Gary Miller's Blog
 
Many people have asked me how I ever chose the professional of photography. My answer is that it chose me. From the earliest age , I could not read well nor  write well. I was terrible at sports , which made me the last person picked at gym class. This did 't do much for giving me the idea that I was going to be a great success. Self esteem was not something I had much of ... there were many days & nights full of tears. At the age of 12 years old I was sitting in my homeroom class when a counselor from the high school came to help us plot our future. I was informed that I had the freedom of choice to pick an elective and photography seemed to jump off the page. It seemed that photography was something that I could do. While I was barely passing my academic classes ... I was excelling in my photography class. There was freedom of expression in the assignment of photographing a cute girl, who would have never talked to me if there was not  a camera in front of my face. Talk to the young lady, light the young lady,  learn studio lighting, outdoor lighting,pictures in bright light, pictures in shade. I was obsessed to find the special beauty in every person that stepped in front of my lens. The better I made my subjects look , the more people that talked to me. Math, History, English , Science, & gym were disasters.. could I ever get my brain to be normal.
    After 4 years of high school I photographed many sweet 16s, portraits, senior pictures, and many weddings. Being the best was all I could think about. I sought out some of the top legends in the photographic industry. I went to their studios and they shared it all with me. Funny, I found out that the bigger the persons reputation the more he would share with me.
    Now it's time to enter college and pick a real career . I thought if I teach elementary school, I should be smarter than most 4th & 5th graders. I love animals so I'll teach elementary science. I filled my room with snakes, lizards, guinea pigs, hamsters, frogs,toads , land turtles, water turtles, . The photographs of the kids and the animals they related to filled the room. Now the students self esteem was raised seeing how brave they were holding a 5 foot boa constrictor. Communication , friendship, and rapport broke down many barriers. This tool of photography was opening many closed doors. 
    Most of the people I grew up with were on track to be doctors, lawyers, accountants, judges... could I survive as a low life photographer? What would my parents say? what would my friends say? Would any decent woman marry a poor photographer? How could I survive? How would I face the world? How do you get to Carnegie Hall asked the student ... practice, practice, practice.

 

I've been a professional photographer for over 40 years. People are always asking me whats better digital photography or film.I tell them that with film once you bought 8 or 9 of the best cameras in the world with the best Zeiss lenses you were set for life. Next you would surround yourself with the best retouchers both negative and print along with a photo lab. Next you need to develop your talents in lighting , posing, communication soo you could create the best product possible. Film was forgiving and the softness of its' nature would hide peoples imperfections. The retouchers would do the rest. The lab would determine if a print would appear light or dark or cold or warm. Different lab people would give you different results... you were never consistant.
    Now I am the artist, the retoucher, the person who does it all. After each session I sit with my clients and we determine how skinny they want to look, how young their skin should appear, and what imperfections they want changed. Today photographers are in total control of their product. Those who fluff off their responsibility and just turn over a raw disc are cheating their clients. Being at the top of new technology separates the professional from the amateur. We place many 30x40 wall portraits in our clients homes. Bigger is better when you look so good. Some people have opted for our deluxe 4 foot x 6 foot wal portrait to really relive the experience of the day with their family.
    It is a pleasure to see the delight your clients experience while the retouching is taking place right before their very own eyes. Men usally start of saying" I am what I am no retouching is needed.  As the years and the imperfections melt away their excitement builds and the challenge is on. " How good can I look?" They leave the studio floating on a cloud.
    So even though I am chained to my computer, with digital photography & I could play all day with film... the results with digital are the best in the world, when you know what you are doing and you are an expert in the newest technology. 

 

The art of communication begins with an idea. People come to a professional photographer because of different reasons. Some want to look sexy, some just plain beautiful, some want to look wise, others powerful. The job of a real artist is to find out what is in the mind of the client and accomplish all of their goals. If they come in without a goal you must create one together.
    Women are more meticulous than men... they have their hair & make up professionally done and their cloths are neat & on hangers ... unwrinkled. Men need more coaching. Power ties, colored shirts, dark suits, fitted shirts & jackets that can be buttoned.
    Lighting can make you slimmer or heavier. It can straighten out a crooked nose. Angle can make you seem bigger or smaller. Posing can create warmth, power , attentiveness, or you seemingly being aloof. Expression conveys you being warm, silly, mean, or harsh.
    Retouching can polish up the person, whiten eyes and teeth, reduce bags, take away drooping necks. Real pros fix clothing to make it look custom fitted, raise shirt collars& ties, reduce bulges in backs, necks, & shoulders. We straighten the hunched, push in the tummies, slim the arms ... and uncover the beauty that is hidden.
    We are the fairy g-d fathers who with a wave of our magic wand create the perfect picture ... stating the perfect message. Snap , snap, snap will take an eternity to get you to your goal. Only a true professional will ask you the correct questions and deliver to you the right product.

 

Horses are 1200 pounds of power. They are very skiddish for being so big & powerful. You are basically controlling these huge turbines with your thumb & your forefinger. You eventually become one with the horse over a couple of years... like Pan ... your legs melt into their body. You become sensitive to thier world and they become sensitive to your communication. You only have to turn your waist left or right & they begin to turn. If they get nervous... your calmness says everything is alright. The same is true with people in front of a camera... they are full of fear & doubts about their self image. Your calmness assures them that they are ok. As they become more confident the pictures become more alive & they reveal more of their real essence. That is why I take pictures tethered to a computer where I can share good results with my clients and build rapport & energy. The pictures take on a sparkle and an aliveness ..this is called the Miller Formula. Therefore being sensitive & aware of the person in front of the camera and guiding them throughout their session makes them feel & look more comfortable and therefore the results are more than the subject ever imagined.

 

Most young brides are attracted to a seemingly new style of photography called photojournalism. Its really exciting when they are looking a photographers samples of brides & grooms running, jumping,  & spinning. They love the untraditional look of backs, cut off heads, freedom, tilted cameras and complete emotion. After their own wedding day disappears and all they have are thier wedding photos ... they now are asking themselves... where are my grand parents? Why is my train in a ball? Where are my family portraits? Why is my nose crooked and why do I have 3 chins? Are my arms too fat? Why is a plant growing out of my head. Am I really that fat? I didn't see all those pimples. What do I have to do to make up my own album? Why can't I get my color right? Why didn't you take me & my friends ? Where do I get an album?Can I get more retouching? Whose going to design my album ?
   Its' a little late after the factPicking the right photographer who will walk you through your day and deliver the perfect wedding Album is most important. Here at Gary R. Miller Photography we specializing in making all of your dreams com true.. Give us a call at 248-350-1550..

    About Gary

    Gary R. Miller Photography... the Loving Touch, is a warm and friendly photographic studio which specializes in helping people look their best. Perfect smiles, perfect bodies, perfect skin, and a perfect message. Gary personally, starts off by finding out exactly what you want to achieve during your event or portrait session. Our studio theme is Express yourself... Express your beauty, express your attitude, express your personality, express your hobby, express your relationship with loved ones, friends, or pets.

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