Today we’d like to introduce you to Cassidy Meyers.
Cassidy, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I have been a creative-minded and visual person for as long as I can remember. Throughout my life, I’ve played many instruments, written poetry and short stories, produced and edited music videos, and painted. Growing up in a house full of creatives (my dad being a music video director, and my mom who used to act), was a very encouraging environment for me to practice all of my artistic endeavors.
It wasn’t until my senior year of high school that I discovered my passion for photography. I took a photography course as an elective, not knowing how much it was going to impact me from that moment forward.
My teacher assigned us many projects throughout the year with loose guidelines, so I was able to be as creative as I wanted. I realized that I started spending much more time planning and perfecting my shoots for this course than I did doing homework for my other classes. I learned how to work a digital camera, how to use photoshop and many other very useful technical skills that I still apply to this day. However, what I loved most about this class was getting a chance to work in the darkroom. Learning how to use a film camera, and the many meticulous steps it took to process film after you’re done with a roll, was beyond fascinating to me. I began spending almost every lunch in the photography studio, either editing pictures on photoshop, or developing in the darkroom.
Coming to college, I started as an English major. Although I knew I wanted my future career to be in a creative realm, I was scared to fully dive into Photography, thinking that it was not as solid of a major as English. As time progressed, I realized that there was no point in being in school for four years in a major that I was not entirely passionate about. Therefore, my second semester Freshman year, I decided to take the leap and become a Photography major and Writing minor. Ever since making that change, I’ve felt much more aligned with my purpose and happy with the courses and teachers I’ve learned from.
Being at Spelman is such an inspiring place for me to work on my art. All of the amazing women that surround me everyday and the energy of the AUC as a whole really pushes me to be my best self. I love collaborating with other artists, models, and anyone who has a love for the arts within the AUC.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
Throughout my journey, I’ve gone through a lot of self-doubt. Wondering if I’m good enough, if I’ll get to the level I want to be at, and if I’ll ultimately be successful. But I’ve come to realize that all of these worries and doubts are extinguished the harder I work and dedicate myself to my craft. Sometimes I may wish that I’m further along than I am, but I can’t get to that point without taking it a step and a day at a time. Everyday, I try to do something to keep me inspired and continue to grow with my art. This may be something such as creating a mood board from images I find online, practicing editing styles or spontaneously going out to shoot. As long as I stay committed and believe in my talents, I have faith that I will achieve success.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with Captures By Cassidy – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of and what sets you apart from others.
I am most inspired by women and the black experience, therefore, this is what a lot of my work tends to incorporate. I mainly take portraits on both digital and film cameras. I would say that my work is often vibrant and expressive, because I am very drawn to color, and I like to give my subjects freedom to express themselves. I’m not a huge fan of posing my subjects unless they shoot is strictly fashion photography based. I feel as though images come out strongest when my subject is vulnerable and feels comfortable to portray themselves how they wish.
This past summer, I was given a scholarship with the help of Myra Greene (Spelman’s Photography Program Director) and Mary Schmidt Campbell (Spelman College’s President), to study for a week at the Anderson Ranch Arts Center in Colorado. There, I studied under documentary photographer Richard Renaldi for a week in a Photographing Strangers course. This course really pushed me out of my comfort zone with my photography and encouraged me to do more documentary work rather than only portrait work. Since then, I’ve done two documentary-style shoots. The first was in Paris in August; I walked around the streets almost everyday seeing what interesting moments and people I could capture. The second documentary-style shoot I did was at home in Los Angeles. I went to the Venice Beach skatepark with my friend for a few days, brought a disposable and my film camera and just shot skaters, the surroundings, really anything that caught my eye. I’ve started to really enjoy this type of photography because it captures the true essence of a moment.
A project that I am most proud of so far is my “Spelman: Re-created” series. Within this series, I compare and contrast the lives of current Spelman students to the lives of students in the past (starting in the 60’s and leading up to the 90’s). I needed as many students to be apart of it as possible, therefore I posted on social media as well as let people know in person that I was recreating archived Spelman images. Many students were eager to help and be apart of this project, and without them, the end result would not have been possible. Once I posted the images from this series on my website and Instagram, I got an overwhelming amount of love from students within the AUC, alumni, and teachers expressing how intimate and personal the project felt for them specifically.
So, what’s next? Any big plans?
Currently, I’m working on a completely new photographic style. As I previously mentioned, I am normally very drawn to colors and prints; but I’ve slowly started to diverge from this style. I am very inspired by black women photographers Kennedi Carter and Breyona Holt because they make very moody, rich work. I’ve begun to focus a lot more on lighting, emotion and texture rather bright colors (although I don’t think I’ll ever fully let go of my love for color). I’m really trying to hone in on the content – ensuring that the messages I’m trying to portray, if any, are exhibited to the best of my abilities.
I am also working a lot on my documentary photography. I’m obsessed with capturing the purity and authenticity of a certain moment. I like to make work that people can connect to. Whether it be visually or emotionally; evoking conversation about a topic or capturing images in a unique way is something I always strive to do within my work.
Pricing:
- Digital Camera Shoot (only): $50 flat rate – includes edits
- Film Camera Shoot (one roll – color or b&w): $60 flat rate – includes edits (if needed)
- Digital & Film Camera Shoot: $75 – includes edits
- Prints: $25 – small, $45 large
- Add ons: graphic edits – $15 – any service
- 10% discount for students
Contact Info:
- Website: capturesbycassidy.com
- Email: capturesbycassidym@gmail.com
- Instagram: @capturesbycassidy
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