ABOUT

Vanessa Carr with camera head shot

I am a documentary cinematographer specializing in vérité shooting with a passion for outsider stories and sensitive subject matter. I strive to create beautiful, emotional, character-driven films. In the field, I try to maintain a friendly calm to put people at ease. While rolling, I listen and shoot for story.

Most of my recent work has been for documentary series and features including Free Money (TIFF, Netflix), Heart of Invictus (Netflix), On Pointe (Disney+), and The Weekly (FX/Hulu). My work has been on every major platform and screened in festivals including IDFA, Sundance, SXSW, Tribeca, and TIFF.

I have a master’s degree from the UC Berkeley Graduate School of Journalism (2011) and a bachelor’s degree from Columbia University (2005). I’m a DOCNYC 40 Under 40 honoree and a founding member of the Documentary Cinematographers Alliance.

I am currently directing and shooting my first feature documentary, Nomads (wt) with my husband and filmmaking partner, Josh Gleason.

We recently moved to Cambridge, MA after many years in New York and California — so please get in touch! I’m excited to meet new people.