Episode 95: Matthew Jordan Smith / Renowned Fashion and Celebrity Photographer & Nikon Ambassador

Feb 23, 2019

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Renowned fashion and celebrity photographer and Nikon ambassador Matthew Jordan Smith joins the show from his home in Tokyo to talk about how he went from the son of a preacher in a small town in the south to a very successful career in photography and the set of America's Next Top Model to work with his friend and frequent collaborator Tyra Banks. Although Matthew was born in Brooklyn, he moved to the south at the age of 7 when his anesthesiologist father decided he wanted to pursue his passion of preaching and find his flock in a new location. Feeling like an outsider in a new town he found photography at an early age and it gave him a voice and a way in to the world around him. He instantly became fascinated with it and decided to go on to study photography. When he left college early on to move to New York instead however, that's when his real photography education began. He worked his way up in the world of assisting, and fell in love with fashion photography. Before long, an agent stepped in and said he would be shooting for him now and the rest is history. He's gone on to have an amazing career, shooting everyone from the world's most sought after super models to A-list celebrities, yet always kept a humble attitude and a beginners mind approach that would propel him further and further in the industry. With multiple books to his name, a podcast of his own, and speaking gigs all over the world he has also given back to the world that gave so much to him. During our conversation Matthew talks about the importance of always working on personal projects, the false narrative that success will bring you happiness that so many get trapped by, how he handles the stress of shooting celebrity work, and the advice he gives to others coming up in the world of photography.