About Us
Our Story
Our Mission
Our mission at Loupe + Grain is to establish a space where creatives of diverse backgrounds collectively design personalized visual content, display it to the world and make a strong stance for inclusion and equity to balance how media represents all cultures and communities.
- Break the glass ceiling for Black, Indigenous, People of Color, Women, and LGBTQ+ creatives
- Building wealth in under-represented communities through job opportunities
- Increase accessibility to underrepresented creatives
- Raise awareness of under-represented stories that go unheard
Our Journey
How it All Started
Loupe and Grain started as an idea between mutual friends to help alleviate the stress of editing photos.
We initially set out to create a company to help busy photographers outsource their photo editing. After spending countless hours of energy creating that business model we realized that we could have a greater impact on the lifecycle of a project by broadening the scope of the creatives we serve. Upon closer inspection into the creative industry, we confirmed that there is a lack of representation when it came to Black, Indigenous, People of Color, Women, and LGBTQ+ creatives and wanted to make a change. We pivoted our business plan and focused on building a creative staffing agency that amplifies the voices of diverse creatives and offers them paid opportunities within the creative industry.
Where we are going
By 2023, Loupe + Grain will launch an annual virtual career fair for diverse creatives, build an educational platform to help train up creatives, and partner with advertising agencies, non-profits, and small to large businesses in an effort to level the playing field for diverse creatives.
We believe that imagery has a powerful influence, and access to diverse perspectives helps shape the world in which we live.
Loupe and Grain Co-Founders
Our Core Values
Our purpose is centered around community, diversity, and equity. We exist to elevate BIPOC creatives in paid positions of influence with opportunities for advancement.
Equity
Diversity and equality will always be at the forefront of our operations. We will create initiatives and measure the progress of diversity, inclusion, and equity within our company and our creative community.
Community
We are committed to building on our members’ strengths and helping BIPOC creatives connect and share stories that will help the community. We will establish systems to create an autonomous self-governing community and maintain transparency of operations within the company and the public. We will be responsive to questions and concerns from the community to create a safe environment. We will also set clear boundaries for positive and constructive criticism around discussion topics and portfolios.
Creativity
We will tap into our creativity when problem-solving within the organization, and we will encourage creativity from others within the community. We will implement structures to foster creativity when working with our clients and within our company and our community.
Our team
The Creative Minds Behind
Loupe + Grain is co-founded by two black mothers that are working for social change. Loupe + Grain is powered by our commitment to make sure the media we see represents the world around us and the creatives behind the scenes are paid equitably.
Erika Layne Salazar
Co-founder
I’m a free spirited artist, a multi-hyphenate, an explorer and a dreamer. My goal is to create a body of work that moves beyond stereotypes and into the unfamiliar, forcing people to see the beauty of all people and their abilities. My photography work explores the beauty in every day and empowers people to see those within society who are often overlooked. I believe that everything happens for a reason. I believe that anything is possible. And I believe that there is so much art to be explored & created around us that we could be inspired all the days of our lives! I love what I do and I hope it shows through.
Valerie Singleton
Co-founder
I’m a digital marketer and Web Developer passionate about improving usability through design and code, I’m often found behind a computer listening to a new album and creating. You can usually find me outside walking through nature or hanging out with my busy three-year-old daughter. I believe in the power of execution and that nothing is impossible if you believe, work hard and stay focused.
