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

Creative storytelling is at the heart of everything I do, with food as the thread that weaves it all together.

I specialise in documentary-style photography, capturing raw, authentic moments using natural light. My passion lies in weaving local and uplifting stories through imagery and creativity.

For me, it’s all about connection – food, people, and place. Whether it’s harvesting from the garden, foraging in the bush, beekeeping for golden honey, or charring smoky vegetables over a fire, I find joy in capturing the essence of these experiences.

A little backstory… I was born in Devonport, Auckland, and grew up between Aotearoa New Zealand and the Cook Islands – a pretty dreamy childhood. As a teenager, I spent time living in Oaxaca, Mexico, where I fell in love with cooking and the joy of discovering new cultures through food. That early spark has shaped my life ever since.

After completing a Bachelor of Design and Visual Arts, majoring in photography, I hit the road. I spent years backpacking through Latin America, then cycling across Southeast Asia, Europe and Central Asia – eating, photographing, writing, and learning as I went. I sought out local stories and food traditions, working on garden-to-table farms around the world. Along the way I learnt the craft of bread-making while working in an artisanal bakery in Denmark, fell in love with goats cheese while running a cave hostel high in the mountains on the Canary Islands, and dived into every opportunity to learn alongside others how food is grown, prepared, and joyously shared – often around a table, a fire, or in the garden.

Food has always been at the heart of it – from making maíz tortillas with family in Mexico to sipping fermented horse milk with a semi-nomadic family in Kyrgyzstan.

These days… I’m based in Piha, Aotearoa, where I continue to focus on delicious and local storytelling. From my book Grow – Wāhine Finding Connection Through Food to styling and photographing recipes for cookbooks like Ripe Recipes – Thought for Food and Plant-Based Goodness, I love sharing stories about food and the passionate people behind it. I also write foraging, foodie, and lifestyle content for magazines, and create content for epic ethical brands that care about people and the planet.

When I’m not working, you’ll find me in the garden, foraging in the wild, surfing teeny tiny waves, road-tripping in my little van, cooking over fire, drinking coffee in 10/10 spots (I’m a tad obsessed), and sharing seasonal and local kai with loved ones.