Spiritual Retreat in Peru

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As I am getting back home from Peru, of the biggest takeaways of my trip was a new understanding of the word “medicine.”

So often we think of medicine solely in terms of western use such as pills or drugs, and only in certain contexts do we ever hear the term medicine man or medicine woman and understand what that actually means.

This trip has truly opened my eyes to what medicine truly is. It is anything that brings you back to your true essence, back to yourself.

Confidence is medicine. Love is medicine. Wisdom from plant and animal spirits are medicine. Good company is medicine. Music is medicine.

We all have different medicines to share. Some people are here to inspire, some are here to heal, others are here to act as a mirror for others to see their true nature. During this trip, I received the medicine of accomplishment, nourishment, and a sense of belonging. The medicine I was asked to provide was laughter, compassion, and peace. With great reverence I hold these sacred gifts, these medicines, to invite you both to partake and hear the call to share your own with the world as it so dearly needs during this time.

Astrophotography in Joshua Tree

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Along with every other aspect of life, my photography business took a major turn once Covid-19 hit. This of course is not unique to me, or many others in the field. Having marketed myself largely as a food photographer, once restaurants started closing down or reallocating their budgets for the pandemic, I had to get back to the big “WHY” of doing any of this in the first place. So for this, I am actually exceedingly grateful. Throughout the past year, I have reconnected to my big “WHY” of doing photography, exploring what it is I am trying to capture or portray with my work. Although I didn’t realize it early on, photography has always been a spiritual practice for me. Looking to my early artist statements, they all speak of my Native American heritage of honoring that vital force of life in all living things, whether that be in animals, plants, the earth, or our fellow human. I have been an artist all my life, but the reason I was drawn to photography specifically was because it contained the element of documentation. In this way, when I photograph the world I see around me, it becomes a collaborative effort between myself, the world, and beyond. During the pandemic, I began taking photos of the stars. This seemed so fitting because no matter what chaos happens on earth, every night we can look to the sky and see exactly where we are in the universe. Now of course, depending where you are, the night sky can be more or less difficult to see! I traveled out to Joshua Tree with my family and we were just blown away seeing the stars and Milky Way in such clarity. The desert is an excellent viewing place to see the Milky Way, due to the low light pollution and clear skies. Here are a few of my favorite shots below from the trip overall.

The Garden Room

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I have seen a LOT of restaurants over the years, both from being a hardcore food fanatic and photographing them professionally. So most of the time, I feel like there are few surprises left! However, Garden Room at the St. Regis in Atlanta really sparks the imagination, both in the beautiful ambiance and their offerings. True to the name, instead of feeling like you are dining in a restaurant, you have an experience of feeling like you are stepping into a garden out of a fairy tale. I have had the pleasure of working with Chef Freddy Money a few times both at Garden Room and the adjacent Atlas restaurant, and I am always blown away by his creations as well! I could continue to hype it up here, but I really feel like his work speaks for itself! Check out a few of my favorite shots below.

Mia's Plant-Based Recipes

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During the pandemic, it is no secret that many restaurants are either closing or struggling to keep their doors open. Between implementing new health protocols and retraining staff, switching to limited dine-in or take-out service only, photography has not been on many people’s minds. And understandably so! We have all had to adapt in ways we didn’t think we could this year, and I have had my share of adapting as well.

This plant-based cookbook was a personal project of mine that has brought me much comfort during these months. I had the idea awhile ago, mostly because so many friends and coworkers kept asking how my partner and I lived off plants! We had gone fully vegan a few years prior. Training martial arts almost daily, I had to find a way to keep my food intake at a high level, while also keeping my inner foodie happy! This book is a compilation of healthy, non-soy, no fake meat, yet surprisingly comforting foods. It has everything from pancakes, vegan pizza, spaghetti, to alkaline meals, raw foods, and beyond. My family has a pretty diverse palette, and each of the 33 recipes in here only made the cut because it was universally approved. Contact me if you would like a copy, it is a digital book for $15. I am in the process of getting it set up officially on the site :) Happy eating!

San Juan, Puerto Rico

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This was my first trip outside the continental United States in years, and it was truly a renewing experience!! I had never been to Puerto Rico before and was curious to see how their rebuilding was going after the hurricane in 2015. We stayed at the Dreamcatcher Hotel which was a short taxi ride from the airport, but even on that short ride we were able to see the beauty around every corner! There was rubble here and there, but the high spirits of the people made it feel like the most luxurious place in the world. We only stayed a couple of days, but we were able to make a fantastic trip to the Old San Juan Farmer’s Market where they had many fruits and vegetables that aren’t available here in the continental United States. They also had soursop juice, vegan tamales, and vegan empanadas, all of which I have a special place in my heart for. After painstakingly reading up on which fruits and vegetables are able to be brought back into the continental US, we were able to bring back some manzano bananas (only $1/lb at the market), alkaline watermelon, and a few other snacks. We didn’t make it to any waterfalls this time, but those are on the list for the next visit.

“Hope is the water with which we are nourished” 🌊 “Think about how immense this water is, that it is incomprehensibly immeasurable. It has no beginning; it has no end.” “No one can see oneself in the water or in a mirror without light, nor can you see yourself in the light without water or a mirror.” #justlikewater #peace #hope #light #toreallysee #toreallyfeel #asisabovesoisbelow #meditation #ascension #floweroflife #puertorico #sanjuan #oceanpark

Interview for VoyageATL

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Recently I had the pleasure of having an interview featured by VoyageATL. Starting in LA, the magazine has grown to Atlanta with the goal of highlighting artists and creators in local communities. I am so grateful for this, because in addition to sharing my story and work, it has in turn introduced me to so many other artists and talented people in my neighborhood and city! Check out the full story here.

Garden & Gun Club

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A long time fan of the magazine, I was so excited to hear that Garden & Gun Club (the very first!) would be opening in Atlanta. I got to cover it for an AJC First Look and again later a restaurant review. I was impressed with both how consistently the atmosphere resembled the magazine, and of course the quality and beauty of the food! It is located inside the Battery alongside many other favorites such as C. Ellet’s, Punch Bowl Social, and Terrapin Taproom.

Chef Craig Richards of St. Cecilia Homemade Pasta

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This week I had the privilege of photographing Chef Craig Richards of St. Cecilia in his beautiful home kitchen. The two dishes photographed here are St. Cecilia Kitchen Artichoke Ravioli and Cacio e Pepe, using the same base recipe for the pasta dough. Check out the full AJC cover story and recipes here.

Twisted Soul Cookhouse & Pours

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One of my favorite parts of the job is revisiting a restaurant years after I've shot the first look to find them booming with success! One such restaurant I've had the pleasure of shooting again was Twisted Soul Cookhouse & Pours in West Midtown. Chef Deborah VanTrece and her team of ladies are featured this month by the James Beard Foundation in the Cast Iron Chronicles. Take a look at some of their cocktails (with fresh juices and vegetables) and their stunning dishes-

Molly B's - Mercedes Benz Stadium

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One of my recent projects that I've been most excited to share is the newly opened Molly B's Restaurant, located in the brand new Mercedes Benz Stadium. Working with Concentrics Restaurants and Chef Michael Bertozzi brought these dishes to life! I could go into detail, but these dishes definitely speak for themselves. If you're a sports fan or just a fan of fried chicken, be sure to check it out. The restaurant has a fantastic view of the field!