I was raised in a tiny town in Northern California you've never heard of. No really, you haven't. I played clarinet in the high school marching band and went to school with Billie and Mike from Green Day (my single claim to rock and roll fame. Oh, I got a bloody nose at an Alice Donut concert in SF. Does that count too?) I'm still punk but with nicer clothes and less attitude and I almost always have French hip hop playing. Or Beyonce. I come from island folk and travelers. I have Azorean blood flowing through my veins salted with the culture of the Big Island and itchy feet that yearns for exploring this crazy, beautiful, wonderful and broken world of ours just about everyday. I grew up eating avocados ripened in a paper bag in the back of a kitchen cabinet, Hawaii-style salted mangoes that dripped juice down our wrists over the kitchen sink and Portuguese sopas after carrying the train of my cousin’s cape in the Holy Ghost Festa parade in San Jose. And rice. Lots of rice. Did I mention Hawaii?
I've lived in four states including the great state of Texas and have been making pictures since the late 90s where it all started in the darkroom at a community college in Oakland. I got my degree in photocommunications (and writing) at St Edward's University in Austin where I was named Photographer of the Year by my professors. I still miss those darkroom days. I've worked a lot of shitty jobs starting at the age of 15. I can top a pizza, count out change, I know a heck of a lot about cheese. I can make latte art and help you pick out vitamins for whatever is ailing you. Oh and I sold records at Rainbow Records in Berkeley. You know, life skills.
This is how I roll: I love what I do. While I am happy creating and shooting solo I also love to collaborate and to create images in tandem. My ideas, your ideas, the stylists’ ideas, is my idea of a good time. My obsession with vibrant colors is only equaled with my obsession with light and shadows. I find food to be as beautiful and interesting as I find people to be. Put some tacos or a plate of chocolate dumplings (you heard me right) or just about anyone ready for their close-up in front of my camera and I'm in my happy place. Coercing the deliciousness and beauty out of every subject is when the dancing starts. If I ask too many personal questions, I am sorry. I get it from my mom - we call it Talking Story. It's a Hawaii thing. My curiosity about people has sometimes gotten me in trouble. How could I know they were swingers???
Let's talk story and have a spicy snack. I know just the place.
I drive a 1995 Mercedes named Zelda and live in the burbs just on the outskirts of Portland, Oregon with my husband, the water scientist. At least that's what I call him because it's easier than explaining what he does for work.
Actively seeking and engaging with businesses who are working to make a difference in this nutty world of ours.
Donating a percentage of my creative fee after expenses to various charities that resonate with me. Currently partnering with World Central Kitchen.
503-333-7800
Member:
Winner of the 2016 James Beard Media Award for Visual Storytelling
#dinastandingonthings (it's a thing)
Clients Include:
Washington Post / NY Times / KANN + SOUSÒL /Goldbelly / Nike / Godfrey Dadich / American Express / Chronicle Books / Jupiter Hotel / The Wall Street Journal / Conde Nast Traveler / Them / Hestan Commercial / Hestan Indoor / Vogue Japan / REI / Bon Appetit Magazine / Sasquatch Publishing /Elle a Table Japan / Playboy / Delicious Magazine Australia / Architectural Digest / AirBnB / Brazi Bites / Travel and Leisure / Lonny Magazine / Green Gables Design / Star Chefs / Abigail Hall / Bullard Restaurant / Storey Publishing / Sockeye Agency / Grady Britton Agency / Virgin Australia Voyager Magazine / Cocktail Kingdom / Immaculate Space / Qantas Airlines Magazine / Basic American Foods / Floyd Detroit / Surface Magazine / Foris Vineyards / Eater PDX / Another Escape Magazine UK / Architectural Digest / Landry's Restaurants / House Beautiful / Men's Journal / NV Portland / AIGA / Beast / SilverKris Magazine / Osmose Design / Vegetarian Times / Eater / Fine Cooking / Luxe Magazine / Better Homes and Gardens / Popeye Magazine Japan / Imbibe Magazine / True Portland: The Unofficial Guide for Creative People Japan / ChefStable Group / Art Culinaire / and many others.
