Behind the Lens: Mattmac’s Vancouver Journey to the Invictus Games

Capturing rehearsal, BTS, and the moments in between

Earlier this year, I had the opportunity to travel to Vancouver alongside Mattmac for a once-in-a-lifetime moment — performing at the Invictus Games, sharing the stage with Nelly Furtado.

From rehearsals to backstage moments, this trip wasn’t just about the performance — it was about capturing the energy, pressure, and emotion that exist before the lights ever come on.

Rehearsals Before the World Is Watching

One of the most important parts of this trip was documenting rehearsals leading up to the main event. These moments are often unseen, but they tell the real story.

Rehearsals were precise, focused, and intense — every cue mattered. Watching Mattmac prepare in the same space as Nelly Furtado was powerful. There was a clear sense of respect, professionalism, and shared purpose. My role was to stay invisible while capturing authentic moments: quiet conversations, run-throughs, last-minute adjustments, and the calm before the storm.

This is where storytelling lives — not just in performance, but in preparation.

Behind the Scenes: The Human Side of a Massive Event

Beyond the stage, the behind-the-scenes moments were just as meaningful.

From walking through venue corridors to time spent backstage, there was an overwhelming sense of scale. The Invictus Games carry weight — not just as a global event, but as a celebration of resilience, service, and community. Capturing Mattmac within that environment added another layer to the story: an Indigenous artist stepping onto a global stage, representing more than just music.

These BTS moments weren’t posed. They were real, raw, and honest — exactly the kind of content that gives context to the final performance.

Capturing More Than the Event

Outside of rehearsals and the main performance, I also focused on capturing additional content throughout the trip — moments that help round out the story.

Travel shots, quiet reflections, city movement, and downtime all became part of the narrative. Vancouver provided a cinematic backdrop, but the focus always remained on the journey — not just where we were, but what it meant to be there.

This kind of content is essential for artists. It extends the life of a moment far beyond one performance and creates space for deeper storytelling across platforms.

Why Moments Like This Matter

Projects like this remind me why I do what I do.

It’s not just about filming concerts or performances — it’s about documenting milestones. These are career-defining moments that deserve to be captured with intention, care, and respect for the story behind them.

Being trusted to document Mattmac’s journey to the Invictus Games — from rehearsal rooms to the global stage — was an honor. It’s a reminder that the most powerful visuals often come from what happens before and after the spotlight.

Looking Ahead

This trip to Vancouver is just one chapter in a much larger story. More content, reflections, and projects are still to come — but this experience stands as a reminder of the importance of being present, prepared, and ready when opportunity meets moment.

If you’re an artist, brand, or organization looking to document more than just the final result — and instead tell the full story — this is exactly the kind of work I’m passionate about creating.