Summer's Gone, Back to School Bites, Dairy Free Grilled Cheese Sammies!

I have been noticing that more of my Fast Casual, Fast Food and Casual Dining Clients are offering  organic, sustainable and diet sensative options in their menus. Like the Impossible burger at places like Applebee's, McDonald's promoting sustainable farming through it's program Flagship Farmers. These grilled cheese sandwiches made with gooey, delicious non dairy cheese (shot for our Non Diary cheese client DAIYA.)  Can't wait to see where they will show up next!

Spring has Sprung!

New promo going out. Last week my neighbor popped over with some fresh eggs from his chickens. He was apologetic for all the noise they have been making. I was thrilled at the beautiful eggs he cradled in his hands, he had no idea what a gift he had brought over. I told him that I love the chicken noises, the crabby clucking of "chicken finger" protesting that his caretakers have stopped giving him people food. Lola my impetuous Pug, squawks back, as if they are having an argument. These lovely eggs aren't the neighbor eggs, but they remind me of my noisy feathered neighbors.

Eggs signify rebirth, thus used as symbols for Easter. Spring is my favorite time of year, the light, the freshness, the new life. Here is to Spring!

Miami Stories-An Instagram Series- Travelogue Meets Free Association

I have a hard time resisting taking photographs when I travel to new cities and locations. I remember when my father told me about a practice that his photographer friend Bruce Davidson used to do.  He would walk around the same city block again and again and again. Each day searching out new things to photograph. It was a way of training himself to really look, and begin to see more and more. When I go somewhere, I like to look for the photographs, not just the scenic ones that you would want for your travelogue or magazine travel spread, but ones that tell something deeper about the place. A photograph of a detail, a color, the kind of light. This all must sound familiar, since I talk about these things all the time for my food photography. I like creating a series on Instagram, usually shooting with my iPhone - consisting of 10 images that create kind a poetic story about the place. Random, but aesthetically chosen that create a whimsical tale of sorts. I drag in photos of my poor family and a friend or two now and then for guest appearances so maybe there is a hero to the story, or a villain. Viewer's discretion. Here is my latest city series/ story. I went to Miami for work and discovered an amazing culture, language, sassy attitude, music, beauty, grit, art, passion, light and heat. Sweet, salty, acid heat almost!

Communication Arts and American Photography Award Recognition for Still Life Food Images

It hasn't always been easy to get award recognition for still life work, and food work is even more of a niche category. Personally I think that still life imagery can speak to any subject, represent pretty much anything through symbolism or literally. It is why I think it is a great "language" to use when trying to convey a message or feeling and it is why I have focused my work in this field. It is always nice to get some recognition for the hard work we do. This month, my work was recognized by both American Photography Awards and also Communication Arts Photo Award Annual.

New Motion Work: Celebrating the Time Honored Tea Tradition of Chai

As drink that is not just enjoyed but also is an ancient tradition for the people of India, Chai has now captured attention in the US and around the world. It whispers of secret tales, riches and remedies. It's taste, smell and even how it is made has layers of mystique and intrigue. Dusty, rich, aromatic. Hints of cinnamon and citrus? The healing powers add more to the intrigue. Something so good offers up the healing antioxidant powers of the spices that are toasted and then brewed into the caramel colored beverage. Gosh, I am finding myself wanting one just thinking about it.

My team and I were inspired by this assignment, excited to take the visual voyage in capturing a bit of the essence of this culinary tradition. We wanted to focus on the elements closely, the movement and at the same time the stillness and meditative quality, the seductiveness of the process and the appetite appeal.

Feeling Optimistic with a Fresh New Website

Nothing makes you feel more excited than to share new work. As a photographer, sharing my work is both exciting and challenging. I strive to bring a fresh perspective of beauty to a world flooded with imagery.

It is for that reason am incredibly excited to share with you my new website. Every element is carefully considered as part of translating photos into powerful statements.

The way this website functions allows me to show, interactively, what my work is all about. Not just the different subject matter that I can shoot or the lighting. It shares a mindful approach to what I care about. Explaining what drives me and what my passion is. This website features foods and moods from sweets to drinks to what is on the table. There are also collections of fine art work, motion, and some of my favorite moments behind the scenes.

Through this new website, I get to share my commercial work, my tear sheets, my studio, my social media and also my personal work, a series of abstract landscapes.


My hope is that it becomes clear that the way I approach my work is through intuition. Passion for food, wellness, art and social causes fuels what I do. Imagery is powerful, it can change the way that you view the world around you. Through exploring this website I hope it leaves you feeling as encouraged and optimisitc as I do.

Vision Through Editorial Collaboration

Trends are everywhere, and sometimes we aren't even aware of how they are impacting our lives. A crucial aspect of being a food photographer is keeping up with trends. That's why it is always such a pleasure to work with relevant publications that explore new ideas.

My ongoing collaboration with the national healthy eating publication Eating Well has been another way my team has stayed on top of new trends. Eating Well strives to stay on top of food and style trends in the food world and reflect them in its pages. Working with this team is inspiring, and some of the stories I've shot for them have won James Beard Awards. It has been an honor to have been assigned some of their cover photographs, which are always fun to do! These covers feature a variety of foods and exemplify a sense of wellness. I love the challenge of finding the right perspective to bring to these covers and the range of content I've worked with. 

The most recent issue of Eating Well was so relevant for me. The whole issue is about California, where I live, work, eat and cook for my family. And the story I got to photograph celebrates the amazing California Avocado! Especially relevant since it is a favorite food in my family, Eva's friends requesting it for breakfast when they stay over. I love it as a delicious way of getting our Omega 3's which are so good for brain health. Plus avocados are so visually appealing!