Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.
🍴@Makena.makes
Culinary Photography & Chef Portfolio
Ongoing Personal Project | Instagram
✹ PROJECT OVERVIEW
@makena.makes is my living portfolio — a curated Instagram archive that captures years of culinary creativity, food styling, and visual storytelling. What began as a casual food journal evolved into a professional-quality collection of photography, video, and recipe experimentation that reflects my deep love for nourishment, aesthetics, and slow food culture.
From rustic soups and handmade sauces to vibrant plated meals and foraged snacks, every post on @makena.makes reflects my hands-on process and personal culinary philosophy. It also documents my own food journey starting in 2016 to now!
✹ MY ROLE
As the creative force behind the page, I manage every aspect of the project:
🍽 Chef Portfolio & Recipe Development
Showcases original dishes made for private clients, catering events, and personal recipe testing
Highlights my versatility in plant-based, paleo, gluten-free, and ancestral cooking
Celebrates food as art, ritual, and nourishment — with an emphasis on seasonal and healing ingredients
📸 Photography & Styling
Shot and styled all dishes using natural light and minimal, earthy backdrops
Focused on showcasing texture, color, and the emotion of handmade food
Built a cohesive visual aesthetic to reflect my brand values and ethos
🎨 Brand Identity & Content Direction
Curated a consistent tone, color palette, and feel across posts
Used this platform to experiment with ideas for future cookbooks, eBooks, and digital offerings
Serves as an anchor portfolio for future chef services, workshops, and collaborations
✹ WHY IT MATTERS
@makena.makes isn’t just a food page — it’s a visual love letter to nourishing food, creative process, and the intimacy of preparing meals by hand. It has become a trusted space for those seeking grounded food inspiration, and a platform where potential clients and collaborators can witness my visual storytelling and food philosophy in action.
