In a World of Manufactured Magnificence, Photographer Cass Bird Captures The Real and Raw

Cass Bird is a photographer and director that has often worked with various brands, magazine editorials, released a book and has had her work displayed in various museums. Her photography is most known for its depiction of everyday life or issues, depicting her subject in a realistic way and challenging feminine, masculine and beauty ideals. She is a photographer with a huge resume and has worked in various sectors such as fashion and art. She has even photographed her everyday life or routines with her own family: her wife and two kids. 

One of Bird’s Children Photo: Cass Bird via: Vogue

Bird was born and raised in Calabasas, California. In school, she had many difficulties and was often sent to the principal's office. She ended up growing closer with her school’s guidance counselor and that counselor eventually helped her graduate high school. When she arrived at Smith College, she came out, which was a huge, transformative experience for her. In college, she went to a talk by photographer Mary Ellen Mark. From listening to Mark, she decided to try to explore the arts. She began to take classes in photography and glassblowing. Some of her first shots were of an actor friend of hers and were eventually published. She began to take photos more and more, improve her craft and began to grow a love for it. 

One of Bird’s Brooklyn Museum Photos entitled “I Look Just Like my Daddy” Photo: Cass Bird via: Brooklyn Museum

Her early work often played with the depictions of gender, masculinity and femininity in the media, particularly with women. Her female subjects often looked more androgynous or masculine in nature. “My earlier work was all about this female masculinity.” Bird said. “I was attracted to these women that postured or embodied masculine traits and that had a real handsome-ness or a real physical strength or an androgyny.” One of her early works from her 2004 Brooklyn Museum exhibition is a great example of this. The photo is called “I Look Just Like My Daddy” and features model and Bird’s friend Macaulay on a rooftop in Brooklyn. She is wearing a plaid button down with a baseball cap that has words that match the title while staring intently at the camera. Macaulay’s gender identity is indistinct, making the hat that she is wearing more of an ironic statement than a stylish accessory.  

Margot Robbie in a Wall Street Journal Issue Photo: Cass Bird via: Cass Bird

In a world of over-edits and manufactured perfection, Bird is one of a kind. She shows her audience a subject through a tender, intimate light and viewpoint. She strips them bare (sometimes literally) to show the real them. Her photos use emotion or feelings to enhance an image. However, even with this, she also is not afraid to have fun with her pictures. She can capture a subject smiling, making funny faces, or poses. Her ability to capture a range of human emotions gives her the ability to connect and relate with her audience. Photos look more real or natural when they capture real experiences or emotions. “I’m always battling my own fear when I’m taking someone’s picture. I want to push to get something that feels fresh, but I don’t want to injure,” Bird said. “My job is not to just take a pretty picture. I want it to be beautiful, but I think my priority is that it feels engaged and feels like an experience.”

Chanel x Chaos Editorial Photo: Cass Bird via: Cass Bird

Through her photography, it is clear that Bird loves what she does and has a love for humanity. She works to make her subjects comfortable and allows them to have fun with her when shooting. It is easy to fall in love with Bird's images and it is amazing that after decades in the photography she has been able to work within an array of industries. She takes the risks needed to make any photoshoot match any brand or mood. She depicts real emotions and raw everyday moments that allow her viewer to fully immerse themselves into her world. Photography, especially within fashion, is often seen as manufactured and unrealistic. Bird changes that narrative.