Smeeta Mahanti is a successful lifestyle and editorial photographer who started out with a degree in education—a field she loved for its focus on the developing brain. But after a move from Michigan to California and the discovery that she was going to be a mom, Smeeta decided to stay at home for a while and focus on the wonder that was her son.
In those early days following him around as he discovered the world, Smeeta took out a camera and began to document his life. Maybe that was the inquisitive educator in her, but she laughs when she says it was more to show her husband what their son was doing while he was away at work than anything else. In any case, these weren’t your average posed photographs. They were images of discovery—both for Smeeta and her son. If he was about to eat a flower in the yard, she’d snap a shot, text it to her husband, and say, “Look how cute. I hope it doesn’t kill him!”
Today, Smeeta’s lively and bright images can be seen in People Magazine, San Francisco Chronicle, at Pepco, Google, Amazon, and LinkedIn, among many others. Family—especially kids—are still her favorite subjects, but no matter the subject, she uses that same wonder, awe, and levity into every picture she shoots.
More than that, being so devoted to family has taught Smeeta the art of having someone’s back, a value that sets her apart during photography shoots.
Now, Smeeta is Focus on Women’s Chair of Inclusivity, where she has the backs of all women in the media industry.
It was a pleasure to talk to her from her Bay area home where all the family stuff takes place.
Tell me what kids represent for you and why they are central to your work.
I love photographing kids! I love, especially capturing the awkward years. I think there is so much beauty in the awkwardness. And I’m inspired by how kids are not yet jaded by life. There is so much truth in that innocence. I am always humbled by them and what they are thinking—as a mother and a photographer. They shoulder so much. Sometimes I wonder how they have the tools to navigate the world we’ve created for them.
I noticed that most of the people in your photographs read like they are part of a family. Even if you photograph a man in a room, somehow that man feels like a dad to me.
That’s so interesting. When I’m photographing for clients, I use the idea of family to connect with people and put them at ease. To me, every person has an important story to tell, and when we recognize the humanity in other people, it’s an opportunity to see them as part of our larger family. So, I ask them questions and try to get to know them as human beings. I want them to trust me and want to hang out after the shoot, like we could go have a drink together afterward.
Does that mean, for you, family is about trust and understanding?
Absolutely! Family is about saying, “Hey, I got you.” Once you let the person know that you’ve got them, they can exhale and be themselves. They trust you. And trust is everything—in photography, family, and in any relationship. This is especially true when photographing women who worry a lot of about how they look or how they are perceived. When I say, “Hey, I got you,” it makes a huge difference. That’s something I do a lot, just say “I got you.”
That phrase “I’ve got you,” and the way you use it is so comforting and insightful. It seems obvious, but honestly, having people’s back as a way of living is profound and unique. Where do you think you learned this?
Well, I come from a big, loud Indian family. My brother and I were the first generation of kids here, so I have taken on the role of elder in my family for my younger cousins. I’m their confidante and teacher when they can’t go to their parents. This is a role I take very seriously. I guess that’s where I learned it.
Oh, and I can’t forget my mother, who is just the coolest mother in the world! After she retired, like 20 years ago, my mom went back to India and began a nano-financing fund, which lent small amounts of money to women in need without interest. Many of those women created profitable gardens and businesses with the money. I recently went back to India with my mom, and I couldn’t believe how changed these villages are now because of this program. I think that’s having someone’s back—you see someone in need and you help them. It’s simple and we all should be doing more of it.
How do you think all this can be transferred to your role as Inclusivity Chair at Focus on Women?
Well, women in the photography and production industry need support and understanding like everyone else. I was at a portfolio review not too long ago, and I was one of the few women in the room. Among those, I was the only woman of color. So we have work to do in that direction. As a woman of color myself, I bring a unique perspective into the industry and can help bridge the gap. I want to make sure that all women are being represented at FOW, so I’m going to do whatever I can to bring them into the conversations women are having about this work.
What does that conversation look like to you?
Well, it’s one where we don’t have to explain ourselves because we all know the struggles. You know what I mean? It’s hard enough to be considered for a bid, let alone always feeling like you’re in competition. I hate that as women, we’re always taught to be in competition with each other. So, I want the conversation to be about being each other’s resources. Networking and relationships can bring us all work and help us through tough times like we’ve seen with Covid. At the end of the day, when you have support from a strong group of women, it elevates you.
For other interviews on the women behind Focus on Women, check out the Space for Arts blog.
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