Carissa Henderson is an Emmy-nominated cinematographer & filmmaker known for her instinctive & elevated cinema vérité style. With a background in investigative journalism, she currently specializes in artful, immersive character-driven stories. She recently DP-ed feature films Sue Bird: In the Clutch (premiered at Sundance 2024, streaming on Apple, Amazon & Netflix), Full Circle: The First All Black Everest Ascent (distribution TBA), and DRIVER (premiered in competition at Tribeca Film Festival 2024).

At present, Carissa is filming an expansive, long-term observational documentary project closely following NASA’s Artemis Program for National Geographic.

She is currently based in Chicago (and often returns to NY, enjoying time in Brooklyn and at her home in the Catskills).

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.

work samples & links are available upon request.

contact: carissanhenderson@gmail.com

ig: @carissahenderson | IMDb

recently

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

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

LATINO VOTE 2024 | cinematographer | feature documentary | Quiet Pictures | PBS for release October 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

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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