An opto-acoustic transducer assembly includes a substrate; at least one layer of opto-acoustic material coupled to a surface of the substrate, where the at least one layer of opto-acoustic material generates sound waves when struck by pulses of pump light; and an acoustic lens configured to focus sound waves generated by the at least one layer of opto-acoustic material towards a sample. The acoustic lens is further configured to collect sound waves returning from the sample and to direct the returning sound waves to the at least one layer of opto-acoustic material. In one non-limiting embodiment the at least one layer of opto-acoustic material is interposed between the substrate and the acoustic lens, and the substrate is substantially transparent to light having wavelengths of interest.