Carissa Henderson is an Emmy-nominated cinematographer & filmmaker known for her instinctive & elevated cinema vérité style. With a background in investigative journalism, she specializes in immersive character-driven films that seek both to inform and activate audiences. She recently DP-ed feature films Sue Bird: In the Clutch (Sundance ‘24, now on Netflix), DRIVER (Tribeca Film Festival ‘24) and Full Circle: The First All Black Everest Ascent (distribution TBA). At present, Carissa is filming an expansive, long-term observational documentary project closely following NASA’s Artemis Program for National Geographic.

She holds a BFA, a HEFAT (Hostile Environment First Aid Training) certification, a Part 107 FAA drone license, travel chopsticks, a handful of analog still cameras, and her own production equipment. One day she’ll figure out what to do with all of these photos & field notes.

current work samples & links are available upon request.

contact: carissanhenderson@gmail.com

ig: @carissahenderson | IMDb

recently

CV / Links

RETURN TO THE MOON (working title) | director of photography | feature documentary two-part series | NASA x National Geographic & Disney | Lightbox *currently in production, 2021 - present

JUST KIDS | cinematographer | feature documentary | Toboni Sisters | 2025 premiere TBA

SUE BIRD: IN THE CLUTCH | director of photography | feature documentary | Jigsaw | Sundance World Premiere 2024 | Netflix

DRIVER | director of photography | feature documentary | Tribeca World Premiere 2024 | distribution TBA

FULL CIRCLE: THE FIRST ALL BLACK EVEREST ASCENT | director of photography | feature documentary | REI Studios x Westbrook 2022 | in post production

ALL THAT REMAINS | director of photography | feature episode | Fault Lines | Al Jazeera 2024

LATINO VOTE 2024 | cinematographer | feature documentary | Quiet Pictures | PBS 2024

THIS IS POST ROE AMERICA | cinematographer | interactive multimedia feature | Opinion | New York Times 2024

CAMDEN | cinematographer | episode 3: Pioneers | documentary series | Lightbox | Hulu 2024

RIVIAN: ROADTRIPPING FROM NY TO MAINE | co-director & co-DP | branded spot | casa 木 | web 2024

RIVIAN: BUILT IN-HOUSE | director of photography | branded spot | Rivian | web 2024

RIVIAN: FAVORITE THINGS | director of photography | branded spot | Rivian | web 2024

THE BLUE PARADOX | director of photography | immersive exhibit/campaign | Museum of Science & Industry | Radical Media x Ogilvy 2023

✷ THE WHOLE STORY WITH ANDERSON COOPER: WITHOUT ROE | director of photography | Emmy Nominated news segment | CNN 2023

THE PESTICIDE PLAYBOOK | director of photography | news segment | Fault Lines | Al Jazeera English 2023

WHO GETS TO BE AN INFLUENCER | director of photography | episode | NYT Presents | Hulu/FX 2022

COLD WEATHER TESTING | director of photography | branded spot | Rivian | web 2021

NO CONSENT | director of photography | news segment | Fault Lines | Al Jazeera English 2021

✷ THIS COMPANY PROFITS OFF THE MOST VULNERABLE CHILDREN IN THE US | cinematographer | Emmy Nominated episode | VICE News 2021

✷ CONNECTED: THE HIDDEN SCIENCE OF EVERYTHING | cinematographer | episode 1 & 2 | Emmy Nominated documentary series | ZPZ | Netflix 2020

REBELLE RALLY: ELECTRIC VEHICLE ADVENTURES | director of photography | branded short | Rivian | web 2020

ON THE TRAIL: INSIDE THE 2020 PRIMARIES | cinematographer | feature documentary | CNN Films | HBO max 2020

LATINO VOTE 2020 | cinematographer | feature documentary | Quiet Pictures | PBS 2020

✷ UNRELEASED FOOTAGE GIVES AN INSIDE LOOK AT THE NIGHT BREONNA TAYLOR DIED | cinematographer | Emmy Nominated episode | VICE News 2020

✷ VIRUS ON THE POULTRY LINE | director of photography | Emmy Nominated news segment | Fault Lines | Al Jazeera English 2020

THE ENDORSEMENT | cinematographer | episode | NYT: The Weekly | Hulu/FX 2020

MY BLOOD | cinematographer | episode | NYT: The Weekly | Hulu/FX 2020

USA V CHAPO | cinematographer | documentary series | Rolling Stone | Facebook Watch 2019

REJECTORS | camera operator | narrative short | independent | premiere Lighthouse International Film Festival 2019

✷ VICE NEWS TONIGHT ON HBO | staff cinematographer | season 1-3 | award-winning documentary series | HBO 2016-2018

VICE LABS | camera operator / production assistant | PSA & short form | variety show | VICELAND 2015-2016

education

NEW YORK UNIVERSITY | Tisch School of the Arts - Kanbar Institute of Film & Television | Bachelor of the Arts ‘16

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