THE SANDY BY THE BAY STORY
I'm a San Francisco-based journalist, photographer, food stylist and artist.
I document, photograph, interview and write about interesting people, events, books, plays, and anything that piques my interest around the Bay Area.
8 years ago, after getting a decent mobile phone, I noticed that I could take some good photos with it so I decided to photograph the food that I ate throughout the day. With the encouragement of a coworker and friend at the time, they suggested that I launch a website and Instagram channel to showcase the photos.
I called it Sandy By The Bay, after my name and where I am based out of. As I started my blog and Instagram channel, I became enamored by how beautiful food is. The moment before it gets devoured by an individual showcases the food at it’s optimal zenith. I learned how to meticulously style my food on clean plates that had the right balance of color and texture with my food, how to crop the photo and place certain items and readjust food at certain angles to create the ultimate composition and story.
Ultimately, on top of becoming a food photographer, I also became a food stylist; the plate was my blank canvas and food was my paint.
I became absolutely obsessed with food photography. I became a lot better at taking photos and instead of taking say half an hour or an hour to perfect one amazing shot, I can take between 5 seconds and 1 minute.
I have a special eye and attention to detail that transforms the way food looks through my camera lens; it brings great joy to me to style and capture the beauty and essence of a dish and transform it from ordinary to extraordinary.
I work tirelessly to craft the perfect shot, investing my heart and soul into every subject I photograph. Meticulously arranging food to create the ideal composition, standing on top of chairs to get the perfect angle, and finding only the most compelling backdrops and scenery to complement every dish. Follow me on my journey in documenting the great passions in my life: food, art and photography.
Some key partners that I have had the pleasure to collaborate with include: Whole Foods, Food Beast, Chowhound, Humane Society of the US, Hansen’s Sodas, Lemonade, Let’s Eat SF, Le Marais Bakery, Johnny Doughnuts, 42nd Street Moon Theatre Company, Goodwill Industries and Sweet Spot SF.
I have contributed editorial and photography content for Chowhound.com and have been featured in the news at NobHillGazette.com.
When taking a break from photographing food, I work on a social commentary art project called Plastic Millennial. It is a social commentary about the lives of millennials portraying their perfectly curated lives on social media. 2.7k followers isn’t so bad for an 11.5-inch doll, right? Meet my alter ego, London aka Plastic Millennial.
MORE INFO
IN THE NEWS
Featured in an editorial piece by Christian Chensvold
“All you can eat: The SF culinary scene is at its tipping point” (Located between Paragraphs 5 & 6)
Featured as one of their “Favorite Blogs in San Francisco”
(Located between #3 & #4 of “The 12 Best Airbnbs In San Francisco, California” article)
READ ARTICLES
