I’m a photographer and stylist, home cook, and proud homebody who’s happiest out in my garden or at the table surrounded by good food and great friends. I live for a good day at the thrift store, can often be found dabbling in craft projects, and I’ve never met a piece of dark chocolate I didn’t like. I happily reside in St. Paul, MN with my husband and our two beloved pups.

Cook & Kin was born out of desire for my passion for visual storytelling and my connection and love for food and beautiful spaces to all be seated at the same table. I partner with content creators, brands, and businesses to create compelling, story-driven visual content that serves their vision, helps foster audience connection, and boosts their brand’s overall value. I serve my clients through a variety of services including photography, food and prop styling, recipe development, sponsored content, and short-form video.

In this space you’ll also find recipes from my own kitchen along with a few tales from my home and garden tossed in for good measure. You can see more of my work and other happenings over on Instagram and Pinterest.

a little history

My career as a professional photographer began in 2010 while taking photos of my college roommates’ engagement sessions and weddings. What started as favors for friends (and a healthy dose of my own business naivete) quickly blossomed into my full-time career and 11+ wonderful years photographing weddings and portraits as Half Acre House. I still continue to photograph families and portraits, however I’ve since hung up my figurative “wedding photographer hat” and made room for my first loves: food & home.

the early years

Long before I ever picked up a camera professionally, I loved being at home in the kitchen. I learned how to cook at a young age from my mom (and the Food Network), and always found joy in making food look beautiful and sharing it with the people I love. I have a core memory moment of once taking carefully crafted photos of my strawberry Pop-Tarts (a millennial childhood delicacy!) on a purple floral melamine plate, and grabbing a few leaves from a bush in my backyard for “garnish”. Perhaps the tender beginnings of my career, no?

THE HEART OF COOK & KIN

My most cherished memories are the ones that center around food and being gathered together at home. My whole family seated tightly together around the big, octagonal table for dinner at my Grandparent’s house. Homemade cinnamon rolls slathered with cream cheese frosting on Christmas morning with my husband before we exchange gifts. Our dining room table overflowing with glowing candles, laughter, and a Friendsgiving feast with our found family. Food is so often the centerpiece of connection and the kitchen is the heart of the home. Like family heirlooms to cherish and pass on, food carries with it a connection to ourselves and to others—our families, our friends, our kin.

my current work

At the core of my work as a photographer is a love of storytelling and an appreciation for human connection. I’m guided by this approach with each project I take on; equipped with a strong knowledge of light, color, composition, and a thoughtfully curated library of props and surfaces. I love to create imagery with an organic, lived-in feel that’s full of movement and visual interest. I’m a highly relational and collaborative creative partner and I place a high value on honoring the voice of my clients, championing their brand, and consistently delivering beautiful, elevated visual content that is both rich in story and unique to the vision of each of my clients.

Cook & Kin is available for photography, styling services, recipe development, short-form video, and sponsored content creation. If you’re interested in working together, I’d love to connect with you! Please fill out an inquiry form by clicking the button below to get the ball rolling.