Today we’d like to introduce you to Morgan Miller.
Hi Morgan, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I’ve always liked taking pictures, even as a child. In high school, I helped with the newspaper and yearbook, and even though we didn’t have an adequate darkroom (necessary equipment was lacking), seeing an image develop in a tray of liquid was pure magic to me. But, everything photography-related really clicked for me when I got to college. I decided to go to Warrensburg (forever it will be known as CMSU to me) as a Theatre major. I loved to perform on stage and build sets, but I did not like the cold welcome I received from the other Theater majors. I switched to undecided the first day of school!
At that point, I was feeling kind of lost, but when I reflected back, I remembered how much I really loved photography. As luck may have it, one of my first elective classes I had signed up for was photography. The bug bit me, and there was no turning back! I found my community, my purpose and my people.
After getting a degree in photography, I started assisting photographers as well as stylists and production teams at Hallmark Cards. It was basically like a paid grad-school experience. It introduced me to the full spectrum of how a professional photoshoot should be conducted. I learned so much from the talented people there, and I still use many of the techniques I learned during that time.
The beauty of Hallmark photography helped me transition my career to wedding photography. I shot weddings for 18 years, and that was a wild ride! I often compare my tenure in wedding photography to Navy SEAL training for photographers! It helped me to think on my feet, and to be a “quick shot” to capture those little in-between moments. Each wedding was different in its own way, and it also gave me some amazing opportunities to travel.
Weddings have sent me to Italy, Mexico multiple times, Jamaica, Maui, Lake Tahoe, and The Hamptons, just to name a few.
In 2020, when the world shut down, I saw it as an opportunity to leave the wedding industry and go back to my commercial roots. This will be my twenty-third year of being in business!
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
I started my photography journey using film. Even though I started going digital in college, that was a learning curve and certainly a challenge. And then 2020 did a number on many entrepreneurial businesses, and mine was no different. I feel so fortunate to still be in business even after the world shut down.
Running my own business means I wear a lot of hats, and it is not easy to keep up with all of the things that are necessary to run a successful business. An immeasurable amount of time is spent on business-related tasks and connecting with clients. Behind the scenes that are often times unpaid.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I am a photographer who shoots anything but weddings. My primary focus is people. I am often told that I make people feel at ease in front of the camera.
I am most proud of the many years I have been able to do this and that I can support myself through photography.
Alright, so to wrap up, is there anything else you’d like to share with us?
In addition to photography, traveling is my other passion. Thankfully, these two things go hand in hand, and my camera has sent me to corners of the globe that I thought I’d only get to see in books. I also love spending time with my rescue fur-baby who is an 8 year old Long Haired French Bulldog, Brazi.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.morganmiller.photography
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/morganmillerphotography/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/morganmillerphotographykc
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/morganmillerphotography/
