Meet Sydney Smolla | Documentary and Fine Art photographer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Sydney Smolla and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi sydney, can you tell us more about your background and the role it’s played in shaping who you are today?
My name is Sydney Smolla, and I’m a fine art, documentary, and landscape photographer and videographer. I grew up in Nebraska and graduated in 2018 with a degree in journalism and photography. My passion for documentary work began in the cornfields outside of Kearney, Nebraska, while photographing the Sandhill Crane Migration. Seeing 700,000 cranes pass through such a quiet and subtle landscape opened my eyes to the power of visual storytelling and how it can be used to advocate for change and conservation.
After college, I worked as a communications specialist for two natural resource agencies in western Nebraska. That experience deepened my understanding of land stewardship and how communication can shape public awareness. I later moved to the Four Corners region of New Mexico, where I was struck by the beauty of the landscape, cultures and history and how underrepresented this region is.
These experiences, from the awe of the crane migration, to traveling around the world and country, to the cultural depth of the Southwest, have shaped the way I see and create. I’ve learned to search for layers in every story, to pay close attention to places and people, and to use my work as a tool for connection, representation, and advocacy.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
My photography is a blend of landscape, fine art, branding, documentary, and editorial or conceptual portraiture. More than a medium, photography has become my personal language, a way to process the world around me and communicate the parts of it that don’t always translate into words. I use everything from color theory and motion to emotion and stillness to create work that tells stories, captures moods, or simply exists as creative exploration.
What sets me apart is my multi-passionate approach. I don’t like to stay confined to one genre, and I believe in blending disciplines to push the boundaries of what photography can be. My best work often emerges in times of discomfort or transition, when I’m physically or emotionally in a place I don’t want to be. Those moments of disconnection have sharpened my vision and helped me notice things others might overlook. In those times, I’ve found meaning through my lens, and those are the images I’m most proud of.
Professionally, my journey hasn’t been linear or easy. I’ve worked full-time jobs, moved many times, traveled to other countries, slept in my car while traveling the country and lived in small rural towns where I felt completely out of place. Those experiences were isolating at times but gave me a unique outsider’s perspective that deeply informs my work today. Now as a freelance artist, I juggle paid projects with personal passion work, constantly trying to find harmony between the two. The balance isn’t perfect, but I’ve learned to give myself grace and continue learning.
One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned is that no two artistic paths look the same, and that’s okay. You can be in a room full of talented artists who have reached similar levels of success, and every single one of them took a different route to get there. It’s more important to stay grounded in your own vision than to compare your timeline to someone else’s. I’ve also learned that, especially in video and photography, an artist’s true power often lies in the work they create for fun, on their own time, and with their own resources. This kind of self-initiated or spec work is often what leads to paid opportunities. It gives people a clear picture of what you’re capable of when no one is dictating the vision. It’s a chance to show your full creative range and to attract the kinds of projects you actually want to do.
What I want the world to know is that my brand is about curiosity, depth, and storytelling. Whether I’m photographing a person, a product, or a landscape, I don’t create just for aesthetics or trends. I create to explore, to question, and to connect. If something sparks my interest, I pursue it and learn whatever I need to bring that vision to life.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I live in Durango, Colorado. Surrounding our town is a lot of beautiful public land access, mountains and trails. I would take them to some nearby trails with gorgeous views, downtown to grab some food and maybe go for a mountain bike or river trail ride.

Website: https://www.sydneysmolla.art

Instagram: sydneysmolla_art

Youtube: Sydney Smolla