UIView *vwContainer = [[UIView alloc] init];
[vwContainer setFrame:CGRectMake(0.0f, 0.0f, 50.0f, 45.0f)];
[vwContainer setBackgroundColor:[UIColor clearColor]];
UIImageView *icon = [[UIImageView alloc] init];
[icon setImage:[UIImage imageNamed:@"text-input-icon-password-key.png"]];
[icon setFrame:CGRectMake(0.0f, 0.0f, 45.0f, 45.0f)];
[icon setBackgroundColor:[UIColor lightGrayColor]];
[vwContainer addSubview:icon];
[self.passwordTextField setLeftView:vwContainer];
[self.passwordTextField setLeftViewMode:UITextFieldViewModeAlways];
http://stackoverflow.com/questions/22326288/how-do-i-add-padding-to-a-uitextfield-with-an-icon