About me
Hey there, my name is Mila. I'm a Polaroid artist who shoots with vintage cameras and mostly expired film.
My journey in photography began in childhood, developing black and white prints alongside my father in our small darkroom at home. As a teenager, I picked up 35 mm point-and-shoot cameras, and my love for film never really faded. In 2007, I returned to it — starting with 35 mm and eventually exploring medium format and other alternative processes.
Then, around 2011, I discovered peel-apart Polaroid, and everything clicked. There's something magical about each frame — the unpredictability, the way colors shift and react to different light and temperature. No two results are ever the same, and that's exactly what keeps me coming back.
I'm deeply passionate about capturing the beauty of our Northern landscapes. I want to showcase the incredible home we share and spark a sense of connection and belonging in anyone who sees my work. My art revolves around themes of love, peace, and care — the things that matter most to me.
I also love the experimental side of Polaroid. It offers endless room for creativity, and I embrace the chance to turn my "fails" into something new and unexpected.
For me, Polaroid art is a form of meditation — my way of connecting with nature and people. And it makes me deeply, quietly happy.
Exhibitions
Online Exhibitions
Awards
Analog Sparks 2025
Silver — Nature/Seasons
Series In the Heart of Winter
Fine Art Photography Awards 2025
Landscape 1st Place Winner
Series In the Heart of Winter
Analog Sparks 2024
Silver in Nature/Landscape
Series Wetlands
IPA 2024
Honorable Mention — Analog/Film Landscape
Series Wetlands
Fine Art Photography Awards 2024
Nominee in Conceptual
Series In Between
Fine Art Photography Awards 2024
Nominee in Fine Art
Series All Good Things
Analog Sparks 2023
Bronze Winner in Technique Instant
Series Two Worlds
IPA 2023
Honorable Mention — Fine Art Landscape
Series Wetlands
Fine Art Photography Awards 2023
Nominee in Experimental
Series Two Worlds
Fine Art Photography Awards 2022
Grand Prize — Amateur Fine Art Photographer of the Year
Landscape Amateur 1st Place
Series Wetlands
Tokyo International Foto Awards 2022
Honorable Mention — Fine Art Special Effects
Series Two Worlds
Publications
Online Publications
Collaborations
Cover art for EP by Dokkodo Sounds × Mountain Range
Inner Ocean Records · Photography by Mila Maes