Hi, I'm Shannon.

It all started in 2007 with an acceptance letter to RIT for advertising photography and a very specific plan to someday work in food styling. Somewhere along the way, though, I became far more interested in cooking the food than photographing it.
 

What began as obsessively styling and photographing my own meals quickly turned into obsessively learning how to actually make them better. The original plan quietly flipped somewhere between restaurant jobs, long nights in all kinds of kitchens, stacks of cookbooks, and realizing I genuinely loved feeding people.

After leaving school, I focused on learning everything I could about food and cooking — working in kitchens throughout Rochester, learning from talented chefs and mentors, and slowly developing my own style along the way. While much of my background is self-taught, it’s been shaped by years of hands-on experience, creativity, curiosity, and community.

These days, alongside private chef work, catering, and community events, I also serve as Culinary Coordinator at Homesteads for Hope, where I teach hands-on cooking classes rooted in accessibility, creativity, and seasonal cooking.

My career has been deeply shaped by my background in the visual arts — from photography and styling to the way I approach atmosphere, presentation, and gathering people together around food.

Field & Flame is sometimes just me, sometimes a small trusted team, and always a reflection of my love for thoughtful (and delicious!) food and genuine hospitality.

At the end of the day,
I’m just happiest when people gather around the table.