Do you ever run out of time in the morning? Too sleep deprived to make a breakfast? Just struggle in general since you aren’t a morning person? If you answered yes to any of those then you need to make this Strawberry Preserve Chia Pudding. …
Just a big bowl of springtime vibes over here! This Strawberry Spring Salad is filled with perfect little bites of fresh, spring produce. As soon as Daylight Savings hits & that extra hour of sun comes shining through it’s spring. Okay, maybe not officially (blah, …
Strawberry season is in peak form right now & what better way to celebrate then with this simple, 4-ingredient Strawberry Chocolate Tart Pastry. Strawberries…good. Chocolate…good. Puff pastry…good. It’s that simple. Truth be told this recipe really came about because of the chocolate nut butter I …
How do you granola? Are you a topper, a snacker or cereal maker? Whichever your granola style, this Gingerbread Granola has got you covered. Flavored with crisp oat clusters, warm spiced molasses, crunchy pecans and a hint of sweet coconut it’s the perfect cozy treat. …
Brussels Sprouts, you either love them or hate them. If you love them, welcome, you are my kind of people. If you hate them, welcome, you NEED this recipe. These Roasted Miso Butter Brussels Sprouts are going to make you fall in love with Brussels! …
Oh my gourd! Yes, all puns aside, these Pumpkin Oat Crumble Muffins are OMG delicious! Moist and flavorful pumpkin, rich warm spices and and a buttery sweet oat crumble topping. Oh, and for added flair a maple glaze drizzled on top. It’s quite simply fall …
It’s autumn, so naturally it’s time for all things pumpkin. But, it’s always time for chocolate! Such a dilemma! What is one to do? In this case, start making these Chocolate Chunk Pumpkin Cookies. They combine the best of both worlds. Soft, chewy pumpkin with …
The two most popular items on the menu for Starbuck’s each fall is the PSL and the pumpkin scone. So what happens when you combine the two? You get these delicious Pumpkin Spice Latte Scones! You also get a quick and easy breakfast that you …
Let’s make some good use out of that bag of frozen peas sitting in the back of your freezer and make these quick & easy Pea & Artichoke “Crab” Cakes. Don’t underestimate the power of the frozen veggie. It is convenient, accessible, picked at peak …
I don’t know about you, but salads are a staple in my plant based lifestyle. So it goes without saying that fresh, seasonal fruits and vegetables are key ingredients in my salad repertoire. Since it’s currently apple season, you better believe apples are going in …
Are you a routine meal planner or do you seek adventure with each bite? This Plum Salad is probably more on the adventurous side, but I bet once you fall in love with it you’ll find you want to add it into your menu rotations. …
Sometimes a side dish ends up being the star of the show. This Green Bean Nicoise Salad is just one of those times. Maybe its the crisp and crunchy green beans, the creamy baby potatoes, the juicy, sweet summer tomatoes or the tangy vinaigrette. I …
Time is ticking! Fig season is short so it is imperative you take advantage of these delicious gems while you can. This Roasted Fig Salad may just be the perfect way to enjoy this sweet, succulent fruit. Don’t get me wrong, figs are amazing all …
Ever feel like you could eat a whole other meal after eating a salad? Well, you won’t with this hearty Zucchini & Grains Salad. You might even want to consider it more of a power bowl or side dish. It makes use of delicious summer …
Let me reveal something real quick…By nature I am not a creative person. Problem solver, planner, organizer? Yes, a loud resounding yes! Artistic, spontaneous, and embracing of creative side…not so much. All this to say that when a moment of creative, zen-like inspiration finds its way to you, you open your mind and embrace it.
That’s what happened last week. B&H Photography featured on week long education course on their channel all about Food Photography. Since that is how I make a living these days I felt it would be in my best interest to continue with these additional educational resources. There were many helpful tips and reminders from many of the presenters, but one in particular really had impact. The presenter was Alan Shapiro and I was blown away by the things he shared. To begin his images are amazing, but the way he creates and comes up with shots is next level. It was really simple, he started shooting for himself, no rules, limits or project goals. One hour each day, just enjoying the process of creating!
I don’t do that anymore. I did when I first started, it’s one of the things they tell you to do when you get a camera. Start practicing, take a picture of anything just to practice and learn your camera settings, how to manipulate light, how to compose a shot, how to edit. I did all those things. And then life happens. Slowly the time spent on fun reduced, and work, obligations and achieving life goals takes over (at least for this Type A personality). The same thing started happening in my photography. I only picked up the camera when I had a photoshoot for a brand or creator or I was developing something for Chomping at the Pic (yes, Chomping at the Pic is a full-time job). The pictures weren’t bad, they just weren’t creative, they didn’t spark joy for me, they were simply a task on the to do list.
All that changed when I heard this presentation. I started to think about why I picked up a camera to begin with. It wasn’t for any of the reasons I use it today. I started because I was inspired by images I saw from Nick Brandt. I mean I literally ordered a camera and booked a trip to South Africa based on his photos! Now my photos were not even remotely close to the images he has captured, but I took thousands of pictures on that trip and thoroughly enjoyed every step of the process of creating my own images. I wanted to be able to capture beautiful scenes that told compelling stories and were full of emotion. So where did all that go?
Wherever it went, it is time to get it back! So I begin today reviewing images from some of Nick’s books and thinking about how I can incorporate those same ideas into food photography that is just for me, for fun, for the love of it. Some images you may see, some you most definitely will not. But what I think you will start to see is how the photography from these exercises brings new depth and storytelling to my work. Now don’t worry, you’ll still get vegan recipes and photos of the food here. That isn’t changing, but I think this shift in mindset may just be the best thing yet! How about for you? Let me know how you hit the reset button and find your Why. I’d love to hear from you!