The Social is back this evening, from 6.30pm at The Photographers' Gallery, and this time we're looking at photo collectives. Is there strength in numbers and, if so, how does getting together with other photographers help you progress? Photographer, lecturer, writer and curator Aaron Schuman, and photographer Andre Penteado, talk through their experience of photo collectives and what made them work for them. 

Aaron Schuman was the founding member the Photo Debut collective, which ran from 2002-2009 and featured many photographers who have gone on to find success in photography, including Schuman but also Afshin Dehkordi (creative consultant at Brighton Photo Fringe), Esther Teichmann, Jan von Holleben, Richard Mosse, Hin Chua, Ben Roberts and many more. Andre Penteado is a member of Roof Unit, which includes Toby Smith, Jason Larkin, Laura Hynd and Tim Bowditch.

The Social is free and is run by The Photographers' Gallery and the British Journal of Photography. It takes place four to six times a year, and is pitched as a get-together for photographers, with tips and advice on best professional practice. Previous editions have taken a look at opening your own gallery, pitching to picture editors, creating an iPad portfolio and publishing your own photography books.