We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Liz Maselli. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Liz below.

Liz, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Can you talk to us about a project that’s meant a lot to you?

The most meaningful project I’ve worked on has been my involvement with rescued farm animals at non-profit sanctuaries. As a photographer, I collaborate with nonprofit organizations, donating my photos to help raise funds, promote their cause, and educate the public. This project and passion evolved organically: it began when I served on the board of a local farm sanctuary. What started as a volunteer role to help revamp their social media turned into a deep passion for animal photography.

In January 2024, I stepped down from my position and now work closely with incredible sanctuaries across Ohio, with a special focus on Red Oak Animal Rescue in New Richmond, led by Wendy Lake. I also have been able to work with Stahl’s No Harm Farm, The Good Shepherd Animal Sanctuary, Foreverland Farm Sanctuary and have been able to photograph the beautiful residents at Barn Sanctuary.

Photography has a unique power to raise social awareness and connect with people on an emotional level. Animals have always been my greatest passion, and through my work, I advocate for them and I give the a voice. Each photo preserves a moment of their existence, celebrating their unique identities. Through images, viewers are invited to connect with them hopefully inspiring empathy, understanding, and advocacy for their protection and care. If I can capture a moment that resonates with someone, shifting their perception of these animals—especially those society often overlooks as not having the same capacity to love and feel as we do—then that would mean the world to me. My job is then complete.

Spending so much time with animals allows you to form deep bonds and connections with them. The only way I can capture truly beautiful moments is through trust and mutual respect. The love I have for them as individuals creates an environment where they feel safe enough to open up, sharing these precious moments with me and I am beyond grateful.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I’m a vegan photographer based in Columbus, Ohio, specializing in vegan food photography and social media content. My main focus is working with local vegan businesses, including Seitan’s Realm and Clintonville Natural Foods, helping them showcase their delicious offerings through visual storytelling.

In addition to my commercial work, I’m also an ambassador for an incredible vegan platform called abillion. The platform allows users to post reviews for vegan dishes and products, and in turn, each review generates monetary donations that go directly to animal sanctuaries. It’s a unique combination of supporting the vegan movement, promoting creativity, and giving back to causes that align with my values.

My passion for photography began with food, and specifically plant-based cuisine. Vegan food photography highlights the possibilities of plant-based eating and also promotes sustainability, health, and compassion for all living beings. Columbus has such a vibrant vegan scene, filled with amazing restaurants and home bakers, and I feel fortunate to work within this community. It’s incredibly rewarding to use my photography to help elevate these small businesses while doing something I love. Veganism is not just a personal choice for me, it’s a way of life, and being able to turn that passion into a rewarding job has been one of the most fulfilling experiences.

How did you build your audience on social media?

My journey into social media started back in 2016-2017 as an amateur vegan baker and photographer. I would bake and decorate cupcakes, sharing my creations online, which quickly grew my following to over 13,000. It was an exciting time, and I loved connecting with the vegan community through my baking. After that, I took a brief hiatus to focus on growing the Instagram page for a local animal sanctuary, helping grow their following to almost 22,000 by celebrating the residents and their wonderful personalities.

Since then, I’ve faced some challenges in rebuilding my social media presence, especially with many of my original followers becoming inactive over the years. However, over the past year, I’ve focused my energy on connecting with the local Columbus vegan food scene. I’ve enjoyed building relationships with people who are curious about or passionate about plant-based dining, which has been both rewarding and inspiring. I’ve also started diving into videography and Instagram Reels as a new way to showcase plant-based cuisine. It’s actually pretty funny—when I visit many of the restaurants in Columbus, the owners or kitchen staff will often go out of their way to make my dish extra pretty, knowing I always have my camera in hand. It’s honestly such a compliment!

I also run a website, www.theveganlens.com, where I share my work and insights through a small blog. It’s another platform where I can showcase my love for vegan living, photography, and the plant-based community. This has become a creative outlet that has helped grow my social media following, and I highly recommend creating a basic website or portfolio to help strengthen your brand.

My biggest piece of advice is to stay true to yourself and your style—and to have confidence. It’s so easy to compare your work to others and to get caught up in self-doubt, but staying true to your craft and unique style is key. Have confidence when you post, and believe that your work matters. I promise that confidence will help your social platforms grow.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

There are so many rewarding aspects to photography, both big and small. One of the most fulfilling moments for me is when someone stops me at a restaurant to tell me they follow my work and that my photos inspired them to visit and support a local vegan business. It’s equally rewarding when I know that an image I’ve captured has helped raise awareness or generated support for an animal sanctuary that is dear to my heart.

Being able to use my photography to make a positive impact—whether it’s helping a local business thrive or advocating for animals—truly is the most rewarding experience. It reminds me that photography isn’t just about taking beautiful pictures; it’s about telling stories, creating connections, and inspiring action or change.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.theveganlens.com
• Instagram: www.intagram.com/theveganlens_
• Other: https://veganlens.myportfolio.com/

Image Credits

Liz Maselli
The Vegan Lens