Alanna O’Neil
Explore the creative world of photographer and designer Alanna O'Neil. Driven by her deep connection to nature, Alanna's travels from New England all the way to Maui have shaped her design and photography perspective, which celebrates the harmony between outdoor gatherings, wellbeing, and a wholesome lifestyle. In our latest edition of Cultivating Conversations, we discuss her books, collaborations, her dream of hosting a photography workshop focused on sensitivity and storytelling, and how to live in tune with the natural world.
YOU'VE JOURNEYED FROM THE GREEN MOUNTAINS OF VERMONT TO THE BEAUTIFUL PARADISE OF MAUI. HOW HAS THIS TRANSITION INFLUENCED YOUR PERSPECTIVE ON DESIGN AND PHOTOGRAPHY?
It’s really made me appreciate the seasons, funnily enough. Vermont has 4 or 6 (depending on who you ask) seasons and since I’ve moved to Maui I do miss the distinct changes and rhythm that comes with each one.
“What I’ve discovered matters most to me is being close to nature.”
Hawaii is deeply rooted in the raw elements and nature, and it feels comforting to me. My work is constantly inspired by the simple joy and beauty of nature, so both places nourish my soul.
HOW HAS YOUR UPBRINGING SHAPED YOUR VALUES AND PASSION FOR FOOD?
I grew up on a large rural horse farm. We had and still do a huge kitchen garden where we grew all of our food. My mother never bought anything packaged or commercial, so our treats were the pies she made from the summer rhubarb or the blueberry muffins from the bushes out back.
“It was a simple and wholesome upbringing that made me appreciate the value of hard work, fulfillment, and, ultimately, satisfaction of growing your own food.”
We always looked forward to the new bounty of each season, appreciating what we had at the moment. Our family would make things out of it depending on what was ripe or ready to be harvested.
YOUR WORK IS DESCRIBED AS FOCUSED ON VISUAL STORIES, OUTDOOR LIVING, AND ENTERTAINING ROOTED IN NATURE. HOW DO YOU APPROACH CAPTURING THE ESSENCE OF THESE ELEMENTS IN YOUR PHOTOGRAPHY?
“I try to include a grounding element of nature within all of my work.”
It could be reflected in something that is seasonal, a vase of fresh summer dahlias, or a sprinkling of new fallen snow. It adds a sense of vitality and life to the image.
CAN YOU SHARE INSIGHTS INTO YOUR PROCESS OF CREATING VISUAL NARRATIVES THAT CELEBRATE OUTDOOR GATHERINGS AND SLOW LIVING?
When capturing a product or creating a recipe for a brand, I turn to nature for inspiration. It could be a basket of ruby strawberries under dappled sunlight or a spiced apple cake under a maple tree. I love to shoot outdoors and work within the elements. It feels more real and comforting in a way as a viewer. There is nothing better than photographing in natural light, so I sometimes wait all day for just the right light at a certain spot in the yard.
“I think shooting outdoors makes you slow down and enhances the reflective sentiments of slow living or seasonal living.”
YOUR PHOTOGRAPHY AND RECIPE DEVELOPMENT SEEM TO EMPHASIZE THE CONNECTION BETWEEN OUTDOOR GATHERINGS, WELLBEING, AND A WHOLESOME LIFESTYLE. HOW DO YOU BELIEVE THESE ASPECTS ARE INTERCONNECTED, AND HOW DO YOU CONVEY THIS THROUGH YOUR WORK?
“I think the more we are connected to nature, the more whole and happier we are.”
I think we are in a pivotal time where the pendulum has shifted so far left in the technology, instagram/tiktok era of consumeristic style content that it will inevitably (and has started to) swing back to a gentler and more wholesome way of living. I think nature provides us the place to be present without ourselves and others in a way that is so needed right now. Outdoor gatherings are one way to root us back to the present moment, to each other, and to nature itself. And food tastes far more delicious when shared outdoors!
IN WHAT WAYS DO YOU AIM TO INSPIRE OTHERS TO CULTIVATE A DEEPER CONNECTION WITH NATURE AND THE JOYS OF OUTDOOR LIVING?
I think the simple things can bring us so much joy and peace. For example, waking up 30 minutes earlier to sit and listen to the birdsong rising with the sun with a hot drink in hand is incredibly restorative. Taking a mid-day walk without a phone or any other distractions, I find so grounding. Often the things we overlook such as a newly blossomed rose in our garden or the sunlight filtering through the trees can bring so much peace and a feeling of “everything will be alright.”
“We just have to be quiet and sensitive enough to see the beauty already present in our day.”
HOW HAS YOUR EXPOSURE TO DIFFERENT CULTURES IMPACTED YOUR APPROACH TO OUTDOOR GATHERINGS AND CELEBRATING LOCAL FOOD AND CULTURE?
“I think curiosity is an underrated human quality.”
Just getting curious about another culture or tradition is like opening up an amazing door to a hidden world. Be humble, curious, and open. Even when I’m living in a place, for example, in Maui, I try to keep those values at the forefront in my mind every day. I’m naturally curious and I find that the more I learn about other cultures and their attitudes on food or entertaining, the more I want to discover or perhaps even further appreciate my own. Some I feel more aligned with than others, but when I travel, I feel like I’m taking a little piece away with me and molding it into my own perspective or tradition.
CONGRATULATIONS ON THE RELEASE OF YOUR BOOKS, "THE ART OF PICNICS" AND "THE OUTDOOR TABLE." WHAT WAS THE INSPIRATION AND CREATIVE PROCESS BEHIND TTHESE BOOKS?
Both books were inspired from a similar place in my childhood. Growing up we didn’t have much to entertain ourselves with besides the animals, playing in the gardens, or spending hours in the forest. So my mother ushered us out of the house at all times of the year to spend quality time together and explore the natural world.
“Picnicking was a way we enjoyed the coming and going of each passing season too.”
Likewise, since we had such a bountiful harvest throughout the summer and into October, my mother invited the neighbors and family friends along to a relaxed dinner party outside by the pond or on the porch. It was simple, we served what was ripe in the garden. We always gathered outside when we had the chance. Vermont’s weather is so fickle that anytime the sun was out we’d plan a get–together or furiously put one together in an instant to make the most of the day.
This is what I strived to share in both books that outdoor entertaining doesn’t need to be fussy. It’s simply about enjoying the moment with your company with wholesome food prepared with love. Writing both books differed in a sense from my recipe development in that it had a nostalgic feeling about it. I turned to memories, past adventures, and childhood for inspiration rather than thinking about showcasing a specific product or ingredient.
“It was very much an internal reflection of sorts as it was producing a tangible, practical book.”
YOUR IMPRESSIVE LIST OF CLIENTS AND PUBLICATIONS INCLUDES A DIVERSE RANGE OF NAMES. IS THERE A PARTICULAR PROJECT OR COLLABORATION THAT STANDS OUT TO YOU AS ESPECIALLY MEMORABLE OR MEANINGFUL?
I do love tea. I’ve always been a tea lover since I was little.
“When I was asked by Burleigh Pottery to create two recipes to pair with their new autumnal collection, I was so excited about that.”
It felt very frivolous yet indulgent at the same time. Sometimes it's fun to create things that aren’t so serious or product–focused.
HOW DO YOU APPROACH COLLABORATING WITH BRANDS AND CLIENTS TO BRING YOUR UNIQUE PHOTOGRAPHY STYLE AND STORYTELLING INTO THEIR PROJECTS?
“I only work with brands that I feel aligned with. Otherwise, it feels forced and uninspired.”
Before I work with a brand, I highlight what the main goal is, their values, their aesthetic, and the story they want to tell. I don’t have a photo studio, so everything I shoot is in my cottage or outside. Depending on the client’s needs, I will create a story that feels “lived in” as if it were a snapshot of a moment in time rather than something overly styled. I try to retain all of the natural elements around me that enhance my own story as a visual storyteller, for example, my rustic 1800s upcountry cottage, the gardens, the surroundings.
MAUI, HAWAII, IS YOUR CURRENT HOME BASE. HOW HAS THE NATURAL BEAUTY AND CULTURE OF MAUI IMPACTED YOUR CREATIVE WORK AND YOUR APPROACH TO PHOTOGRAPHY?
I feel very blessed to live in Maui. I live off the beaten path in an upcountry cottage on a cattle ranch that is only 15 minutes from the ocean. So I have the best of both worlds, really. The farming and agriculture scene here is truly incredible and feels like home. It definitely has made me slow down and stay present in the moment. Seeing sting rays while kiting, swimming with turtles, and witnessing a golden sunset. All those moments make you really stop and appreciate the beautiful moments in nature as if they were a gift just for you to see. Maui truly is a magical place.
“It’s a very slow way of life here, and it’s given me the time and space to be very intentional with the direction of my work and life too.”
CAN YOU SHARE YOUR EXPERIENCE WITH THE FIRES AND HOW THE MAUI COMMUNITY HAS RALLIED TOGETHER AND DEALT WITH THE DISASTER? IS THERE ANYTHING PEOPLE CAN STILL DO TO HELP
The past month has been devastating for the island as a whole, and it likely will take decades to return to a sense of "normalcy." The upcountry fire started in the early hours in the next pasture next to me. It was a harrowing few hours of trying to escape, and the days that followed were very uneasy, so I feel very fortunate to have my home. It's been incredible how the Maui community rallied together far earlier than any government or local government organization.
“We may be a small island, but a very mighty and close–knit one.”
The outpouring of love for our community has been overwhelming. There are many popup community–run resource centers that have been invaluable for many, including myself. At the moment, what Maui needs most is visitors to bolster our economy and support all the businesses, not just those affected by the fires. I launched my Maui Nō Ka Oi print series, and 100% of the proceeds go directly to the Hawaii Community Fund. People also can also donate directly to the Hawaii Community Fund, which helps families who've lost everything.
AS YOUR CAREER CONTINUES TO EVOLVE, WHAT ARE SOME ASPIRATIONS OR AREAS YOU'D LIKE TO EXPLORE FURTHER IN THE REALM OF DESIGN, PHOTOGRAPHY, AND STORYTELLING?
I’d really love to host a photography workshop one day. It's one of my biggest goals at the moment. But not just a workshop about the technical aspects of photography,
“I’d love for it to celebrate sensitivity in creativity and storytelling. I’d love for it to include a cooking class, maybe a writing session, or foraging – activities that fuel our creative hearts, minds, and eyes.”
I do miss the seasons very much, so I am not quite sure how much longer I will be in Maui. I do love it here, but there is something inside me that yearns for the seasonal rhythm again.
