ABOUT LINDA

Connecting people with wildlife, nature and stories that matter

LINDA SMIT - WILDLIFE & CONSERVATION PHOTOGRAPHER -VIDEOGRAPHER- STORYTELLER - ANIMAL CARETAKER

A passion for nature since childhood

I am Linda Smit, wildlife and conservation photographer, filmmaker and storyteller with a hands-on background in wildlife care and field conservation.
My connection with nature began in the Dutch countryside, where I spent hours observing birds, insects and other creatures, keeping diaries filled with notes and sketches. At ten, I received my first second-hand camera from my father, and photography became a way for me to explore and connect with the natural world.

What I love most about wildlife photography is not just the creative side, but the experience of being fully immersed in nature, hearing the sounds of the forest, breathing in the scent of the bush, watching the sunrise, and witnessing life unfold around me. I strive to capture their personalities, emotions and behaviours, creating images and films that reveal something of their true essence.

Over time, my focus has grown beyond documenting wildlife, to exploring the relationship between wildlife, people and the places they share. I believe we are not separate from nature, but part of it. When we become disconnected from the natural world, we can also lose touch with an important part of ourselves. Through photography and film, I want to help people reconnect with nature, better understand the challenges facing wildlife and ecosystems and discover the people working to protect them.

“If my work can make a positive difference in the lives of wild animals, I am truly grateful”

Finding my way back to nature

After a career in marketing and international sales, I faced a wake-up call when mental and physical health challenges made me reevaluate the direction of my life. Until then, I had largely followed the path that life presented to me, without really questioning whether my career and choices were aligned with who I was or what truly mattered to me. For the first time, I began to consider what kind of life and work would genuinely fit me.

Spending time observing animals in zoos became an important part of finding my way back to nature. It brought me a sense of peace and wonder that I had been missing, and gradually brought back my passion for wildlife and photography. In 2017, I was honoured as a finalist for the National Geographic Photo Award, which confirmed that I was on the right path and encouraged me to leave the corporate world.

As my passion for wildlife grew, I wanted to understand animals beyond the camera. I completed several internships as a zookeeper and gained hands-on experience working in wildlife sanctuaries. These experiences gave me a deeper understanding of animal behaviour and welfare, and taught me the importance of working respectfully and authentically in the field. I am not afraid to get my hands dirty and feel most connected when I am part of a project on the ground.

“Nature healed me and now it is time for me to do something in return”

From wildlife photography to conservation storytelling

In 2022, I embarked on a life-changing journey through South Africa. Initially planned for three months, I ended up staying six. I volunteered as a main caretaker at a big cat sanctuary, visited Kruger National Park twice and worked as a content creator at a reserve. I also documented cheetah relocations with the Endangered Wildlife Trust, witnessing firsthand the impact of conservation in action. This is where my passion for conservation photography was ignited.

In 2024, I returned to South Africa for four months, joining the Endangered Wildlife Trust Lion Survey Team as a field officer. I took identification photos of lions in Northern Kruger National Park in collaboration with SANParks, documented the Livestock Guardian Dogs Project in the Waterberg Mountains, and spent three weeks self-driving through Kruger National Park to photograph and film wildlife independently. These experiences continue to shape the kind of storyteller I want to become: one who works from within these environments, builds trust with the people involved and combines photography and film to tell meaningful stories about wildlife, conservation and coexistence.

“Great things can be achieved when we collaborate to save wildlife”

Building connections through storytelling

I believe many of the challenges facing wildlife are also connected to the growing distance between people and the natural world.

Through my work, I hope to help close that gap, to create curiosity, understanding and connection, and to give greater visibility to the people and projects working to protect wildlife and ecosystems.

If my stories can help someone see wildlife differently, feel more connected to nature, or understand why conservation matters, then they have meaning beyond the image itself.