Spring has Sprung!

New promo going out. Last week my neighbor popped over with some fresh eggs from his chickens. He was apologetic for all the noise they have been making. I was thrilled at the beautiful eggs he cradled in his hands, he had no idea what a gift he had brought over. I told him that I love the chicken noises, the crabby clucking of "chicken finger" protesting that his caretakers have stopped giving him people food. Lola my impetuous Pug, squawks back, as if they are having an argument. These lovely eggs aren't the neighbor eggs, but they remind me of my noisy feathered neighbors.

Eggs signify rebirth, thus used as symbols for Easter. Spring is my favorite time of year, the light, the freshness, the new life. Here is to Spring!

Miami Stories-An Instagram Series- Travelogue Meets Free Association

I have a hard time resisting taking photographs when I travel to new cities and locations. I remember when my father told me about a practice that his photographer friend Bruce Davidson used to do.  He would walk around the same city block again and again and again. Each day searching out new things to photograph. It was a way of training himself to really look, and begin to see more and more. When I go somewhere, I like to look for the photographs, not just the scenic ones that you would want for your travelogue or magazine travel spread, but ones that tell something deeper about the place. A photograph of a detail, a color, the kind of light. This all must sound familiar, since I talk about these things all the time for my food photography. I like creating a series on Instagram, usually shooting with my iPhone - consisting of 10 images that create kind a poetic story about the place. Random, but aesthetically chosen that create a whimsical tale of sorts. I drag in photos of my poor family and a friend or two now and then for guest appearances so maybe there is a hero to the story, or a villain. Viewer's discretion. Here is my latest city series/ story. I went to Miami for work and discovered an amazing culture, language, sassy attitude, music, beauty, grit, art, passion, light and heat. Sweet, salty, acid heat almost!

Communication Arts and American Photography Award Recognition for Still Life Food Images

It hasn't always been easy to get award recognition for still life work, and food work is even more of a niche category. Personally I think that still life imagery can speak to any subject, represent pretty much anything through symbolism or literally. It is why I think it is a great "language" to use when trying to convey a message or feeling and it is why I have focused my work in this field. It is always nice to get some recognition for the hard work we do. This month, my work was recognized by both American Photography Awards and also Communication Arts Photo Award Annual.

New Motion Work: Celebrating the Time Honored Tea Tradition of Chai

As drink that is not just enjoyed but also is an ancient tradition for the people of India, Chai has now captured attention in the US and around the world. It whispers of secret tales, riches and remedies. It's taste, smell and even how it is made has layers of mystique and intrigue. Dusty, rich, aromatic. Hints of cinnamon and citrus? The healing powers add more to the intrigue. Something so good offers up the healing antioxidant powers of the spices that are toasted and then brewed into the caramel colored beverage. Gosh, I am finding myself wanting one just thinking about it.

My team and I were inspired by this assignment, excited to take the visual voyage in capturing a bit of the essence of this culinary tradition. We wanted to focus on the elements closely, the movement and at the same time the stillness and meditative quality, the seductiveness of the process and the appetite appeal.

Feeling Optimistic with a Fresh New Website

Nothing makes you feel more excited than to share new work. As a photographer, sharing my work is both exciting and challenging. I strive to bring a fresh perspective of beauty to a world flooded with imagery.

It is for that reason am incredibly excited to share with you my new website. Every element is carefully considered as part of translating photos into powerful statements.

The way this website functions allows me to show, interactively, what my work is all about. Not just the different subject matter that I can shoot or the lighting. It shares a mindful approach to what I care about. Explaining what drives me and what my passion is. This website features foods and moods from sweets to drinks to what is on the table. There are also collections of fine art work, motion, and some of my favorite moments behind the scenes.

Through this new website, I get to share my commercial work, my tear sheets, my studio, my social media and also my personal work, a series of abstract landscapes.


My hope is that it becomes clear that the way I approach my work is through intuition. Passion for food, wellness, art and social causes fuels what I do. Imagery is powerful, it can change the way that you view the world around you. Through exploring this website I hope it leaves you feeling as encouraged and optimisitc as I do.

Vision Through Editorial Collaboration

Trends are everywhere, and sometimes we aren't even aware of how they are impacting our lives. A crucial aspect of being a food photographer is keeping up with trends. That's why it is always such a pleasure to work with relevant publications that explore new ideas.

My ongoing collaboration with the national healthy eating publication Eating Well has been another way my team has stayed on top of new trends. Eating Well strives to stay on top of food and style trends in the food world and reflect them in its pages. Working with this team is inspiring, and some of the stories I've shot for them have won James Beard Awards. It has been an honor to have been assigned some of their cover photographs, which are always fun to do! These covers feature a variety of foods and exemplify a sense of wellness. I love the challenge of finding the right perspective to bring to these covers and the range of content I've worked with. 

The most recent issue of Eating Well was so relevant for me. The whole issue is about California, where I live, work, eat and cook for my family. And the story I got to photograph celebrates the amazing California Avocado! Especially relevant since it is a favorite food in my family, Eva's friends requesting it for breakfast when they stay over. I love it as a delicious way of getting our Omega 3's which are so good for brain health. Plus avocados are so visually appealing! 

Letting My Intuition Be My Visionary Guide

"I believe that art can heal and passion for food, wellness, art, and social causes fuels all that I do." - Leigh Beisch

We wanted to know how Leigh Beisch developed her intuition for photography. Was it her brain on auto-pilot, was it learned or a combination of the two? We asked Leigh about her background, influences, and vision for the future. Here is what she had to say:

Growing up under the spirited influences of an advertising creative director dad and a mom that worked in fashion before she became a poet meant learning about life from a visual perspective and being able to communicate in different ways. Our house was filled with inspiration. From stacks of fashion and literary magazines to stories and visits from well-known photographers and writers. Later at RISD, I was challenged to think about the applications of creativity, discovering what drives me to create (content) and light, always the light.

Today I channel many of those influences; whether I am collaborating with clients or creating work for myself, I strive to bring a perspective of beauty and nurturing to a world inundated with messaging and imagery. My approach to collaboration is empathic - always considering the project from start to finish and in an authentic, integrated fashion. Every element of production is mindfully considered to translate my photographs into powerful, yet nuanced statements. As I discovered through poetry, I still love the element of surprise and adopt a fearless approach when it comes to exploring ideas and trying new and unexpected things. With an eye towards the future in my DNA, I’m always looking to riff and change, adapt and roll, no matter how simplistic or complex.

Through my photographs, I aim to give back and demonstrate how beautiful imagery can equate to a sense of health and well-being.

I am drawn to the natural light and strive to use it in its authentic and transparent way. I’ve always believed that the best imagery reflects an iconic moment in time and culture, and I always look forward to seeing where the world is going and how my work can reflect popular minds and moods with my point-of-view.

I believe that art can heal and passion for food, wellness, art, and social causes fuels all that I do. As my career continues to evolve, I’m always looking for ways to engage with the human condition and how to demonstrate how truly connected we all are in this big picture called life.

Check out Leigh's latest stills and motion on her new website or follow her on Instagram for more professional food photography, and to witness her exploration of how food and family nourish and nurtures.