Food Photographer

Seattle, Washington

Diane Padys brings over 20 years of experience to achieve mastery in blending artistry with technical excellence in her photographs. This award-winning photographer’s expertise is attributed to rich professional experiences in New York, San Francisco, and Europe. Diane’s studio, L’Image Magick, is currently located in Seattle—serving up tantalizing images characterized by luminous colors and extraordinary production standards. The relaxed environments and persuasively naturalistic lighting belie her meticulous attention to detail. 

“When I look at food and ingredients,” she reflects, “they contain such beautiful design, they draw me right in. Prepared food is the same, with its rich colors and shapes.”

Diane is increasingly charged with providing the creative direction for ad campaigns as clients come to rely on her discerning eye and original compositions. “We relish that kind of freedom to do interesting work that is nurtured by the client,” she says.

Her wide experience in the demanding markets of New York has honed her creative vocabulary, allowing her to produce sophisticated imagery with a purity of subject and form. Today, she says, the creative palette has expanded even further with innovative directions in glassware and silverware design that provide dramatic new shapes and textures for her images.

Each project begins with painstaking preparation and testing for lighting and in-depth consultation with her prop and food stylists. Collaborating with trusted stylists is central to creating a successful vision for each shot, as her prop stylist has the expertise and familiarity with little-known specialty shops that offer a staggering array of choices.

Equally vital is the teamwork with her food stylist, who creates the mouth-watering realism for her work. Defining their aesthetic with deftly chosen elements, bold contours, and rich colors, L’Image Magick may pair ornate silverware with a piece of weathered barn board, or a contemporary serving piece with nubby fabric to establish a mood and highlight a recipe.

More information about the studio, including a client list and a gallery of sumptuous images, is available at www.limagemagick.com.