We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Maksim Mizgirev a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Maksim, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Can you recount a story of an unexpected problem you’ve faced along the way?

One of the most surprising challenges in my creative journey came when I moved to the U.S. about a year and a half ago. Having spent time living and working in Europe and Asia, I thought I’d seen just about every approach to fashion. But stepping into the American fashion scene? Let’s just say I quickly realized it was a whole different world. Imagine showing up to a jazz concert, guitar in hand, ready to rock out—you know music, sure, but it’s not quite the right vibe.

In the U.S., I found myself needing to adapt my entire visual approach. What resonated with audiences here was new territory for me. It took me around a year to figure out how to align my style with what clients here needed while still staying true to my own artistic voice. I tried different techniques, dove into American trends, and adjusted my storytelling style to connect with a new audience.

At the time, it was like learning a creative language from scratch—frustrating but fascinating. Now, that experience has become one of my strengths. It taught me how to be flexible in any environment, no matter the culture or expectations. And honestly, it made me appreciate that creativity doesn’t have a “one-size-fits-all” model—it’s about constant reinvention.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

You know, it’s funny—I actually started out as an engineer. About four years ago, I started exploring photography, trying out roles as a photographer, a producer, a retoucher, and even a photo assistant. Styling wasn’t initially in the plan; it came up when a team was ready to go, and the only role left was that of the stylist. I thought, “Why not give it a shot?” And, well, that’s how it all started!

My engineering background definitely influences my approach to styling. For me, creating looks isn’t just about intuition—it’s almost like a formula. I plan my shoots and style my subjects with a level of precision that probably comes from having a more analytical mind. I’m naturally drawn to the technical side, so I’m constantly studying fashion history, art history, and even architecture for inspiration. It’s amazing how structure and lighting in something like architecture can inform a fashion concept.

Nowadays, I prefer working with businesses, focusing on campaigns, lookbooks, and e-commerce projects, but I also love working with music artists on album covers, snippets, and video clips. Some of my recent collaborations have been with names like Maye Musk, Steve Aoki, Coco Rocha, and Jessica Chastain. I’ve worked on projects featured in Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar, and L’Officiel, and my journey has taken me through places like Singapore, Thailand, the Maldives, Russia and, of course, now the U.S., where I’ve been for about a year and a half.

One thing that might set me apart is my versatility—I’ve been involved in nearly every role in the fashion workflow, which gives me a unique perspective. As a stylist who also knows lighting and photography, I have a clear vision of how different fabrics or materials will interact with light, how shadows will fall, or how a fabric’s sheen might play on camera. It allows me to anticipate how each element will affect the final look.

Beyond that, my work is never just about “looking good.” Each look I create carries a story—a narrative that goes deeper than the surface. And recently, I’ve been using AI to take these narratives even further. I started exploring AI about two years ago, right when it began making waves across industries. Now, I love merging real photography with AI, creating surreal environments that blend reality and digital. It’s more complex than it looks, though! Getting the light, shadow, and interactions between model and backdrop right takes a lot of refinement.

I’ve had a whirlwind journey over the past 1.5 years in the U.S., collaborating with top brands and creatives, and I’m just as excited for what’s next.

Any insights you can share with us about how you built up your social media presence?

I believe the days when follower count was a real measure of success are behind us. People are increasingly growing tired of these numbers, and we’re moving back to a place where genuine, meaningful connections hold greater value. So, for me, building a follower count isn’t really the goal. Instead, I focus on doing what I love, and trust that my audience will naturally form around that. The people who follow me are often those I’ve met, collaborated with, or connected with in some way—those who are genuinely interested.

In my experience here in the U.S., chasing follower count doesn’t even feel relevant. America, in many ways, is quite conservative when it comes to networking. People here prefer getting a feel for you as a person first, to see if you’re a match in terms of values and vibe. This often requires a personal connection or a face-to-face meeting, and word-of-mouth carries a lot of weight here.

For me, the importance placed on follower count is overestimated and increasingly outdated. In our industry, we see plenty of rising stars in photography with just 20,000 or even 5,000 followers. These numbers don’t make them any less remarkable or unique. Unlike the well-established legends like Tim Walker or Nick Knight, today’s new wave of top photographers are proving that follower count isn’t a defining factor—it’s the work and connections that truly matter.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

My mission? To do what I love without ending up on the street. (Joking—kind of!) On a serious note, my goal is to reach the heights of the fashion industry and work with icons like Lady Gaga and brands I truly admire, like Mugler, Maison Margiela, Balenciaga and John Galliano himself. It’s not just about the names—working with top-tier talent and high-profile teams allows you to create on a whole new level.

What does that mean? The stronger the team, the fewer limits there are on creativity. Experienced teams bring so much knowledge and are always eager to collaborate, and that energy allows us to push boundaries. It’s this kind of synergy that lets us create projects that are bold, unpredictable, and unforgettable. The more talent and creative minds in the mix, the wilder the possibilities.

Contact Info:

• Website: http://lu3alo.tilda.ws/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lu3alo/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100080902712598&mibextid=LQQJ4d
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maksim-mizgirev
• Other: Behance: https://www.behance.net/lu3alo

Image Credits

1:
Art Director & Photographer: DMITRII TAIGA
Stylist & Producer: MAKSIM MIZGIREV
AI Artist: EVGENIA HUBER
Makeup Artist: ALIIA AKHMADULLINA
Hair Stylist: GENIA KOZLOVA
Model: CARL NOWAK

2:
Photographer: KHALIL COVINGTON
Stylist: MAKSIM MIZGIREV
MUAH: ALIIA AKHMADULLINA
Model: RIO
Model Agency: REMADE MANAGEMENT
Post Production: ANDRIANA TRUSH

3:
Art Director & Photographer: DMITRII TAIGA
Stylist & Producer: MAKSIM MIZGIREV
AI Artist: EVGENIA HUBER
MUAH: GENIA KOZLOVA
Model: BEKAH CHURCH

4:
Photographer: KHALIL COVINGTON
Stylist: MAKSIM MIZGIREV
Concept & Assisting Stylist: SABINA KAHN
Makeup & Hair stylist: GENIYA KOZLOVA
Model: RILEY WOODELL
Model Agency: LIZ J MODELS
Post Production: ANDRIANA TRUSH

5:
Art Director & Photographer: DMITRII TAIGA
Stylist & Illumination: MAKSIM MIZGIREV
Stylists Assistant: DMITRII VLASOV
Hair Stylist: CHRISTIAN J RODRIGUEZ
MUA: CAMIL PETTERSON
Model: FELLINI ROSE

6:
Creative Director: ANA ROJAS
Photo Director & Producer: ASHLEE ESPINAL
Photographer: STEPHANIE DIANI
Stylist: MAKSIM MIZGIREV
Makeup & Hair Artist: EVIE RY
Model: PRISCILA BUIAR
Photographer’s Assistant: CASEY MATHEWSON

7:
Art Direction & Styling: MAKSIM MIZGIREV & SABINA KAHN
Photographer: HONGLIN CAI
Producer: MAKSIM MIZGIREV
Makeup & Hair stylist: GENIYA KOZLOVA
Model: KAMI WOO
Model Agency: UNION MANAGEMENT & COMMUNITY NEW YORK
Wig Artist: TOMMY ROCHE

8:
Creative Director: ANA ROJAS
Photo Director & Producer: ASHLEE ESPINAL
Photographer: STEPHANIE DIANI
Stylist: MAKSIM MIZGIREV
Makeup & Hair Artist: EVIE RY
Model: PRISCILA BUIAR
Photographer’s Assistant: CASEY MATHEWSON