Media Maven: In Conversation With Cassidy Chen

If you spend any time paying attention to fashion imagery today— whether that’s backstage at fashion week or scrolling through editorial spreads— chances are you’ve seen Cassidy Chen’s work. Cassidy has built a photography career that sits comfortably at the intersection of fashion, art, and narrative, but being behind the camera has been the centre of her world since childhood.

From borrowing cameras on family vacations to discovering the possibility of turning creativity into a career in high school, her path felt natural— but not without adaptation. When the pandemic paused traditional events, Cassidy leaned into experimentation, uncovering a lane that merged her love of fashion, narrative, and image-making. That openness has since taken her across Paris, London, and Milan, where she has worked with global brands and captured moments both on and off the runway.

We sat down with Cassidy to talk about finding her creative voice early, building a career in a notoriously competitive industry, staying inspired in an always-on world, and why some of her favourite creative moments happen entirely offline. Here’s our conversation.

Cleo: There are shutterbugs, and then there are innately talented, passionate photographers– but the one thing they have in common is a love for being behind the camera. What was the moment you noticed yours? 

Cassidy: I have always been passionate about creative storytelling and photography from a young age, so it was sort of a gradual progression. My aunt and uncle are bird photographers, so when we went on family vacations when I was younger, they let me use their cameras, and that’s how I started to fall in love with it! I would take photos of buildings, family members, and random objects around the house. However, it wasn’t until taking my first photography class in high school where I realized that I could make a career out of it!

Cleo: You’ve talked about playing with dolls and dressing up as a child, which was when you found yourself at the intersection between fashion and creative storytelling. Once you knew you wanted to pursue a photography career, did you always know it would be in the world of fashion?  

Cassidy: I actually started out wanting to be in event and lifestyle photography, because that’s where I got most of my experience growing up. However, when I was graduating High School during COVID, there were no in-person events to be shot, so I was forced to get creative. I ended up doing social distanced photoshoots with my friends in a local park with a Zoom lens, and that’s where I realized the possibilities of creating a photography career bridging my love between creative storytelling, fashion, and photography.

Cleo: How do you adapt your style and strategy when moving between fashion week runways and more editorial portraiture, to still tell stories effectively? 

Cassidy: Working at fashion week is definitely a lot more fast paced compared to working in a studio with a team, so learning to adapt to different environments is important. When you are working at fashion week, you are capturing the designer and brand's vision in real time, so trusting your instincts and reading the energy of the room is crucial. In comparison, when you are working on editorial portraiture, you have more time to slow down, get to know the team, collaborate, and take risks to get the perfect shot. I have such an adoration for both!

Cleo: What has working in art, media, and fashion taught you about the importance of having a social media presence? 

Cassidy: Nowadays, a social media presence is crucial in developing your business and personal brand. Even if you don’t intend to be a social media creator, creating a personal brand helps immensely with putting your work out there and getting it seen. I think it’s easy to fall into the trap of imposter syndrome with social media nowadays, but trying to flip the narrative and use social media as a source of inspiration has proven helpful for me. Social media has been such an important tool that I use to connect with my community and showcase my work to the world and put myself out there!

Cleo: At this point in your career, you’ve been featured in highly regarded publications, from Elle to The Kit, and worked with brands such as Lululemon and Feng Chen Wang. What are some of the most exciting projects you’ve worked on so far? 

Cassidy: I have worked on many exciting projects thus far! Some of my favourites have definitely been while I was living in Paris and working in London and Milan as well. Notably, I loved spending a week working with the Feng Chen Wang team for their Paris Fashion Week SS25, as I got to experience shooting backstage at their show, as well as help with product images, their VIPs, and more! The team was great to work with!

Cleo: You were recently named in the Forbes 30 Under 30 List 2026 in the Art & Style section– an achievement many young entrepreneurs dream of. How does it feel to be recognized by world-class creatives like judges Simone Rocha, KJ Moody, and Emily Oberg so early into your career?

Cassidy: It’s such a surreal moment for me! I have always dreamed about being named on the Forbes 30 Under 30 list. I love looking up to the creative entrepreneurs and founders on this list as they are the next generation of bold ideas, so being amongst them is such an honour, and being recognized by such incredible and established judges is such a dream come true. I absolutely adore all three of these judges and their work!

Cleo: There's so much pressure always to be creating in your industry. How do you stay inspired or avoid burnout? 

Cassidy: Surround yourself with people who motivate you, not just in your industry, but outside of it as well. Some of my closest relationships are with people in science, engineering, and humanities, and they are all so motivated in their own ways. Removing myself from constantly being surrounded by work is important. I think it’s easy to fall into the trap of a bad work/life balance, and feeling like your work is your worth, so it’s refreshing to surround myself with a like-minded community outside of my industry. It helps fill my cup, while also keeping me inspired and original in my work!

Cleo: Lastly, what's your favourite way to take a break from work?

Cassidy: Colouring has been one of my favourite ways to unwind after a long day! It’s so relaxing, and it’s nice to have a form of creativity that is not monetized and just for my eyes to see. I also love a good hot yoga, pilates, or boxing class! It feels great to move your body, especially if you spent the majority of your day editing in front of a screen.