Diana Maldonado

I photograph what disappearsthe moment you stop looking.

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Food is never
just food.

Visual storyteller and creative director based in San Diego. Originally from Colombia. Available worldwide.

— Restaurant & Editorial

Selected Work

All Restaurants Editorial
France · Switzerland · Mexico · Italy · Japan · Colombia · USA · Canada
Rosetta Mexico City
Mexico City · MexicoRosettaWhere the garden grows through the ceiling
En Gare France
Perche · FranceEn GareA station that became a table
Barranco Zurich
Zurich · SwitzerlandBarrancoLatin soul in a Swiss kitchen
Diosa Cafe Bogota
Bogotá · ColombiaDiosa CaféThe quiet hour before everything begins
Behind the scenes in a Montreal kitchen, a cook pauses over the counter
Montréal, QuébecMontréal, 2026Editorial / Personal ProjectWatching wasn’t enough. I reached for my camera.View Editorial
Noir et Or France
Perche · FranceNoir & OrBlack bowl, amber light, one perfect bite
Forno da Milvio Roma
Roma · ItalyForno da MilvioRome on a tray, slice by slice
Market Day Tokyo
Toyosu · TokyoMarket DayWhere the ocean ends up on the table
Late Night Tokyo
Tokyo · JapanLate NightThe meal you didn't plan but won't forget
First Cut San Diego
San Diego · CAFirst CutPrecision is its own kind of beauty
Juank Parrilla Bogota
Bogotá · ColombiaJuank ParrillaSmoke, fire and the smell of Sunday
Dumplings
EditorialGolden FoldTwo dumplings, one broth, no words needed

— Brand Work · 01

Mona LindaInstant Coffee · San Diego

I developed the visual direction for Mona Linda across product photography, styling, motion, and social content. From concept and art direction to shooting and editing, I built a warm, tactile image system around the everyday ritual of coffee — giving the brand a consistent visual language across product and lifestyle storytelling.

Creative Direction · Art Direction · Photography · Styling · Motion · Social Content

↗ @monalindacoffee
Mona Linda bag
The Bag
Mona Linda flat lay
Flat Lay
Close-up of black coffee in a glass mug, held in hand
Black Coffee
Mona Linda in hand
In Hand

— Brand Work · 02

Juank ParrillaBranding · Creative Direction · Photography · Bogotá

Food Photography Creative Direction Brand Identity

Juank Parrilla started the same way the best things do — with family, fire, and a cart on the street. What began as a humble dream grew into two beloved locations in Bogotá, built on one simple truth: there's a smile behind every burger.

The logo carries that promise literally — a smile is the defining element, a visual signature that says you belong here. The palette was chosen to evoke warmth and joy, the feeling that everything is going to be okay, that you're exactly where you should be. Because Juank Parrilla isn't just a restaurant. It's community. It's family. It's the place people return to not just for the food, but for the feeling.

My role: brand identity, creative direction, food photography, and social media storytelling — building a visual world that feels as good as their burgers taste.

Juank Caprichosa burger
La Caprichosa
Juank branding
Brand Content

— About

I tell

The stories
food carries.

"I grew up at a table where a meal was how we said 'I love you,' 'I'm sorry,' and 'we made it through.'"

I'm Diana — a visual storyteller and creative director based in San Diego, originally from Colombia.

I grew up in a family that started with a humble street food cart and now owns two restaurants. As they grew, I had the opportunity to help shape their brand through storytelling, photography, and social media. It taught me that food is never just food. It's memory, identity, celebration, and belonging.

Today, I tell those stories through photography. I'm drawn to the people behind every table, the quiet details, the moments that make a place feel unforgettable.

My work is deeply influenced by literature: Joan Didion's precision, the magical everyday of the Latin American Boom, and Brené Brown's belief that vulnerability is where meaningful stories begin.

Because long after the meal is over, the story is what people remember.

Diana Maldonado — always chasing the light

San Diego · CA → Worldwide

↗ @anadimaal ↗ LinkedIn
Food Photography Creative Direction Editorial Video Content Brand Identity

— How I Work

Simple.
Intentional.
Story-first.

01

Discovery

We begin with what you're creating, what matters most, and what you want people to feel.

02

Creative Direction

I translate that into a clear visual direction and custom shot plan built around your story, priorities, and space.

03

The Shoot

We create the imagery — capturing the food, atmosphere, process, people, and quiet details that make the experience yours.

04

Select + Delivery

You choose your favorites from a carefully curated proof gallery. I complete the final retouching and deliver your finished collection in high-resolution and web/social-ready formats.

— Services

Photography for places
people want to remember.

Thoughtful imagery for restaurants, chefs and food brands — built around the food, atmosphere, people and details that make an experience worth discovering.

Essential$1,200

A focused photography session built around one clear creative objective.

10Retouched Images
Up to 2 HrsOn Location
Creative Direction+ Custom Shot Plan
CommercialDigital Usage
5 Business DaysAfter Selection
Start a project →

Need a little more?Additional imagery · Expanded image collections · Additional shooting time · Short-form motion · Rush delivery

For bigger
stories.

Custom productions are built around the story, scope and deliverables the project actually needs.

Tell me about your project →

Let's make
something
real.

Tell me about what you're building, what you're creating, and what you want people to feel. Even if you're not sure exactly what you need yet — reach out.

Email
hello@dianamaldonado.art
Instagram
@anadimaal
LinkedIn
LinkedIn
Based in
San Diego, CA · Available worldwide

Start the
conversation.

Tell me a little about what you're creating. Share a few details below and I'll be in touch with the best next step for your project.

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