Mona Lorenz runs a studio based in the heart of Austria. The past 20 years have brought recognition for her work as a food photographer. She works confidently in her studio, but is also happy to shoot on location.

Mona cooperates with a freelance team of food and prop stylists and draws her inspiration from everything surrounding her, as well as her penchant for travelling. What matters most is keeping the natural appearance of food alive in her pictures. "Apart from looking delicious and appetizing, I want my photos to capture the purity and authenticity of food."

Mona says she is "not a technique nerd, because over time I have figured out that creating emotions and a certain mood is only possible through simple but effective manners!" While she has achieved her solid competence through years of experience, her highest priority remains carefully thinking through the concept for every shoot.

Mona has created images for large retailers, advertising campaigns, packaging and editorial publications for a range of well known companies.

René van Bakel has been a passionate storytelling photographer since the very start of his professional career some 20 years ago. He has shot in more than 70 countries and has been published in major global media outlets including National Geographic, The New York Times, Le Figaro, Vogue, and many more.

René also takes care of commercial assignments, working worldwide. His vast experience enables him to help clients visualise their story and show their audiences what really matters.

Working across portraiture, architecture, hotel and hospitality, food, product, travel/art/culture, lifestyle and cars, clients include Superfund, Vapiano, ÖBB, AIT, Ö-Post AG, Agrana, Magna Steyr, FFG, BMVIT, Rolex, Austrian Airlines, Spanish Riding School Vienna, TNT, DHL, NÖM, ÖBF, Merkur, Stiegl, Gösser, Nike, VDL Group and Philips Medical Systems.

Production Pool / Pool Films is a full service production company specialised in film and photo production. With bases in Zurich, Vienna, Berlin, Cape Town and the Alps, production pool offers a great range of service production and locations.

Recent productions include:

• Schweiz Tourismus TV commercial. Director/DOP: Thomas Dirnhofer.
• Schweiz Tourismus online film. Director/DOP: Christoph Fritschi.
• Globus print campaign. Photographer: Markus Pritzi.
• Birkenstock print campaign. Photographer: Jonas Unger.

Other clients include brands such as BMW, Bogner, Coca-Cola, Coop, Credit Suisse, Deutsche Bank, Elle, H+M, Heineken, IWC, Joop, Migros, Orange, S.Oliver, Swisscom and Vogue as well as photographers and directors such as Boo George, Frederike Helwig, Gregor Hohenberg,  Jan Voss, Marcel Hartmann, Mariano Vivanco, Mario Testino, Matt Jones, Mikael Jansson, Sam Robinson and Tom Dirnhofer.

Visit the website for further information.

Welcome to Showcase Austria, brought to you by Production Paradise. This issue features some of the leading photographers, photo agents, stylists, illustrators and equipment rentals, working out of Austria.

More creative professionals and facilities for photographic and film production are available in our Vienna Photo and Film directories.

Brands and publications, including Red Bull, Austrian Airlines, Coca-Cola, Ikea Food, ÖBB, Aldi, Wien Tourismus, Evian, Bank Austria, and Gusto, among others, have trusted these professionals with their latest advertising campaigns and editorial shoots.

Be sure to catch our recommended events:

• Photography exhibitions by August Sander and Hanna Putz, analysing society. Until 20th May at WestLicht, Vienna. 
• Tom Jakobi Awakening - photography exhibition. Until 26th May at OstLicht. Gallery for Photography, Vienna. 
• Man Ray exhibition, featuring his works from across various disciplines, including, photography, film, collage, typography and more. Until 24th June at Kunstforum, Vienna. 
• Austria: Photography 1970-2000, until 1st July and I-Photo: Japanese Photography 1960-1970 from the Collection, from 21st April to 8th July, at Museum der Moderne Salzburg. 

Our cover image was shot by Verena Mandragora, styling - Guy Debast. 

Denis Mujakovic is a visual artist and illustrator based in Vienna, as well as cluster manager for the Austrian illustration organisation Illustria under the Design Austria umbrella.

He has specialised in visualising all forms of communication concepts as well as conveying the ideal emotional note.

Karin Lohberger is an advertising photographer from Upper Austria specialising in people and lifestyle photography.

With a passion for people and a flair for capturing emotions together with her experience in professional photography, Karin successfully creates unique, modern and emotional imagery.

She recently worked for clients including Gmundner Keramik, Eternit, Kurz Real Estates, Hotel Eichingerbauer and magazines including Unser Salzkammergut.

Karin loves to shoot outdoors or on location, and is perfectly equipped for any tricky light situation. Through her creativity and her high demand for quality, she is always ready for new challenges.

More pictures, information and contact details are available on her website.

Florian Schulte is a specialist in lifestyle and advertising photography. He is often commissioned to shoot with real talents, and his relaxed approach on set allows them to achieve a very natural and candid performance.

Florian has built a reputation for delivering outstanding lifestyle and commercial photography for leading brands in Austria.

In 2017, he photographed the Nationalrat of Austria and made campaigns for Lambretta, HONGi and Raiffeisenbank.

Mona Lorenz is an experienced food, still and lifestyle photographer based in Upper Austria. Her studio has a fully equipped kitchen and prop room.

Mona has a passion for food which perhaps stems from her childhood spent in the kitchen of her family-run hotel. After completing her studies in photography at the Graphische Photography College in Vienna, she travelled around the world with nothing but dreams, hopes and her camera.

After this exciting period, she co-founded a studio specialising in food and still life in Vienna. Mona's clients include editorial, packaging and advertising clients such as Wiberg, Gmundner Keramik, Spitz Austria, Hermann Fleischlos, Dr. Oetker Österreich and Unimarkt Austria.

With her many years of experience, Mona brings an open mind and enthusiasm to every project. It is important for her to create pictures with a natural touch, and her clients appreciate precisely this kind of visual language.

Stefan Leitner is an advertising photographer based in Graz. He started his career as a professional photographer in 2009. Perfect for clients looking for a full package, his services include organisation, scouting, booking, photography, post-production, and more.

Stefan's international experience makes him a reliable partner who delivers the best results even under enormous pressure. Clients include Coca-Cola, BMW, RedBull, Aldi, Bank Austria, and many more.

His passion for the great outdoors makes him a good choice for location shoots in difficult terrain. Stefan feels at home across several fields of photography and always looks forward to getting the best results for his clients. He is an easy-going guy who never loses focus.

PG Studios are known as the young and creative advertising photography studios of Linz, the capital city of Upper Austria. Concentrating mainly on fashion, food, still life and architecture photography, PG Studios also specialises in post-production services including 3D and CGI. The team also recently began working in professional aerial filming.

For over nine years, PG Studios has been working as a full service partner for national and international clients across a range of industries.

More pictures, information and contact details are available on the website.