THROUGH THE LENS: POWERFUL STORYTELLING BY ALUM IN ART SCHOOL

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January 3, 2026

For information on admission to Notre Dame Prep, please click here.

Shaped by experimentation, reflection and a growing confidence in her ability to tell meaningful stories, “distinguished scholar” Sydney Hinds is discovering her voice in documentary photography.

Sydney Hinds arrived at the Savannah College of Art and Design, one of the world’s top art schools, knowing she wanted to be challenged — but without a fixed idea of what that challenge would look like.

Now halfway through her third year at SCAD, the 2023 Notre Dame Prep graduate is thriving in an environment that demands both technical precision and personal reflection. Majoring in photography on the prestigious SCAD Distinguished Scholars Award scholarship, Hinds has spent her college career learning how to balance structure and freedom, and how to trust her instincts as a visual storyteller.

“My time at SCAD has been amazing and better than I could’ve ever expected,” Hinds said. “I’ve learned so many new things and made so many new friends. The teachers at SCAD have all been so nice and continue to push me in my photographic abilities.”

That push has come through a wide range of photographic disciplines. At SCAD, Hinds has worked in black-and-white film, color film, commercial photography and documentary photography, gaining fluency in both process and creative purpose.

“I’ve been allowed to dabble in many different types of photography at SCAD,” she said. “Not many things surprised me because I went into SCAD with no expectations of normality.”

Freedom and responsibility

What did surprise her, however, was the degree of autonomy she was given — and the responsibility that came with it.

“Sometimes the level of freedom was overwhelming,” Hinds said. “Don’t get me wrong, there are still restrictions and things I must do. However, it’s fun to try and find a middle ground of knowing your limits and pushing yourself so you can grow.”

That balance — creative freedom within defined goals — has become central to her development. Rather than prescribing content, many assignments focus on outcomes such as storytelling, lighting mastery or conceptual clarity.

“Most of these projects, when assigned, were a ‘here’s what the end goal needs to be,’” she said. “Which then allows the students to grow in their skill set while still being able to use their own voice.”

A unity of faith and people

One such project would become one of the most meaningful experiences of her time at SCAD.

Hinds’ self-guided documentary series on Churches in East Georgia began as a backup plan after her original proposal was declined.

“My documentary project started as a backup plan for another project pitch I wanted to do,” she said. “My teacher didn’t favor my Plan A so to Plan B I went.”

What followed was an immersive exploration of worship, community and shared belief across denominations. Over the course of the quarter, Hinds traveled to four different church communities in or near Savannah, photographing Sunday services at Community Bible Church, St. Matthew Catholic Church (Spanish and college student Masses), St. Phillip’s African Methodist Episcopal Church and the Reformed University Fellowship Fall Conference.

“I wanted to capture the variety of denominations but also showcase that they aren’t these vastly different things,” Hinds said. “They all worship and celebrate the same God and believe in the same Savior.”

Her focus extended beyond architecture or ritual. Instead, Hinds concentrated on people — faces, gestures and moments that conveyed connection and devotion. She also made deliberate visual choices, working to maintain consistent color palettes across images to reinforce the sense of unity.

“My goal was to not only showcase the churches in subject, but to also showcase them visually,” she said. “I wanted to capture the worship that occurs. That was the main focus.”

Open and welcoming

One of the project’s most unexpected aspects was how willing congregations were to welcome her.

“I was worried that when I started this project that a lot of churches would say no, because of how sacred and sacramental the time at church can be,” she said. “But I only had one church say no.”

The openness she encountered allowed her to work patiently and respectfully, often waiting for quiet, unguarded moments that revealed something deeper.

“Different faces, ages, ethnicities, all celebrating their God in worship,” she said. “A unity of faith and people. One Church, one body.”

Among the images in the series, one remains her favorite.

“Shepherd’s Little Lamb probably being my favorite recent image I have taken,” Hinds said. “The pure moment caught in this image, unplanned, unposed, just a moment in time captured by a camera that tells a beautiful story.”

Outside the studio and classroom, Hinds has also found grounding through Reformed University Fellowship, which she credits with shaping her college experience in quieter but important ways.

“One thing I did not expect to find was a group that could help me grow and live in my faith,” she said. “I found my closest friends in a religious group called RUF.”

Looking ahead, Hinds is intentionally resisting the pressure to define her post-graduation path too narrowly. While she knows documentary photography has captured her imagination, she is leaving space for discovery.

“My dream career can take me anywhere,” she said. “I know I definitely want to photograph people and capture their story.”

Notre Dame Prep, IB inspires, prepares

That instinct — to observe carefully and tell stories with intention — was cultivated long before she arrived in Savannah. Hinds credits Notre Dame Prep, particularly her time in the International Baccalureate Diploma Program and IB art classes, with preparing her for SCAD’s demands.

“At NDP I learned what it takes to be a good student,” she said. “Most of all, though, NDP strengthened my art skill.”

As she continues that journey, Hinds credits Notre Dame Prep with helping lay the foundation — academically, artistically and personally.

“Being in Mrs. LewAllen’s IB art class allowed me to grow in my artistic voice and see art in a new light,” she said, noting that the IB Diploma Program prepared her well for SCAD’s academic rigor. Some of her high school artwork still hangs in her apartment, a reminder of where her creative path began.

“NDP will always be a big part of my artistic and academic adventure,” Hinds said. “It got me to where I am now and for that I will always be grateful.”

 

For information on admission to Notre Dame Prep, please click here.

Comments or questions? mkelly@ndpma.org

About Notre Dame Preparatory School
"At Notre Dame Prep, we inspire our students to become the best versions of themselves. We challenge them through an experience of academic excellence, focused on active, project-based learning. We invite them to explore a world of opportunities beyond the classroom. We guide them as they grow in spirituality within a community strong in its Catholic and Marist identity."

Notre Dame Preparatory School is a private, Catholic, independent, coeducational day school located in Oakland County. Notre Dame Preparatory School's upper school enrolls students in grades nine through twelve and has been named one of the nation's best 50 Catholic high schools (Acton Institute) four times since 2005. Notre Dame Prep's middle and lower schools enroll students in pre-kindergarten through grade eight. All three schools are International Baccalaureate "World Schools." NDP is conducted by the Marist Fathers and Brothers and is accredited by the Independent Schools Association of the Central States and the National Association of Independent Schools. For more on Notre Dame Preparatory School, visit the school’s home page at www.ndpma.org.