Little did Linda Smith know that a subway ride in Hong Kong would shape the course of her life. While in high school, she spent the summer in Asia with a non-profit group, taking photographs. At the time, photography was only a hobby to her.

One day, a passenger on the subway asked her how she was using her camera. She told him she was taking pictures for fun. She bought the camera secondhand from a friend for $100.

He asked her, “Why don’t you do something more with it? Why don’t you make a career out of photography? You could change the world with your photos.”

The conversation with the stranger never left her mind. When she returned to the United States, she began to pursue photography with passion.

During her senior year of high school, she applied to colleges to study photography. She decided to attend Syracuse University in Syracuse, N.Y. The summer before her freshman year at college she interned at “The Advocate Newspapers” in Stamford, Conn.

While studying at Syracuse University, she took classes at the College of Visual and Performing Arts, as well as the S.I. Newhouse School of Communications. She also interned at the “Post-Standard” newspaper in Syracuse.

The summer before her sophomore year of college, she traveled with a non-profit organization to Hyderabad, India, where she photographed orphanages. In 2001, she graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in photography.

Upon graduation, Linda moved to London, England, where she earned a Master of Arts in image and communications from Goldsmiths College at the University of London. She assisted British photographers and interned at Network Photographers, an international photo agency. She also exhibited her work at various locations, including Oxo Tower in London.

In 2004, she returned to the Northeast United States and founded Linda Smith Photography. She began photographing weddings, portraits and models. She enjoys being able to capture defining moments in the lives of her clients.

During June 2005, she traveled to Moscow and Vladimir, Russia. Again, she photographed orphanages.

In January 2006, she traveled to Nyratovu and Kigali, Rwanda, with Trinity Church, which is based in Greenwich, Conn. In April 2006, her photographs from the trip were featured at the 12th Genocide Commemoration at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars in Washington, D.C. The Rwandan Embassy held the event, and Ambassador Zac Nsenga gave remarks. In 2007, Linda began "Through the Eyes of Hope Project", a non profit that provides cameras to disadvantaged children throughout the world.

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