When Robert Esposito decided to reinvent himself again, he turned to MiraCosta College to get the education he needed for his new career as a photographer.
Esposito served in the U.S. Navy as an aviation electronics technician, but when he ended his service in 2004, he knew he wasn’t interested in the field as a career. He toyed with a career in anthropology, but got interested in beer brewing and created Aztec Brewing Co. in Vista.
He ran the brewing business for five years until he sold it to his partners in 2015. Then he took another pivot and headed up sales and marketing for a brewery technology company. When he saw that his job wasn’t going to continue, he started thinking about other careers.
“I needed to spin the wheel and reinvent myself for the third or fourth time,” Esposito said.
He enjoyed photography as a hobby, and decided he wanted to learn more about it. He was impressed with MiraCosta College’s program for photography and video, and the college’s San Elijo campus was near his home in Encinitas. He started at MiraCosta College in Spring 2020, right as the COVID-19 pandemic forced all classes to go online.
“I would have rather it didn’t happen, but the staff did the best they could to make the move online,” Esposito said. “It really was fantastic. It was still a good experience.”
He said one of his favorite classes was a photo and video editing class taught by Scott Taylor. Taylor had projects such as filming skateboarder Tony Hawk, and Esposito said he shared his enthusiasm and knowledge about the photography business.
“Not only was it super cool, but he was preparing people for real life,” Esposito said. “He was the guy who was trying to take what he was teaching us and show us how to go out and make money with those skills.”
After graduating from MiraCosta College in 2021 with a degree in photography, Esposito opened his own business, Max Lux Media in Encinitas, that creates videos and photos. He said the business is thriving with clients that include businesses, nonprofits, and the MiraCosta College marketing department.
Esposito said that students planning to attend MiraCosta College should consider taking elective classes such as philosophy or astronomy to broaden their horizons.
“There’s things you learn that change your perspective on the world,” he said. “Take the opportunity to expand your mind as well.”