Last week, the weekly newsletter I received from a watercolor artist I follow was an introduction. I’d been following her for a while now, but this was the first chance I’ve had to learn some fun facts.
It reminded me that I rarely do something like this. But maybe I should. Some know a lot about me, others very little. And I don’t talk about myself a whole lot.
In fact, when I first added teaching my art to the work I offer, I had people tell me they wanted to see more of my photos, the work I do. So I have to make it a point to add photos in these emails often, not just when I’m teaching from them.
So I thought I’d do a little about me list, but the reason I’m doing this isn’t so much that you can learn more about me.
I have a different answer each time I’m asked where I live. I always chuckle a bit when I get the whole - Oh, you live in California. Yeah, life is pretty great here. But I’ve only been here 10 years. I grew up in Indiana and I lived in Kentucky for 10 years. And want to know a secret? The local food scene in California can’t hold a candle to what I experienced in Kentucky. There is a much more personal touch there.
I’ve been to a lot of weddings. My mom owned a cake business for most of my life. I spent my weekends helping her set up and take down wedding cakes. And no, I have no skills in the area. I actually turn down cake styling jobs because they are more frustrating than they are worth for me.
I’m best known for pugs. Probably half the people who follow me on Instagram, do so because they liked my pugs. Our pug Macy passed away in 2021 at the age of 18 ½, our pug Dixie in 2019 at 14. Can I pet your dog? is the most common phrase out of my mouth. It’s my biggest motivation for taking walks on the beach. Most of ours here on California’s Central Coast are dog friendly so it’s a party every day for dog lovers.
I once had a lot of energy. I’m a nutritional scientist in wellness and sports nutrition by education. I used to open gyms at 5 am and teach group exercise classes at 5:30 am nearly every day. It makes me tired just thinking about it now.
I have a thing for carbs. I worked in a Great Harvest Bread Company during high school and the start of college. I baked, worked the prep table, and made sweets. Then I moved on to working in bagel shops.
Yes, I’d love a tour. My photography and writing has led me to some incredible visits and tours with my clients. Some of my clients have included California Olive Ranch, POM Wonderful, and the Aquaculture Stewardship Council (the little logo on the seafood you find at places like Target and IKEA).
I’ve been in an olive orchard during harvest and oil processing, in a pomegranate juice factory, on onion farms, in fig orchards, walked through hop processing plants during harvest season, in citrus research orchards, in an almond facility that makes most of the milks and granola bars we’re familiar with, and on a vineyard during night harvest. And I’m not done, yet. I still haven’t been on a date farm. I’m working on it. If you know someone, let me know!
Food culture is my true passion - the what, why, and how we all eat as well as where that food comes from. It’s strongly woven into my work. It began when I started traveling around 2003. I’ve visited about 26 countries so far and I lived in Southern Brazil for 3 years.
I hate beets. I know, I know. I’ll eat them if I have to. But I won’t order them or make them on purpose. It’s the only food I can think of that I don’t like.
If you are curious for more, here are a few posts and podcasts to check out:
Creating the Three Tiers of My Small Business
Using Product Photography (and more) to Grow Your Product Shop - A podcast interview with Erin Alexander of Product Powerhouse
Lori Rice on Farm Fresh Photography - A podcast interview with Michael Kilpatrick of Thriving Farmer Podcast
An Interview with Professional Photographer Lori Rice - A podcast interview with food blogger and self-publishing guru, Jason Logsdon of Makin’ Bacon
Want to browse some of my work, here’s my portfolio