yorkshire food photographer & foodie
I'm Hannah
The person behind the camera & the words
Beautiful food doesn't begin on the plate.
It begins in orchards and market gardens, on family farms, in artisan bakeries and small workshops, in the hands of people who care deeply about quality, craftsmanship, and doing things properly.
I tell those stories, through photography that celebrates not just the finished product, but the passion and skill behind it. Through writing that gives credit where it's overdue.
I believe every carefully crafted food product deserves to be seen at its very best, and so does the person who made it.
From Cake Artist to Food Storyteller
Before founding The Culinary Lens, I spent five years creating luxury wedding cakes for couples across Yorkshire.
It taught me far more than decorating. It taught me the real value of craftsmanship, of getting the details right, and of never cutting corners on ingredients. Wherever I could, I chose to work with local producers and independent suppliers, because I learned early on that quality always starts with the people behind the product, not the label on the box.
That chapter brought a Bronze Award at Cake International and a feature in a wedding magazine. It also brought the quiet reward of teaching beginners sugar flower work and cake decorating, watching other people find their own creative confidence.
Those years changed how I see food. Not as something to simply photograph. As something to understand first.
Why Food Photography?
Photography was the natural next step.
Having spent years making food myself, I understand the hours behind a perfect loaf, a handcrafted preserve, a carefully matured cheese, the kind of work that rarely gets seen, let alone celebrated.
That understanding is what shapes my photography. It's not just about a beautiful image. It's about creating photographs with empathy as well as creativity, the kind that help artisan food producers and premium food brands build trust, tell their story properly, and connect with customers who genuinely care about authenticity.
More Than Photography
The Culinary Lens isn't just about photographs.
Alongside the photography, I write about the people behind local food and drink; growers, farmers, makers and independent producers, as well as the restaurants, cafes, pubs and delicatessens who champion what they make.
Many of my recipes use ingredients sourced directly from them, because I want readers to discover what "local" actually tastes like, and why it matters.
It's my own small way of keeping these food traditions visible, valued, and alive.
In my Yorkshire Food Journal
Stories, recipes and a closer look at the people behind your food
What I Believe
- Quality food deserves to be valued and the people who make it deserve to be seen.
- Small producers shouldn't have to compete by shouting the loudest.
- They should be recognised for their craftsmanship, their integrity, and the passion they put into every batch, harvest and bake.
Through photography, writing and storytelling, I want to help shine a light on the people whose work quietly enriches our tables and our communities.
If swapping just one ingredient in a recipe encourages someone to support a local producer instead of a supermarket shelf, that's a win worth having.
A Little About Me
Some of my happiest memories are of sitting quietly in my grandmother's kitchen, watching her cook with instinct, care and total confidence. That love of food never left me.
These days, I still cook for pleasure, grow food at home, and stay endlessly curious about the journey from seed to plate.
I live in North Yorkshire with my husband and our three grown-up children, in a part of the world that spoils us for good food, from the small holdings scattered through the Dales around Wensleydale, to a Saturday farmers market, to the food festivals that light up Harrogate throughout the year.
My husband doubles as my most enthusiastic taste tester and my most honest critic, a combination that's been more useful than he probably realises.
