Jordan Smith takes photos that feel like stories already in progress. Here’s our conversation about Chicago, how skateboarding shaped his high contrast style, what he’s pulling from, and who would actually win in a fight between a runway model and a skater.
You're based in Chicago. What influences did you grow up with?
I am originally from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania so my early taste was fine tuned by boom bap rap and the energy behind it. The east coast is known for it's in your face, raw, feeling that is just undeniable. It shows up in my work by pushing me to make striking images that stand out from the norma.
Every photo of yours feels like there's a story happening. Do you think about that when you shoot?
I think a lot about the story the lighting is telling & how that coincides with the styling & energy of the model. That is all mostly done before I shoot so while I'm shooting I am mostly thinking about the best way to compose & direct my models to get the best results out them as possible.
There's something nostalgic about your work. Where does that come from?
It comes for my love & start in film & digi cam photography. Some of my earliest experiences with a camera were with my moms digital camera or disposables. They made me feel like a real photographer & I was so drawn to them. I still feel the same way when I pick up my camera today.
What's your favorite movie? I want to know what you're referencing.
The original knives out.
So, skateboarding led you to the high-contrast style you have now. Was it the photography you grew up seeing, or the culture itself?
A good mix. I always surrounded myself with so many different kinds of people growing up so I was like a sponge to all perspectives. I was always drawn to the rebellious nature of skateboarding & the people I saw do it. They didn't care about anything. Cops trying to kick them out, falling & getting hurt, how loud their music was. I still embody that same kind of energy in my work in a lot of different ways today.
How do you put together a team for test shoots? What makes you want to work with someone?
I defer to the homies. I love to work with people who will run through a wall for me & I would do the same. People who understand my visual language & can either add to that technically or creatively. I work with people who I would go get coffee with. That's how you make a set come to life.
What’s the best editorial you’ve ever shot? What made it click?
I would have to say either my Black History Month project from 2025 or my most recent project, "Fly & Free". These two things clicked because they pushed me to take steps in my process that drew something out of me. I walked out of each post process with a new sense of myself & my art. Both of these projects reached such wide audience that reaffirmed that new shift in style.
Who would win in a fight, a runway model or a skater?
Oh, Skater hands down.
