Padraic O’Meara is a South African-born cinematographer and filmmaker whose journey into visual storytelling began early — with his mother’s Nikon FM and Olympus Mju ii. A ceramic artist with a strong sense of form and aesthetics, she gave him his first lessons in line, composition, and, most importantly, light. From that early influence, Padraic developed a deep love for still photography, which would later guide his path into motion pictures. In his twenties, he worked in the fashion world, where his sensitivity to image and mood matured, laying the foundation for his signature style as a cinematographer: emotionally attuned, collaboratively driven, and visually precise.

He began his professional career in animation and visual effects, working in both traditional hand-drawn and 3D mediums before studying directing and screenwriting at AFDA(The South African School of Motion Picture Medium), graduating in 2005. From there, Padraic directed commercials and documentary pieces before stepping into the role of director for the animated series URBO: The Adventures of Pax Africa. Soon after this he began shooting much of his own work, wanting to gain more control over the visual in his work, a transition that ultimately led him to discover his true calling as a cinematographer.

After moving to the United States in 2012, Padraic focused fully on cinematography, building a career across commercial, narrative, and documentary forms. Based in Portland, Oregon, he has traveled globally for projects, lensing feature films like Half Sisters and My Beautiful Confusion, directing and shooting many short films for talented directors around the world, and working on commercial campaigns for clients like Nike, Airbnb, Intel, Leatherman and The Nature Conservancy.

For Padraic, the camera is more than a technical tool — it’s a means of deep creative connection. Having felt the solitude that can come with directing, he relishes the role of collaborator: interpreting a director’s vision, supporting it both creatively and technically, and showing up as a trusted partner and friend.

In 2025, Padraic is working on With Her Own Wings, a music film created in collaboration with composer Christopher Whyte and artist Taravat Talepasand, honoring the Iranian women’s movement “Women, Life, Freedom.” The piece is set to premiere at The Reser in April 2026. He is also set to lens The Lip of the World, a new feature directed by Ryland Walker Knight, slated to shoot in early 2026. Alongside these narrative projects, Padraic is launching Snacks, a new content production studio focused on beautifully crafted, snackable storytelling for forward-thinking brands.