Kia ora and welcome. Thanks for popping by. I’m Sophie Merkens – a freelance photographer, published author, food stylist, and recipe developer.

Creative storytelling sits at the heart of everything I do, with food as the thread that weaves it all together. My work moves between the wild and the studio – writing recipes, cooking, and styling food in both natural landscapes and commercial spaces. I specialise in documentary-style photography, capturing raw, authentic moments using natural light, with a focus on local, seasonal, and uplifting stories.

These days, I focus on sharing delicious, local storytelling. From my book Grow – Wāhine Finding Connection Through Food to photographing recipes for cookbooks like Ripe Recipes – Thought for Food and Plant-Based Goodness, I love bringing food stories to life and celebrating the people, places and connection behind them.

My latest book, Eat Wild: A Foraging Journey Across Aotearoa (October 2025), explores wild food across New Zealand, featuring hunters, gatherers, chefs, foragers, and fishers, alongside over 40 adaptable recipes to inspire your own adventures.

Alongside this, I write foraging, food, and lifestyle content for magazines, and create work with ethical brands that care about people and the planet.

For me, it’s always about connection – food, people, and place. Whether I’m harvesting from the garden, foraging in the bush, or cooking over fire, I find joy in capturing the essence of these experiences.

Sometimes you’ll find me in the city or styling food in a commercial studio. Often, you’ll find me photographing seasonal food from the garden or the wild, or cooking it over fire…