Meet Kyle Cassie of Kyle Cassie Photography in West Hollywood

Today we’d like to introduce you to Kyle Cassie.

Kyle, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I was born and raised in Vancouver, British Columbia Canada. I first found my love for photography in high school where I shot and developed my own photographs. I then let that hobby fall to the side as I pursued and maintained a busy career in the film industry as an actor for the next almost twenty years. I’ve always been very intrigued with visuals and the story an image can tell both with photos and film.

About 6 years ago, while starring in an independent horror film with a few of my closest friends, I picked the camera up again and starting shooting the cast and crew in between scenes on the film. This led to actors starting to ask to pay me to shoot them for headshot and editorial photography. As an actor, for years I’d often felt that headshot photographers in most cases all shot the same looking type of uninteresting photo and I would now strive to create headshot images that were more cinematic and left the viewer feeling something. It felt good to see that I could take my vast experience as an actor and marry that with my own creative vision to offer photographic work that people really valued.

Then things just grew from there by word of mouth and through exposure on social media. I recently moved to Los Angeles and have continued to watch my Photography business grow and continue to work in LA, NYC, Toronto, Vancouver and Denmark. Headshots pay the bills but what really juices me up is evocative editorial and creative portrait photography which is mostly what I do. I’m obsessed with lighting and even more so shadows. I’m always searching out new things to try and concepts to experiment with.

My insatiable appetite to visually create also spans into film. I founded Mr. Hyde Films, which I created as a boutique film production and post house 5 years ago. I’ve Edited 6 feature films and a handful of shorts, one of which earned me award nominations as Editor and Producer which was important for me early on as it helped me to trust that I might be doing something right. I’ve also Directed, Produced and Edited music videos, short form film and documentary content and continue to produce commercial content for a company in NYC.

In addition to client work, I’m currently writing my first feature film that I’ll direct alongside development for two very unique short films aimed at production end of year. My greatest challenge in life is time and its limitations. All I want to do is visually create and affect my audience along the way.

Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
The primary struggle it seems any artist faces is the gaps and financial lows in between work as you get your career moving. Luckily, I’ve worn many “hats” in this business so that’s definitely helped along the way. But perseverance, ambition and blind faith are the only reasons I am where I am today, yet I’m still far from where I’d like to be down the road. Although I’m sure that will never not be the case.

Also, I was a passenger in a harrowing car crash just out of high school. I died for a couple minutes before coming back to life and then into a coma for a few weeks. Waking from this coma with such a clear mind and appreciation for life is what made me want to dive into my greatest desire, and fear, which was a career as an artist. I also sustained a pretty big hit to the head in the crash which my post accident therapist said had permanently opened up my boundaries of thought in my brain. I thought that was kinda cool if I had to take anything positive from the experience.

Please tell us about Kyle Cassie Photography.
I strive to create content that is unique and engaging, whether in Photography or my Film/Video and Post work. I think as a Photographer, I’m still discovering what my “thing” is, I interpret each photo shoot and client separately and deliver a finished product that speaks to me organically.

As a budding filmmaker, I think I have a very strong and specific visual storytelling voice. I’m still exploring and evolving that voice but I like how it’s hitting audiences so far. Filmmaking is most exciting because it’s a marriage of so many elements that hit the senses. Picture, motion, sound, emotion, synergy.

Do you look back particularly fondly on any memories from childhood?
Impossible question… So many memories I like and of course dislike. Standing on top of mountains in BC was always pretty epic.

Contact Info:

• Website: http://kylecassiephotography.com
• Other:  MRHYDEFILMS.COM

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