Jamie Smith
Photographer
Jamie Smith is an artist and teacher who ardently believes that photography can be a tool for both personal growth and social transformation.
The communities that have shaped Jamie are diverse: he grew up in Silicon Valley, went to school in Santa Barbara, worked in San Diego and New York City, traveled the world on photography assignments, and currently lives in to Northeastern Pennsylvania, where he spent childhood summers exploring the Susquehanna River with his grandmother.
While a student at UC Santa Barbara, Jamie picked up a camera for the first time and found himself transformed. Mentored by Guggenheim-award winner Richard Ross, he discovered the power to observe and to connect with his subject.
Early in his career, Jamie shot stories for The Times Leader, The San Diego UnionTribune, The North County Times, and other publications. In 2003, Jamie became an early adopter of D-65s innovative digital photography workflow and received his technical education assisting for Seth Resnick.
Relocating to New York City in 2007, Jamie spent two years as studio manager for legendary photographer, Jay Maisel. This had a profound influence on Jamie and led to a collaboration with Jay – the two developed the curriculum for a series of over (50) week-long workshops for adult photographers from over (35) countries.
Now independently producing the NYC workshops, Jamie continues to transform participants’ view of the world by working with a wide range of world-class photographers, instructors, and creative visionaries.
In 2015, Jamie decided that this very successful workshop curriculum could provide teens with the skills and the inspiration to experience the personal transformation that leads to the social transformation we all seek. He founded the Social Fabric Collective, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that provides professional photography equipment, education, and inspiration to high school students who are as diverse as they are dynamic.
In 2017, SFC started offering week-long summer workshops in California and classes for Northeast Sight Services Youth Transition program. Using SFC curriculum, he also taught at Wyoming Seminary.