New York hosted by the artist Shaniqwa Jarvis, which planted the seed.
“I thought: what if I made it even more participatory? Most people, whether a photographer or photo lovers, have at least one photo book at home that means something to them. What if they brought that book and shared it in timed rotations with someone across from them?
“The first Photo Book Speed Date was an experiment. I had no expectations. But the idea worked. People loved having a space to geek out about photo books, and that’s how the program was born.”
Josh Aronson: Photo Book Speed Date, Pérez Art Museum Miami, Florida, 2025, © Josh Aronson.
Once you had the idea, what did you do to make it a reality?
“Part of what I love about this idea is how little it requires. No big budget. No fancy tech. I designed a flyer, shared it online, and set up a few rows of chairs in the gallery. The first event was the week of Thanksgiving, on a rainy Wednesday night, and I remember the room filling up with people eager to connect. We ran out of chairs within the first few rounds. For three hours, people moved from seat to seat, book to book, in timed rotations. The energy was electric. Communal. Generous. Deeply engaged.”
Have you noticed that people reveal different sides of themselves through the books they bring?
“Absolutely. One of the best pieces of advice I ever got was to pay attention to who my favorite artists’ favorite artists are, and study them. I’ve learned so much about people I admire by looking at what they love. Photo Book Speed Date works the same way: you learn about your peers, your friends, and their influences through what they choose to bring and share.”
Josh Aronson: Photo Book Speed Date, Pérez Art Museum Miami, Florida, 2025, © Josh Aronson.
What kinds of relationships or collaborations have grown out of these events?
“So many. My good friend met her boyfriend at a Photo Book Speed Date. I met my girlfriend there, too. And beyond romance, dozens of photographers have met other artists, publishers, and curators through these nights. The goal was never matchmaking. It’s about opening access and creating a space where people in the photo community can meet in person, inside museum or gallery spaces that sometimes feel off-limits. I want people to feel belonging in those spaces, even just for an evening.”
Do you see Photo Book Speed Date as a way to build a creative community in Miami, or more of a one-time spark between individuals?
“Definitely the former. It’s a primer for community connection. Each conversation may only last five or ten minutes, but often they continue long after the timer stops. Any time spent face-to-face with other artists is vital. By creating a space to share what we love, my hope is to inspire others to host their own programs and to keep building the creative ecosystem here in Miami and beyond.”
Josh Aronson: Photo Book Speed Date, Pérez Art Museum Miami, Florida, 2025, © Josh Aronson.
Have you noticed any recurring themes or emotions that surface across the conversations?
“The same questions come up again and again: Why this book? What does it mean to you? How does it relate to your own work? People get so locked in that I often hate calling the next round.
“The conversations are that alive. They’re about getting to know both the artist behind the book and the person across from you.”
Why was it important for this project to happen in person rather than online?
“Because books are physical objects, they’re meant to be held, flipped through, and smelled. The intimacy of sharing a book in real time, across a table, can’t be replicated online yet.”
Do you think projects like this could help rebuild social connections in a time when so much engagement happens virtually?
“Absolutely. I’ve seen it firsthand. Historically, artists have always grown in community with one another. 2025 is no different. It’s just our turn to create the spaces where that can happen.”
What does the future look like for this project?
“In 2026, I plan to bring Photo Book Speed Date to museum spaces around the world. The program will make its West Coast debut in California and return to New York. I’m also hosting an edition in Miami at a venue central to the city’s book and art scene. My goal is to keep expanding access. To keep making space for connection through the photo books we love.”
Josh Aronson: Photo Book Speed Date, Pérez Art Museum Miami, Florida, 2025, © Josh Aronson.
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