10 Questions with Cassandra McCoy

Cassie McCoy was born on May 6th, 2003, in Akron, Ohio. Coming from a family of musicians, media lovers, and workaholics, Cassie's gritty, creative path was destined. She was born and raised in Kent, Ohio, and is currently working on a communications/photojournalism degree at Kent State University. Cassie found her first film camera in 2022 at a thrift store for a lowly six bucks. This camera launched her into a new world, inspiring her to create art that she was proud of. Since then, she has been shooting nonstop, whether it be portraits, simple street life, or concerts.

She has been featured in three exhibits, all happening in 2024. Her first was with Lomography and Color Resource Center in New York City. The exhibit catapulted her into making film photography her main priority in life. Currently capturing the Midwest, she is headed to Los Angeles in September 2025 to pursue her dreams of being a photographer for a magazine and/or working for Lomography. The 21-year-old analog lover has only begun her creative journey and has no plan of stopping her passion.

cassiemccoy.com | @churbumgirl

Cassandra McCoy - Portrait | Ph. Emma Lammermeier

ARTIST STATEMENT

Cassie McCoy has an analog obsession. Being born and raised in the Midwest, she takes the simple yet heartwarming scenes, completely blowing them out of proportion. To her, everything is important and larger than life! Cassie loves taking photos of friends, concerts, and sincere scenes. If one were to describe her art in three words, it would be invasive, vivid, and lomographic. Lomography changed her life on a level that is hard to describe with words alone.

"Don't think, just shoot!" is one of the company's many mantras. When she first started shooting, Cassie was scared of being a burden. She felt annoyed being up close with shots, using flash, or getting in the way. The lomographic approach of just doing something rather than nothing, not even thinking about the film outcome, released anxiety and made her fall in love with the surprise aspect of getting the film back. Every day is a holiday when you forget what you shoot and finally get your results! She also dabbles in VHS videography from time to time, making music videos for friends. Another thing Cassie enjoys is graphic design and writing. Combining two hobbies, she made her first photo booklet about her findings on her solo trips in 2024, titled Constant. If she is not shooting or creating, Cassie is most likely getting a coffee, relaxing with her cat, cooking for friends, or on a hunt for new music to listen to.

Common, 35mm photo, 8x10 in, 2024 © Cassandra McCoy

INTERVIEW

You discovered your first film camera at a thrift store in 2022, which sparked your love for analog photography. Can you share what it was about that camera and the medium that resonated so deeply with you?

I picked up a Minolta freedom zoom 65 for only six dollars and it was hanging by a thread. I had never had a film camera before and thought I should try it out because it was so cheap. Even if it was a little bit broken, it would be worth it because of the price. The point-and-shoot quickly became a part of my everyday life, taking it to every party and hangout I went to, local shows, and just shooting at my apartment. My first few rolls were on expired rolls I got with the camera, and I quickly fell involved with the great grain and vintage colors.

Growing up in a family of musicians and media enthusiasts, how did these influences shape your creative approach to photography and storytelling?

My parents are some of my biggest role models. My dad has an extensive knowledge of everything he finds interesting and my mom is a gifted public speaker and singer as well. A thirst for knowledge and wanting to share that with everyone were the gifts given to me by my parents. However, since they are older, they tend to be traditional and more standoffish with how they present themselves (no offense if you are reading this, Mom and Dad!) Since the generational gap is huge,I feel that I am a lot more shameless and risky with the way I present my art and thoughts in the world. This also translates into music taste; they like a lot more straight-up/flowy stuff like jazz and choral pieces; my dad loves The Moody Blues, too. I think the genres I'm into represent the work I do: drum and bass, experimental rap, trip-hop, math rock, noise. Yeah, you get the idea.

Basement, 35 mm photo, 8x10 in, 2024 © Cassandra McCoy

Constant, 35 mm photo, 8x10 in, 2024 © Cassandra McCoy

Your work embraces a Lomographic philosophy of "Don't think, just shoot." How has this mindset transformed your artistic process and the way you view the world through your lens?

Overthinking always turned my photos into something that I wasn't proud of, or if I overthought a shot, it was because I wanted approval from someone else. I'm not kidding, I don't know why my mind works the way it does. When you don't overthink, predict the outcome of a shot, just leaping instead of looking, the best results come from that. Honestly, thatgoes for any aspect of my life. Everything you're worried about starts to come naturally when you just keep doing it.Eventually, you don't think about doing said action.

You often photograph friends, concerts, and everyday moments. How do you approach capturing these scenes to make them feel both personal and universal?

I love capturing candid scenes, I feel weird asking people to smile or pose. Capturing a party is the complete essence of that; I love seeing hidden gossip sessions in the background, friends laughing with their mouths wide open, or people who don't dance, actually dancing. It's like you get to re-live people-watching while looking at old photos because at parties, I love to bounce around and talk to everyone; I don't want to sit back and observe; I can do that when I get my film back!

Your art is described as "invasive, vivid, and lomographic." What draws you to this raw, unfiltered style, and what emotions or reactions do you hope to evoke in your audience?

I think I just want everyone to feel what I feel while they look at my photos. My therapist described my emotions on a 1 to 50 scale when most people are on a 1 to 10 scale, which was not only shocking to hear but a good way to put how out of body the emotions I have are. However, I love it when people have completely different thoughts and feelings about what I put out; if anything, that is what makes me most inspired.

Sun-in, 35 mm photo, 8x10 in, 2024 © Cassandra McCoy

You capture heartwarming and simple midwestern scenes, which are "blown out of proportion" through your photography, as you recall in your statement. Why is it important to you to amplify the significance of these moments?

Going off the heavy emotion thing, It seems that I do things in an all-or-nothing mode. I also find myself very attached to little moments and one-off instances, even things I see on the side of the road driving or a Hallmark card that was funny, not in a "Hoarders" way of "I have to hold on to everything or else," but "I want to know each little thing's memories, moments, and stories, and show everyone how important they are." I also love the feeling of nostalgia, and having grown up in the same area my whole life, people need to see how important even the most simple, routine things you can become accustomed to are. I think I also need to remind myself that sometimes.

You have also experimented with VHS videography and graphic design alongside your photography. How do these mediums complement or influence your approach to storytelling?

I love the feel of VHS. I've gotten opportunities to shoot music videos for Sam Rubin and Safezonefire, some amazingartists from the Midwest, and long-time friends. I usually take my camera to a lot of functions, and it's kinda the same reason I shoot film, to look back on the moments I missed. The nostalgic feel is always inspiring. As for design, I didn't think I would like it as much as I do now. I took a magazine design class this semester and completely fell in love with making layouts and typography. My professor put me on to David Carson, who quickly became one of my biggest inspirations. I would love to be on a magazine team one day.

Film photography has an inherent element of surprise when waiting for results. How does this unpredictability shape your connection to your work and the stories you tell?

"Patience is a virtue," I can hear my mom saying. I've been an impatient person my whole life, I move like I always have somewhere to be. The journey of slowing down and being present is a lifelong lesson film has helped me learn, and I amstill learning it honestly. The wait is one of the best parts of the film; it is like receiving a letter from a friend you wrote to a long time ago or a cute shirt you forgot you ordered. The unexpectedness of your results makes them even more special. My old coworker Xavier told me I was "the most unpredictable person (he) has ever met," so I guess that checks out withmy passion. Especially when you cross-process, work with color-shifting film, or use expired film, there is truly no telling what you get. I swear to God, every time I expect something to turn out exactly like I do in my mind, putting it on this huge pedestal, I'm completely unhappy, that goes for every aspect of my life. Film has taught me honestly to go hard but expect less when it comes to results; when you do, you always end up getting more, especially because this all started offas a random hobby; why keep putting pressure on myself? It's supposed to be fun, no matter where I'm at in my career!

Your photo booklet "Constant" documents your solo trips. How did the experience of combining photography with writing expand your creative practice, and are you planning more publications?

It was one of the best things I could ever do for myself. The writing in "Constant" is a simplified version of the stuff I wrote down on this four-inch notepad during the span of solo trips; so many findings of how I feel and the little exchanges around me. Before I leave the Midwest, I really want to make a booklet showcasing the houses, environments, and people here.

Kicks, 35 mm photo, 8x10 in, 2024 © Cassandra McCoy

With plans to move to Los Angeles in 2025, what are your goals for the next phase of your career, and how do you hope to grow as a photographer and artist?

I'm really excited for L.A. I guess I've traveled a bit now, and L.A. was the only place I have never wanted to leave, which is very significant since I get homesick super easily. I want to work with the music scene as much as possible, doing anything I can to help artists' visions come alive. I have a few photographer friends I'm really excited to work with out there. I like photo assisting a lot and seeing friends' projects come to life. My biggest dream is to work with Lomography; I would go anywhere in the world to be a part of that team. New York or Vienna would be really cool. That's something I would truly drop everything in my life to do. I've never had something where my only answer is an immediate yes, but that would be it.

Artist’s Talk

Al-Tiba9 Interviews is a promotional platform for artists to articulate their vision and engage them with our diverse readership through a published art dialogue. The artists are interviewed by Mohamed Benhadj, the founder & curator of Al-Tiba9, to highlight their artistic careers and introduce them to the international contemporary art scene across our vast network of museums, galleries, art professionals, art dealers, collectors, and art lovers across the globe.

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