So what's a Sonker, you ask?

The Sonker is a uniquely North Carolinian dessert reminiscent of the traditional Southern cobbler. While food historians debate its origins, the Sonker solidified its fame in Western North Carolina, resulting in an entire trail dedicated to the bakeries and restaurants serving it.

With Our State magazine, I traveled part of the trail to capture these sweet treats and the faces behind them. We made three Mt. Airy pit stops for this photoshoot, first at Anchored Sweet Treats and Eats, then at Miss Angel's Heavenly Pies before finishing the day off at Harvest Grill Shelton Vineyards. From savory to spirit inclusions, each owner puts their spin on the Sonker, making the trail a must-see in NC.

This shoot was produced for Our State Magazine, one of North Carolina's leading regional publications covering food, culture, and travel. On-location food and restaurant photography in working bakeries and restaurants presents different challenges than studio work — available light, active kitchen environments, and the need to capture both the food and the people behind it in a way that feels authentic rather than staged. The Sonker trail assignment required moving between three different locations in a single day while maintaining visual consistency across the story. Editorial food photography by Dhanraj Emanuel, based in Greensboro, NC and available nationwide for regional food publications, restaurant groups, and editorial clients.