We were lucky to catch up with Monty Milburn recently and have shared our conversation below.

Monty, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Looking back, what’s an important lesson you learned at a prior job?

When I first got into this business, everyone would say the same thing: thorough preparation is key. The first photographer I ever worked for would tell me, “Never let them see you set up, and never leave anything to chance!”

As I got older and spent more time in the industry, I realized that’s not possible 100% of the time. But when it is, make that mindset a habit.

It may sound cliché, but proper preparation gives you a strong entry point on any project. Walking in with a plan or clear direction before the clients arrive keeps the production focused and moving with purpose. Surround yourself with a like-minded crew, and you set the tone for success from the very beginning.

Monty, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I got into this business by a bit of a roundabout way. When I was in art school studying graphic design and during a summer internship, I was invited to tag along on a photo shoot. I still remember the moment I stepped into that first studio – I was hooked and never looked back.

I’m what folks in our industry call a commercial photographer. I create visual content and assets for marketing and advertising. About 30 years ago, I started a company with a couple of friends, and we called it OMS Photography. We didn’t know much about running a business back then, but the three of us had passion.

Today, OMS Photography has grown into a collection of talented, creative people. We offer a full range of services—still and motion capture, retouching, and motion editing- helping clients bring campaigns to life from concept all the way through to brand-ready deliverables. What clients appreciate is that our entire team is under one roof. This enables us to quickly align with everyone, if there are changes in the production or concept, and keep the project on track.

What really sets us apart is our people. From an incredible marketing director and two sharp (and genuinely great to work with) producers, to a roster of talented photographers and videographers, set stylists and builders, a creative technologist running a robotic camera arm to capture some seriously cool footage, expert retouchers, motion editors, and a highly organized post-production manager who keeps everything moving seamlessly. It’s truly a collective effort and that passion that I mention before is still alive today!

Any advice for growing your clientele? What’s been most effective for you?

It’s pretty simple: surround yourself with the best people, do good work, stay on budget, deliver on time, and take care of your clients.

Beyond that, if you can swing it, hire a strong marketing director – someone who can analyze data, shape strategy, and connect with the right audience through compelling content.

Any advice for managing a team?

Cultivate a healthy, open, and supportive environment. Give your team the right tools, clear guidance, and a strong sense of direction.

Encourage growth by creating space to test and experiment. Challenge them to put themselves out there, enter competitions, share their work, and inspire them to reach for their goals.

Then trust them to do their thing, and support them every step of the way.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.omsphoto.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/oms.photo/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OmsPhoto/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/oms-photography/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC9cD6TunSqCf0qir2OUy1DQ
• Other: https://vimeo.com/omsphotocincinnati