I’m Michelle, a portrait and lifestyle photographer from Halifax, Nova Scotia. Inspired by the seaside lifestyle and the memories we make while gathered at the table, I photograph food culture in celebration of the traditions and innovations of people who are passionate about food.  

I grew up by the ocean in French Village, St. Margaret's Bay. The rhythm of the sea was a constant in my life. A hardworking fisherman and his family lived next door. Every day, the boats came in, the catch was hauled, the fish were gutted – as regular as the tides. I remember my dad borrowing a rowboat so he and I could go mackerel fishing; an early life lesson in where our food comes from – one of my favourite childhood memories.

Like many young people born and raised in Nova Scotia, I was eager to see what else was out there. I left to study photography in Vancouver and then spent time living, working and travelling abroad. I loved exploring these new places and soaking up all the creative culture I could find. I made new friends from other countries and we shared food and stories around the kitchen table at a hostel, or around a bonfire on the beach. It was an amazing experience, but after a few years, I felt the pull to come home.

Here on the East Coast, the food stories are as abundant as anywhere I’ve been. There’s something inherently special about the Maritime appreciation for making and sharing meals together. I am constantly drawn into these stories, of where we have been, where we are going, and the meaningful friendships we make along the way.