Life & Work with Max Milla of Orange County

Today we’d like to introduce you to Max Milla.

Hi Max, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
My journey started during my last year of college. I wasn’t really sure what I wanted to do and after losing my dad around that time, it was a pretty confusing period in my life. The one thing I did know was that I wanted to do something in the creative world.

I started doing freelance social media marketing for family-owned businesses around Orange County and LA. As part of that, I picked up a camera to create content for clients and pretty quickly realized I enjoyed the photography side of things way more. I spent the next few years shooting for restaurants and eventually started looking for ways to grow as a photographer.

During the pandemic, I started connecting with people in the commercial production world, including stylists, creative directors, prop houses, producers, and other creatives. Getting a behind-the-scenes look at that side of the industry really sparked my interest in commercial work.

Eventually, I decided to go all in on commercial work. Since then, it’s been a pretty wild ride. I’ve had the chance to work with national brands, travel around the country for shoots, and somehow turn something I genuinely enjoy doing into a career.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road. One of the biggest challenges was navigating a career path that didn’t really have a clear roadmap. I started out creating content for small businesses and restaurants, but breaking into commercial photography was a completely different world. When I first started, I didn’t know a single person in the industry. Every opportunity came from relationships I built along the way. Building a network takes time. Looking back, those relationships have been one of the biggest factors in helping me grow my career. I’m incredibly grateful to the people who took a chance on me early on, trusted my work, and opened doors that helped me get to where I am today.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I am a Commercial Photographer based in Orange County that specializes in food and drink. Most of my work is for advertising, packaging, social, and digital campaigns. I’d say I’m known for creating bold, colorful images that make food feel playful and craveable. I love incorporating movement and texture into my work.

What I’m most proud of is how far I’ve come without a traditional photography or advertising background. Getting to work with national brands and seeing my work out in the real world still feels pretty surreal.

What are your plans for the future?
I don’t have the future completely mapped out, and I think I’m okay with that. There are still so many brands I’d love to work with and ideas I want to bring to life. I’m constantly testing new ideas, learning new tools, and finding different ways to push my work creatively.
Eventually, I could see myself stepping back from behind the camera and moving more into a director role. But for now, I really enjoy what I’m doing and feel like there’s still so much more I want to explore. This industry is always changing, so who knows, maybe something I’m experimenting with now will lead me to whatever comes next.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.mxmlla.com
• Instagram: @mxmlla