Cassie is a color nerd that is known for rich, bold tones in her images. She geeks out over the post-production process of photography, and loves a good hand-edit. She is an Okie transplant, currently living in Portland, Oregon with her husband and daughter. Her goal with every photograph is to tell a story using light, color, and composition giving the impression of an authentic documentary style. She offers client work for couples, seniors and families, education and mentorship for photographers, and is a stock contributor for several organizations. In addition to photography, she enjoys spending my time drinking coffee (or wine), exploring, traveling to far-off places (and not-so-far places), and watching Hulu while ordering takeout.

Congratulations to Cassie on becoming an Unraveled Expert Artist!! We are so excited to watch her shine in this community! Cassie is now an instructor with us at the Academy, teaching on CMYK Skin Tones (we told you she was a color nerd) in Photoshop, Composition and more! Our UEA’s are the first to be given instructor opportunities when they arise and Cassie was up for the gig!

For more inspiration from Cassie:

Instagram | Website | Facebook

Here is Cassie, Unraveled…

What inspired your art?

I'm inspired by color, light, and how they work together to create magic. As an artist, I find myself constantly seeking ways to tell the story through color. I want to inspire others to use color creatively in imagery.

What do you shoot with? Camera body and favorite lens?

Canon 5d Mark IV. My favorite lens for everyday and travel is my canon 35. I use my 105 sigma for the majority of my flower and macro work, and my big canon 70-200 for portraits.

What other ways do you express your creativity?

I love to dabble in graphic and document design. I self-taught myself indesign and illustrator, and enjoy using them to create and design.

How do you de-stress at the end of the day?

A glass of wine, a bubble bath, and an audio book!

What kind of music do you listen to while editing?

I either listen to audio books or music. I have eclectic taste in music. My top stations are Norah Jones Coffeehouse, Lizzo, and 90's Radio.

What is your favorite book?

Ahhh hard question. I'm still a huge Harry Potter fan and have enjoyed sharing the first few in the series with my daughter. I recently listened to Where the Crawdads Sing and it's probably my current favorite. I also am really enjoying the Subtle Art of Not Giving a *uck currently.

Name one movie that inspires you.

I could watch Sleepless in Seattle over and over. I wouldn't say it inspires me, but it is a favorite.

What has been the most difficult part of your creative journey?

Keeping in mind that it's not a competition... It's our natural tendency to compare ourselves to other artists. Learning to accept that there will always be someone more successful, that's doing it better, more creative, making more money... and learning to ignore all of that. Learning to press on and be the best I can be.

Who is one of your favorite photographers?

I have a long list of photographers that I love for various reasons. Many who have helped me with business or marketing, some that inspire me with their work and creativity, and some that are huge pools of knowledge. My top ten would probably be: Kate Davis, Missy Knight, Meg Loeks, Anna Hurley, Courtney Larson, Brianna Swan, Ruth Purnell Young, Stephanie Rufener, Jenny Waller and Michele Therese.

How do you handle self doubt or creative slumps?

I believe a bubble bath and a glass of wine can literally solve anything. That said, we have all gone through periods where we don't want to pick up our cameras. I usually reach out to my favorite photography friends for a pep talk when this happens. I also love to look for new artists that inspire me.

What is your favorite pizza topping?

Supreme.

What is your most favorite kind of light and why?

Window Light. More specifically, I love to have window light as the only light source.