Beuford Smith

Born in Cincinnati, Ohio in 1941 Beuford Smith was a distinguished American social documentary photographer whose work has been central to the visual representation of Black life and culture since the 1960s. His early interest in photography was sparked by encountering Roy DeCarava’s evocative images in The Sweet Flypaper of Life. This moment of inspiration prompted Smith to pursue photography seriously, eventually leading him to New York City where he immersed himself in the vibrant and politically charged art scene. It was there that he encountered other Black photographers who shared his vision and commitment to community, ultimately joining the Kamoinge Workshop as a founding member in 1965. Smith has often described his involvement with Kamoinge as the most critical phase of his early creative development.

Kamoinge, which means "a group of people acting together" in the Kikuyu language of Kenya, provided a nurturing yet challenging environment for African American photographers to critique one another’s work and strive toward artistic excellence. Smith also served as president of the group, helping to shape its mission of truth-telling, cultural authenticity, and creative integrity. The collective stood as a groundbreaking model of collaborative artistic practice, particularly during an era when Black photographers were often marginalized by mainstream institutions. Smith’s work with Kamoinge connected him to figures such as Roy DeCarava and other contemporaries who deeply influenced his own photographic approach—one marked by empathy, subtlety, and formal clarity.

By 1966, Smith had launched his career as a freelance photographer, and two years later, he expanded his practice to include cinematography. Throughout the decades, he has worked on both personal and commercial projects, photographing for high-profile clients such as Black Star, AT&T, Emory University, Merrill Lynch, Avon, and General Electric. His commitment to socially engaged photography led to founding The Black Photographers Annual in 1973, working alongside artist editor Shawn Walker and publisher Joe Crawford. The publication became a vital platform for showcasing the work of Black photographers such as Vance Allen, Ray Francis, Anthony Barboza, and Ming Smith at a national level, pushing back against exclusionary practices in the art world and advocating for the visibility of diverse Black experiences.

In addition to his editorial and freelance work, Smith founded the Cesaire Photo Agency and taught photography in workshops and at Cooper Union, New Muse, Brooklyn Museum, PAL, and Hunter College, furthering his role as a mentor and educator. He has been published in notable magazines, exhibition catalogs, and photography annuals including Camera, Candid Photography, Soul of a Nation, The Sweet Breath of Life, Contact Sheet, Harpers, Photo District News, Collecting African American Art, and MoMA publications, and his photographs have been exhibited at major venues such as the Studio Museum in Harlem, the Addison Gallery of Art in Andover, Massachusetts, New York University, Kenkeleba House Gallery, Light Work Gallery, and the Tate Modern. His exhibitions throughout the 1970s and 1980s, such as “Two Schools: Chicago and New York” and solo shows like “Beuford Smith: Photographs,” solidified his status as a vital voice in documentary photography.