Inside my quarantine kitchen

I’ve always enjoyed cooking at home, but when the pandemic spread and the city began to shut down, homemade meals felt more necessary. Boy, was I ever glad that I knew how to cook. Growing up, I spent a lot of time in the kitchen with my mom and grandma helping where I could. ItContinue reading "Inside my quarantine kitchen"

Snapshots of University of Texas at Austin

Moving to a new city can be tough. Relocating in the middle of a pandemic, well, that has presented its own set of challenges. I packed up my things and moved from Salt Lake City to Austin, Texas back in March. About a week later, everything shut down due to the COVID-19 outbreak. A fewContinue reading "Snapshots of University of Texas at Austin"

Flirting with film photography

I learned how to take photos on a film camera. In fact, in my first photography class in high school in the early 2000s, I was taught the ins and outs of developing film in a darkroom. But by the time I took a photojournalism class in college, we were learning to shoot digital andContinue reading "Flirting with film photography"

Kamauri’s portrait session

A good friend of mine was in town for the Sundance Film Festival this year. When we met up for dinner, Kamauri casually mentioned that she'd like some updated portraits and head shots done. Well, I had some time to take on the project while she was here, so we scheduled a meet up forContinue reading "Kamauri’s portrait session"

Salt Lake City’s most Instagramable sandwich is at Pretty Bird

After much anticipation, Pretty Bird is now open in Salt Lake City. The downtown restaurant specializes in hot chicken, but I'm predicting the sandwich will be the social media star of the menu. Just look at it: I had a chance to photograph the entire menu. And while it's all a feast for the eyes,Continue reading "Salt Lake City’s most Instagramable sandwich is at Pretty Bird"

Society of Professional Journalists award

This news is coming a little late, but I guess late is better than never. Earlier this summer, I won a Society of Professional Journalists award for a Salt Lake magazine piece I did last year. I took home the second place prize in the Best Magazine Writing category for my story documenting Chinese diasporaContinue reading "Society of Professional Journalists award"

Spice Kitchen sessions

In early winter, I worked with the Spice Kitchen Incubator — a collaboration between the International Rescue Committee and Salt Lake County helping refugees and immigrants start restaurants. These budding restauranteurs needed some food pics and portraits for marketing and I was more than happy to help. I would work with people from Bhutan, Iraq,Continue reading "Spice Kitchen sessions"

Portraits for my portfolio

When it comes to photography, my specialties have traditionally been food and interiors. But recently, I realized that I've been shooting portraits just as long as I've been doing the former two styles. I take a portrait of almost everyone I interview for stories, so I've had a bit of practice. I guess it wasContinue reading "Portraits for my portfolio"

Oh hey, Heidi

I get assigned to cover a lot of food and drink events around town and I’m often allowed to bring a plus-one. A couple of weeks ago, I brought my friend Heidi to one such event that I was asked to photograph. When I warned Heidi that she might end up in some of the pictures,Continue reading "Oh hey, Heidi"