Cass O’Neil is a music photographer and filmmaker based in Vancouver. With a fly-on-the-wall approach, she shoots a diverse range of subjects to capture the unique moments behind the scenes and on stage.
Growing up in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, Cass was inspired early on by the local music scene and the sense of connection that music creates. After graduating from the Film & Television program at Humber College in Toronto, she made her way to the west coast. Those formative experiences helped shape her perspective as a visual storyteller and sparked a lasting passion for documenting artists, live performances, and the moments that happen beyond the stage.
Cass has spent the majority of her career working across documentary, commercial, and music-focused productions. Her style is intimate, dreamlike, and emotional, with a focus on capturing the people, stories, and fleeting moments that connect us.
My art has always been inspired by life itself. I am drawn to the big and small moments — memories, love, heartbreak, grief, lust, depression, and nostalgia. This philosophy of drawing inspiration from life has stayed with me throughout my work.
Cass’s recent work spans music photography, tour documentation, behind-the-scenes content, and filmmaking. She has worked with 604 Records and documented life on the road with Marianas Trench, capturing the energy of live performances and the quieter moments behind the scenes. Her work with artists includes Bob Rock, Michael Buble, Dallas Smith, Default, Faber Drive, The Offspring, Matchbox Twenty, and The Reklaws, among many others.
Her documentary credits include AMPLIFY HER (2019), a feature documentary available on Prime Video exploring the rise of the feminine in electronic music, and Amplify Her Universe, for which she worked as a cinematographer documenting female-identifying animators and illustrators creating the accompanying comic book series. She also worked on LIFE AFTER DARK, a documentary exploring the stories of suicide survivors across Canada and their journeys toward hope, and BIG HEARTS, a documentary for Sony Nashville following musician Tenille Townes and her fundraising efforts for a youth shelter in Northern Alberta.
In 2023, Cass was accepted as an affiliate member of the Canadian Society of Cinematographers (CSC) and is a member of local ICG669.
Above any other occupational title, Cass considers herself a storyteller. Life is fleeting, and in the end, it is our stories and the moments we share that we treasure most. Whether through a frame of film, a live performance, or an intimate moment behind the scenes, her work is driven by a desire to preserve those fleeting moments and make people feel something.