Miller Photography Inc.

Tradition of Bridesmaids and Groomsmen

2011-06-30T12:44:00.000-07:00

Have you ever wondered why bridesmaids and groomsmen dress the same? The tradition began when Roman law required that the couple have 10 witnesses to make the wedding legal. Many of these witnesses dressed up the same to confuse the evil forces that might show up uninvited to the wedding. People during this time were very superstitious. Soon Europeans followed this same tradition. In many cases bridesmaids and groomsmen did have to defend the bride and groom from warriors and real-life criminals.

I think this wedding party looks like it could defend our recent June 11, 2011, wedding couple. We had the honor of capturing the memories of Angela and Skip's wedding day at The Virginia Cliffe Inn in Glen Allen, VA.

2012 Senior Portraits Are in Full Swing! Schedule your Appointment

2011-06-24T07:28:00.000-07:00

It's not too late to schedule your 2012 Senior Portrait session. We offer indoor/outdoor options. Don't forget to bring a friend!

NOTE: We have been contacted by many seniors in the Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana area seeking another Miller Photography. We are located in the Richmond, VA area and do not have any association with this photography organization. Please check your local directories or Google keywords that include your locality and state.

Senior Portraits at Maymont, Richmond, VA

2010-07-06T13:38:00.000-07:00

We always enjoy our on-location senior portraits. We have traveled to river homes, horse stables, football fields, college campuses, and the list goes on. We always like it when our seniors incorporate a little bit of their past and their dreams for their future in their session.

We got to go recently with a senior from Caroline High School to Maymont. Even though the day was really hot, we were able to capture this senior's beauty in several changes of clothing and at various locations throughout Maymont. Since we have been photographing at Maymont for over 15 years, we have found special spots that most first-time tourist don't notice.

For more information on our senior portraits, please visit our website at http://www.miller-photo.com/. Other sample senior portraits and pricing information are included on our website. Also, we are on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/MillerPhotographyInc

Clover Forest Plantation, Goochland, VA Wedding

2010-05-26T11:19:00.000-07:00

Rain, rain, go away. Come again another day!

Even though our May 22, 2010, wedding experienced a lot of rain showers, there was plenty of sunshine in the smiles and laugher of our couple, Kristin and Brandon. Clover Forest staff worked their "magic," kept their cools, and made this couple, their family and friends feel like royalty! I know if you asked Kristin and Brandon what they thought of their wedding day, they would say, "It was perfect!"

To view other wedding photos, visit our website at http://www.miller-photo.com/. We are also on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/MillerPhotographyInc Call or email us for additional information.

Children Portraits, Richmond, VA

2010-05-26T10:20:00.000-07:00

Over the last couple of weeks, we have had the privilege of photographing many little ones. Their smiles light up the room and they don't have a care in the world, as long as their favorite people (Mom and Dad) are nearby. Every little thing is something new for them to explore. When you watch these little ones, you realize how much, we as adults, make life so complicated.

Wedding Photography, Richmond, VA - May 1, 2010

2010-05-19T08:00:00.000-07:00

It was a great way to begin the month of May! We had the honor of photographing Melissa and Sean's wedding at Willow Oaks Country Club. They and their family and friends were a joy to be with. Both the ceremony and reception took place at this reception location. It was a perfect weather day! This couple's engagement photos were featured in a previous blog.

To see this whole wedding, email us at Millerphoto@cs.com for the information. Check out some of our other wedding and portrait photography at http://www.miller-photo.com/. We are, also, on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/MillerPhotographyInc

Richmond, VA Wedding Photography in April!

2010-05-11T07:41:00.000-07:00

Earlier in our Blog posts we featured Julia and Scott's engagement session that we had the privilege of traveling to Radford University to photograph. It was hard to believe when April 24 came that it had been almost a year since we had met this couple. Just like the beauty of this couple both inside and outside, their wedding day was nothing less than wonderful and beautiful.

If you would like to see the whole wedding and get more information on our wedding packages, please contact us through our website, http://www.miller-photo.com/. We are, also, on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/MillerPhotographyInc

High School Senior Portraits, Virginia

2010-05-03T10:02:00.000-07:00

It's not too early to book your 2011 High School Senior Portrait session. Since the summer before your senior year is when most rising seniors have their portraits done, appointment times fill up quickly. We photograph senior portraits at both our studio and at your favorite locations. If you want a combination of studio and outdoor portraits, and don't have a special outdoor location, we have 5.5 acres of beautiful forest and garden settings.

The session featured on this BLOG was done at our studio and on our property. Yes, we do have a Corvette if you would like to use it as a prop!! Bring a senior friend and have double the fun!

To view other senior portraits and whole sessions, go to our website, http://www.miller-photo.com/. Click "Portraits." Other images may be viewed on our Facebook page at www.Facebook.com/MillerPhotographyInc

Virginia Engagement Portraits

2010-05-03T09:31:00.000-07:00

Over the last week, we have photographed three of our 2010 couples' engagement portraits. One portrait session took place at our studio and we used our studio window to do some window light portraits. Since the window is located on the northside of our studio, we always have some wonderful light coming though. Another one, also done at our studio, used our porch swing. The other portrait was done at a local park. In both cases, it was such a pleasure to share with these couples this special time in their lives.

To view more of our engagement portraits, visit our website at http://www.miller-photo.com/. Click on "Portraits" and then " Engagement." Other images are posted on our Facebook page at www.Facebook.com/MillerPhotographyInc

We presently only have a few 2010 wedding dates available and are booking into 2011. Email or call us to see if we still have your date available.

Children's, High School Senior's, and Sweet 16 Parties Photography

2010-05-03T09:05:00.000-07:00

Over the last few years we have had the privilege of capturing the laughter and happiness at children's birthday parties, as well as the celebrations of High School seniors and sweet 16 parties. We then take the images and create a 10x10-in album that tells the story of the day. The albums are coffee table style so parents and celebrators can leave them out to enjoy for many years to come!

If you would like for us to cover your child's party, let us know. You can view our pricing information on our website at http://www.miller-photo.com/. Click on the button "Info" and "Children and Senior Party."

Virginia Wedding Photography in April

2010-04-29T12:29:00.000-07:00

Ginny and Zach had a beautiful day on April 17. Their family came from the West, North and South to see them say their "I do's." They got married in a church in Bumpass, Va where her grandparents and parents we wed. The church was moved to a family piece of property when the original church family outgrew its small, but beautiful building. The reception, held at the Montpelier Center for the Arts, was very simple, but elegant, giving guests time to catch up on the latest gossip and to wish the happy couple many well wishes.

To view the whole wedding, go to http://www.collages.net/. At the View an Event box, type in Penn-Kilgore for the username and 8720 for the password. This wedding will be available for viewing until July 14, 2010.

For samples of our work, visit our website at http://www.miller-photo.com/, or our Facebook page at www.Facebook.com/MillerPhotographyInc

Engagement Portraits, Richmond, VA

2010-03-11T13:24:00.000-08:00

We had the pleasure of photographing Lauren and Justin at the Virginia Power Boat Association. Even though it was chilly and windy, the background along the water made a beautiful portrait backdrop. There was even time for some play on the swings and a log.

Lauren and Justin met each other in college. After four years of college and dating, they both went in opposite directions.

After two years of being apart, Justin was transferred to the same area as Lauren lived. He didn't hesitate to give her a call and ask her for a date. It was as if they had never been away from each other.

A year later he popped the question. We look forward to photographing their wedding story in August 2010.

When Did the Tradition of Wedding Cakes Begin? Article 2 of 2

2010-03-09T11:15:00.000-08:00

The color of white became very prevalent during the Victorian Age. White denoted purity and a bride dressed in white stood out among the wedding guests. It was at this time, too, that white-iced wedding cakes became popular and had more meaning.

During this period of time it was very difficult to find the ingredients for icing, much less the refined sugar that made the icing really white. The richer the families, the whiter the icing on the wedding cake.

Sugar was in very short supply during World War II in Great Britiain. Wedding cakes became smaller, or, for the poorer families, fake cakes were created out of plastic of Paris.

Multi-tierred cakes that are so common today were reserved only for English royalty. The only problem was that the pillars we see holding today's layered cakes had not been created. This meant that the first layer of the wedding cake was real, but the following layers were made of spun sugar so that the top layers would not collapse onto the bottom layers. The three-tiered cake is believed to be inspired by the steeple of Saint Bride's Church, London, England.

The tradition of the couple cutting the wedding cake still exists today. The custom was originally given to the bride so that she could cut the cake to give a piece to each of the wedding guests. It symbolized her first task as a new wife. As the guest lists grew, it became more and more difficult for the bride to cut the cake for everyone.

Later on the bride and groom cut the cake together symbolizing unity, their shared future, and their lives coming together as one. It was also a symbol of the groom's willingness to help out in the future. Feeding the cake to each other showed joint commitment to provide for one another.

Another old English wedding cake tradition was to throw a plate of wedding cake out the window the first time the bride visited her family's home. If the plate broke, she could expect many years of wedded bliss. But, if the plate didn't break it was a symbol of a grim future.

The tradition of not cutting the top layer started in the 19th century when cakes were made for christenings. Since there was no birth control during this period of time, it was considered the duty of the bride/wife to bear children. For this reason, the top layer was not cut so that it would be available for the christening that was sure to follow the wedding.

Today's wedding cakes or cupcakes have no limits. Even though many of the yesteryear traditions still remain, wedding cakes can be made to tower high above the couple, be brightly colored, have various types of icing, be shaped in designs that are only limited to the imagination of the creator, contain flowers or crystals. Contemporary wedding cakes often reflect the inviduality of the couple, their hobbies, or their lifestyle.

It is unclear as to where the act of smashing the wedding cake into each other's faces began. One thought is that it was started by a bridegroom who secretly held hostility towards his wife. He thought it would be funny to publicly embarrass her in front of the guests. Many think it is a sign of disrespect for each other, especially when one understands that the tradition of cutting the cake was created as a symbol of sharing, feeding, and taking care of each other.

Cake photos used in this article were created by Cakes by Graham (http://www.cakesbygraham.com/) and A Cake to Remember (http://www.acaketoremember.com/), respectively.

Contact Miller Photography Inc. for all your wedding and other photography needs. View our website at http://www.miller-photo.com/, or go to our Facebook page at www.Facebook.com/MillerPhotographyInc. Email or call us with any questions (Millerphoto@cs.com, 804-994-2169)

When Did the Tradition of the Wedding Cake Start? Article 1 of 2

2010-02-22T09:58:00.000-08:00

The yummy and beautifully-designed wedding cakes that you see at each wedding today have been part of the celebration of marriage since the Roman Empire. (The Roman Empire dated between 502 BC to 29 BC.) The first wedding cakes were made of thin wheat or barley (waffer-like). The groom would eat a little bit of this cake and then crumble some over the bride's head to ensure fertility. The breaking of the cake over the bride's head was also seen as the groom's dominance over the bride.

As wedding cakes evolved through history, they became larger and larger and more elaborate--way too big and messy to crumble over the bride's head. There may have been some very small cases of this tradition still existing in Scotland during the 19th century, when oatcakes were broken over the bride's head.

In medieval England there were reports of flour-based cakes without sweetners being used at weddings. Sometimes these "cakes" were just a pile of sweetened buns stacked up in front of the couple. The couple would then stretch to kiss over them. If they were successful, then it was thought they would have many children.

During the 17th century and continuing into the 19th century, the "cake" could have been actually a pie--called the bride's pie. The main ingredient in this sweet, minced or mutton pie was a ring. It was believed that the single woman who found the glass ring in the pie would be married next. These pies were seen more in the less affluented weddings.

Also, during the 17th century, some traditions thought it was good luck to give cake as gifts to the guests. The cake given to unmarried people was to be put under their pillows. This would give them dreams about their future spouses. Later on in the 18th century cake giving was expanded. This time the cake was pushed through the wedding couples' rings. The crumbs of the cake were distributed to the guests to put under their pillows. This particular tradition stopped when brides became superstitious about taking off their rings after the ceremony and possibly breaking the "bond" the ring represented.

Read more about the tradition of wedding cakes in our next blog, beginning with the Victorian Age and continuing to modern day, like the modern-day cake photos on this blog. These cakes were baked and decorated by http://www.acaketoremember.com/ and http://www.cakesbygraham.com/, respectively.

Also for more photos and portraits, visit our website at http://www.miller-photo.com/. We are on Facebook, too, at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Richmond-VA/Miller-Photography-Inc/172936215623

Wedding Traditions - Something Old, Something New....

2010-02-20T13:06:00.000-08:00

We have found that most of our brides still follow this tradition, even to the point of the last minute before walking the aisle, asking friends and family to find items for her to wear quickly.

Something old, something new

Something borrowed, something blue

And a silver sixpence in her shoe

Since this tradition has so many aspects of being English, many sources believe that this tradition began during the Victorian Age. All the items in the poem are meant to bring good luck to the bride during her marriage.

A sixpence is a coin that was minted in Britain between 1551 to 1967. This coin is put in the bride's left shoe. This is to represent wealth and financial security during the marriage. Since sixpences can somethings be hard to find now, wedding retailers sell "modern" sixpences for bride's to wear.

"Something old" represents the bride's past and the continuation into the future. The item can be something antique, an heirloom item, or an object that is sentimentall to the bride.

"Something new" represents hope for the bride's future life with her groom. Items such as a new lipstick, new jewelry, or a new haircut are some items to use for good luck.

"Something borrowed" usually comes from a family member or friend who has experienced many years of happiness in their marriage. This good fortune is meant to carry over to the new bride. The borrowed item reminds the bride that she can count on this family member or friend in the future. This item will be returned to the owner after the wedding day.

Wearing something blue has long since been believed to be the color symbolizing love, modesty, and fidelty. Prior to the 19th century, brides' gowns were often blue. They followed the proverbs of "Marry in blue; lover be true." In Christianity, the Virgin Mary is often depicted in blue.

For other wedding traditions, check our entries on our blog. For other wedding photos or portraits, go to our website at: http://www.miller-photo.com/. You can, also, communicate with us on our Facebook page at: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Richmond-VA/Miller-Photography-Inc/172936215623

Wedding Photography, Richmond, VA -- The Tradition of the Garter

2010-02-19T07:32:00.000-08:00

As I have been researching the traditions of weddings, I am amazed at how early some of the traditions we see at weddings began and still exist. The tradition of the bride's garter started around the 13th century in France.

Fortunately, the modern translation of this tradition is really tame compared to what the poor brides of past centuries had to go through. In the 13th century it was thought to be good luck for guests to have a piece of the bride's clothing. Guests would literally destory the bride's gown tearing off pieces. If you have ever been a bride and are wearing the gown of your dream, you can only imagine how it would make you feel if people are tearing your dream gown to pieces. Yesteryear's bride would start throwing things back at the guests, including the wedding garter.

Soon it became tradition for the bride to toss the garter to the men. The only problem was that some men at weddings would get really impatient and drink too much. They tried to get the garter off the bride before it was time to toss it. How do you think this made the bride and her groom feel? After awhile, in order to protect the bride, the groom started taking off the bride's garter and tossing to the men.

Some traditions have the garter being auctioned off instead of being tossed. The proceeds would go to the couple to cover their honeymoon expenses.

Modern North American garter tradition has the bride wearing two garters on her right leg--one for a keepsake and the other to toss. The groom removes the garter from the bride's leg and tosses it to all the single men.

For more wedding photos and portraits, view our website at http://www.miller-photo.com/.

We are, also, on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Richmond-VA/Miller-Photography-Inc/172936215623

Senior Portraits, Richmond, VA

2010-02-18T07:41:00.000-08:00

It's hard to believe that another school year is about to finish up. Soon the Class of 2010 will walk the aisles, accept their diplomas, and start on a new life of either college or full-time employment.

Soon it will be time for the Class of 2011 to take a step forward to become seniors!! It isn't too early for these juniors to start thinking about having their senior portraits done. Do you want the same typical senior look of school photographers, or would you like to be unique and have your portraits done at special locations that mean something to you? Do you want a senior photographer who takes time to make sure you look your best?

We have been photographing senior portraits for many, many years. Take a look at our website, http://www.miller-photo.com/. Our summer appointments fill up quickly, so call us early to assure your date/time.

Also, view some of our senior portraits on our Facebook page, http://www.facebook.com/pages/Richmond-VA/Miller-Photography-Inc/172936215623

Baby Portraits, Richmond, VA

2010-02-17T13:58:00.000-08:00

Sometimes it would be wonderful to be four months old, just like this little one we photographed this past weekend. To have all your needs met and not to have any worries to think about. What a dream!

We always enjoy photographing babies and children. In this case, it was especially enjoyable, because this baby's mom and dad were one of our wedding couples that we photographed three years ago.

This is one of the wonderful things about photographing. You have the honor of watching families grow and being able to capture these precious memories.

Please note that these two images are uncropped versions. The cropped versions that the parents purchased showed more baby than black background.

For more family, children or baby portraits, go to our website, http://www.miller-photo.com/.

You can also communicate with us through Facebook, http://www.facebook.com/pages/Richmond-VA/Miller-Photography-Inc/172936215623

Engagement Portraits, Richmond, VA

2010-02-16T08:05:00.000-08:00

Virginia is For Lovers!

Richmond, Virginia is so full of history, art, architecture, and culture. You can find just about anything you want to see, eat, or do within just a few miles each other. It is the perfect place for photographing portraits of newly engaged couples. We had the pleasure of following Melissa and Brandon around downtown Richmond this past Valentine's Day. We, being a couple married for over 20 years, enjoyed being with this special couple and, for us, remembering and renewing what it felt like to have the "world in our hands" and the excitement of a future together.

To see more of our photography, go to http://www.miller-photo.com/.

We are, also, on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Richmond-VA/Miller-Photography-Inc/172936215623?

Snow Doesn't Stop the Trip to the Chapel!

2010-02-13T14:10:00.000-08:00

Who won't forget this winter? As probably many photographers have found out this winter, "Snow doesn't stop couples from getting to the chapel!" We had the honor of photographing Amanda and Brandon's wedding in Warrenton, VA on January 31, 2010. Thankfully, the snow totals were less the farther north we went! We thank Amanda, Brandon, their families and friends for making the day so enjoyable and allowing us to capture many memories.

For more of Amanda and Brandon's wedding photos, visit our Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/pages/Richmond-VA/Miller-Photography-Inc/172936215623? Become our Facebook fan!

Also, visit our website at http://www.miller-photo.com/.

Snow, Snow Go Away!

2010-02-06T13:54:00.000-08:00

I don't think any of us in Virginia will forget this winter in a long time. I don't think I will personally complain about the summer temperatures when it reaches 100 this year!

While experiencing the third major snowstorm in two and half months, we watched the birds come to our feeder. It was interesting to imagine what they were saying to each other.

Please don't forget our feathered friends during this major snowstorm. We were out of seed quickly, so we created a type of suet to put in our feeder. We toasted bread, put peanut butter on it and crushed a few nuts. Then we put it in our suet feeder. You don't realize how many birds are outside until you start to feed them.

Flower Girls and Ring Bearers , Article 2 of 2

2010-02-06T13:32:00.000-08:00

The name ring bearer originated with being called a paige boy. Traditionally paige boys held the responsiblity of carrying the bride's train as she went down the wedding aisle. They dressed in velvet jackets, short trousers, and large, round linen collars with a large bow attached. They, also, wore white silk hose and black shoes with large buckles. Paiges can still be seen in many British royal weddings. Because of the difficulty of carrying the long train, paige boys were no younger than age seven. Today's ring bearers may be younger than seven--if they can't walk in, they are rolled in a wagon or held in the arms of an attendant.

In today's formal weddings, ring bearers now hold the responsibility of carrying a satin pillow with repricas of the bridal couple's rings. The modern day tradition of being a ring bearer is to give young family members an opportunity to participate in the wedding ceremony. Typically ring bearers are nephews of the bride or groom.

Flower Girls and Ring Bearers, Part I of 2 Articles

2010-02-05T15:44:00.000-08:00

Are you planning to have a flower girl or ring bearer at your wedding? When did this tradition begin and why?

The first flower girls walked the aisles in ancient Rome. They carried wheat and herbs for blessings of fertility and prosperity.

In the Elzabethan age, the flower girl's purpose was to entertain the guests before the bride appeared. She would be in front of a merry group of musicians and would carry a silver cup adorned with ribbons and a gilded branch from Rosemary. The entire path from the bride's home to the wedding ceremony location was covered in rose petals.

The Victorian age flower girl is probably the most remembered and the closest to modern day flower girls. She wore a white dress with a colorful sash and carry a basket full of blooms. She would welcome the newly-married couple from the altar.

Today the flower girl is a symbol of childhood and womanhood. It is a reminder to all how brief the magical and the period of innocence lasts. Some modern day flower girls wear dresses to match the bride and others wear colorful outfits that match the bridesmaids.

The next article will be on the beginning of using ring bearers during wedding ceremonies.

For other wedding information and photos, check out our website, http://www.miller-photo.com/, or call us at 804-994-2169.

Where Did Wearing a Bridal Veil Begin?

2010-02-04T17:17:00.000-08:00

In today's society brides wear a veil to compliment their gown or to as a decoration. This was not the case, though, as to how the wedding veil began.

In ancient societies, dating back to Biblical days, when marriages were pre-arranged, the groom was not allowed to see his bride-to-be until the wedding ceremony. The couple was not allowed to see each other until the wedding day. This tradition kept the bride and groom-to-be from balking about marrying each other due to their looks. Up until nearly the end of the wedding ceremony, the bride remained veiled. The groom was allowed to unveil the bride at the end of the ceremony.

The veil was, also, worn as protection from evil spirits that were thought to plague the wedding service. The bride wore a veil as a disguise so that the evil spirits would not recognize her. As superstitions went, the evil spirits were jealous of the brides and their happiness. If the veil was not worn, the evil spirits would make all sorts of trouble for the bride at her wedding.

In some cultures the veil was so long and big that it wrapped the bride like a shroud. The veil was then put away and only brought out again when the woman was buried in it.

Check out our wedding and portraits at http://www.miller-photo.com/.

The History of the Diamond Engagement Ring

2010-01-27T08:38:00.000-08:00

Why did the diamond become so popular as the gem for an engagement ring? For centuries, people have considered a diamond as the symbol of eternal love and commitment. This is mainly because diamonds are not only beautiful, but they are strong and long-lasting, as married couples believe a marriage should be.

In 1477 Archduke Maximillian of Austria gave a diamond ring to Mary of Burgundy. This started a widespread trend among others who were wealthy and famous. It wasn't until 1870 when several diamond mines were discovered in South Africa that the general public was able to afford to give a diamond engagement ring. As the supply of diamonds increased, the cost went down.

While experiencing the effects of the Great Depression, Americans still maintained that diamonds last forever and continued to purchase diamond engagement rings, even though in Europe diamond-giving reached an all-time low.

One of the youngest females to receive a diamond engagement ring was Princess Mary, daugther of Henry VIII. The engagement took place in 1518 when Princess Mary was two years old. She was bethrothed to the heir of France, Dauphin of France. It was, also, the smallest engagement ring ever recorded.

Diamond clusters that were shaped like a long, pointed oval became popular during the rule of Louis XVI, 1754-1793. These clusters remained popular for the next 150 years. The solitaire diamond engagement ring, as we know it, didn't become popular until the late 19th century.

Plantinum diamond rings were the most popular in the 20th century because plantinum was considered the most durable and best strength of ring metals. But, during World War II, the military restricted the use of plantinum for their use only. It was at this time that white and yellow gold became popular.

View our website at http://www.miller-photo.com/

When Did the Engagement Ring Begin

2010-01-26T08:10:00.000-08:00

Did you ever wonder when the tradition of giving an engagement ring started? History says that in the Medieval Era in 1215, Pope Innocent III mandated that couples wait a period of time from the engagement to marriage. For over a century after the mandate only the wealthy could afford engagement rings with precious stones. Most engagement rings were simple metal bands. Even in a lot of today's cultures, such as Germany, Denmark, and Sweden, both men and women still wear these simple metal bands for their engagement rings.

When a great number of people could afford rings of precious stones, the engagement ring became highly symbolic. Some of the rings featured birth stones of the engaged couple and their parents. Others included Lapis Lazuli, Opal, Vermarine, and Emerald, which spelled out the word "LOVE." Some engagement rings even had a hidden compartment that contained a lock of the betrothed's hair.

The tradition of wearing the engagement ring on the fourth finger of the left hand began during the Classical Era. It was believed that the "ring finger" had a vein that led directly to the heart.

How did the history of the Diamond Engagement ring begin? Log on to our BLOG tomorrow for this answer.

For wedding, bridal, engagement, children, family, and commerical photography, view our website at http://www.miller-photo.com/

Love Is in The Air

2010-01-25T14:45:00.000-08:00

Eric and I always enjoy participating in bridal shows. It is so neat to be a part of the excitement and romance in the air. The smiles seem larger and the laugher louder. It, also, feels so great to reassure couples that are totally overwhelmed with planning a wedding that it is going to be all right--their day will be perfect and to just take one day at a time. Even though Eric and I have been married for over 20 years, we still remember the extreme happiness of planning our special day, as well as being a little bit nervous with every decision we had to make.

We always tell couples that planning a wedding is just like producing a movie. You have your financial backers, your location(s), your cast, your costumes, the bride and the groom are the directors and stars, your makeup and hair specialist (and the similiarities go on and on). The only difference is that you have only one take. For this reason each of the decisions, including choosing your photographer, shouldn't to be taken lightly. After all the photography will be what you have left for many, many years to come.

For all those couples, who came to our booth yesterday, we say thank you so much for sharing your plans and excitement with us. We look forward to talking to you more!

Our website is: http://www.miller-photo.com/

How Did Valentine's Day Get Started?

2010-01-15T14:14:00.001-08:00

Why do all of us give candy, flowers, and gifts on February 14 each year? Also, why is this date so very popular for asking that special person to marry you. Who is St. Valentine?

There are actually two legends of how Valentine's Day began and both of them started in ancient Rome. The first legend involved "Claudius the Cruel," a name given to Emperior Claudius II. He was known for many bloody and horrific military campaigns. They were so bad that many men refused to sign up for the military saying that they couldn't leave their loved ones behind, because to be a part of Claudius' military meant certain death. Claudius soon made a law that there could be no engagements and he cancelled all marriages.

There was a priest at this time named St. Valentine, who, along with his friend, secretly continued to perform marriage ceremonies. When Claudius found out about this, he sentenced St. Valentine to be clubbed to death and beheaded.

While St. Valentine was in prison awaiting execution, he fell in love with a young girl, who may have been the prison guard's daughter. On St. Valentine's execution date of February 14, he wrote a letter to his love and signed it, "From your Valentine." Two hundred years later, a priest set aside February 14 as a date to honor St. Valentine.

The second legend was that February 14 was a date to honor Juno, the Queen of Roman Gods and Goddesses. She was, also, the goddess of marriage and love. On February 15 a feast called Lupercalia began.

In ancient Rome young boys and girls were strictly forbidden to see each other and had to stay separate. The only time that they could connect was through the Feast of Lupercalia. Every young girl's name was written on a slip of paper and placed into jars. The young boys were allowed to draw a name from the jars. The young boy and the girl he chose from the jar were allowed to partner each other during the festival. Sometimes the pairing would last over a year and many times the young couple would fall in love and marry.

Visit our website at: http://www.miller-photo.com/.

Richmond, Virginia Bridal Show

2010-01-12T11:08:00.000-08:00

Planning a wedding can be so exciting, as well as a lot of work. Where do you find your vendors when there are so many to choose from? How do you find the time to see everyone you need to see?

One way is to attend a bridal show, where couples can plan their whole wedding without getting into their car and driving from place to place. A bridal show gives couples the opportunity to talk one-on-one with vendors, look at or taste their products, and get some sort of idea of costs.

One great bridal show for couples in the Richmond and surrounding areas to attend is the Richmond Wedding Expo on January 24, 2010, at the Downtown Richmond Marriott. Doors will open at noon. This is one of the most elegant and well-organized show in the area.

Couples can pre-register at www.Richmondweddings.com to save time upon entering the show, as well as download a coupon for $2.00 off admission.

We look forward to seeing you there! www.Miller-Photo.com Stop by our booth and say, "Hi."

Richmond, VA Bridal Portrait

2010-01-07T08:54:00.000-08:00

How many of you, when you were young, loved to look at your mom's bridal portrait? Will your children have a portrait of you in your wedding gown?

So many brides-to-be today are choosing not to have a bridal portrait done. "I'll just get something on the wedding day," is what we hear a lot. We keep our bridal portrait package separate from our wedding album packages for this very reason--not wanting to pressure anyone into getting something they don't want.

We have found, though, that the wedding day can bring unexpected complications; such as, the hair dresser doesn't finish with your hair on time, your makeup takes longer to apply, wedding party members get waylaid and don't get you dressed in time, and the weather doesn't cooperate for any outside wedding day portraits, and the list goes on. We always tell our brides if you truly want a portrait of yourself in the gown you took forever to find, take the time to have the portrait done prior to the ceremony when the time is "just about you."

Many of our brides, who did get their portraits done prior to the wedding day, said they were glad for other reasons. They found out if they liked the hair style, if their alterations were done right (especially for strapless gowns), if they could stand long periods of time in their shoes, if they liked their jewelry, if their makeup was right, and many more things. Usually, if you don't have a bridal portrait, you don't see yourself all made up until your wedding day.

I was one of those brides who did not want a portrait. I thank my mom and grandmother for pressuring me and practically dragging me out for my bridal portrait prior to the wedding day. Our wedding day was full of little things that took time away from having the time to do a good portrait of just me and my wedding gown. Also, it is so nice to show our children that their mom was really thin at one time!!! My children and I truly cherish my bridal portrait.

Winter Wedding Photography

2010-01-06T16:06:00.000-08:00

After shoveling out of a rare 14 inches of snow in the Ashland, VA area on December 19, we made it to our wedding at The Henry Clay Inn. The cold weather outside didn't stop the warmth and romance inside as Emily and T.J. said their "I do's." The winter wonderland outside gave the couple a special story that will be told for many years. Visit www.Miller-Photo.com for other wedding photography.

Richmond, Virginia Wedding Sunset

2009-11-19T12:05:00.000-08:00

We had the honor of photographing the wedding of Stacy and Billy this past Saturday. It was the perfect fall day for such a special event. We thank Julia Wingfield and her staff at The Boathouse, Sunday Park for all their help and Mr. Ernest Irby for doing such a great job officiating! As you see from the photos, it was a perfect sunset. We wish this couple many more beautiful sunsets in their lives for the next 50-75 years!

Virginia Photography - Engagement

2009-11-12T09:15:00.000-08:00

So many times we fly through the engagement period because we are so busy planning the wedding. Being engaged and taking the time to enjoy this period of a couple's lifetime is so important. It is during this time that the romance and commitment strenghtens and grows. It is the time when a couple decides this is "the one," I want to spend the rest of my life with. It should be the time of your life that you only have to worry about getting to know each other more and enjoying being with each other.

To see more of our engagement and wedding photos, go to http://www.miller-photo.com/

Richmond, Virginia Wedding Photography

2009-11-12T08:13:00.000-08:00

After shooting over 600 weddings, it still amazes us how each wedding is uniquely different from any of the others we have photographed. We have learned, too, that a wedding photographer has to be highly flexible and go with the "flow." Wedding photography isn't just about shooting photos, it is, also, about working with a wide-range of personalities. Many times the photographer is called upon to "calm the waters" during stressful situations and give some direction when questions arise. After all, for a lot of us, this will be our first and only march down the aisle. When searching for a photographer, it is not only important to look for quality in the photography, but to look for experience.

Walking the Wedding Aisle

2009-10-31T11:54:00.000-07:00

When we photograph weddings, one of the things that I always wonder is what is going through the bride's mind as she and her dad (or special person) walk the wedding aisle. I don't remember too much of my wedding at that point, but I do remember my dad squeezing my arm and saying, "Okay, let's get this show on the road!"

Do you remember what you were thinking as you walked the aisle?

What Are You Looking for in Your Wedding Photography

2009-10-16T13:03:00.000-07:00

After meeting with over a thousand wedding couples, we are always interested in hearing what they are looking for in their wedding day photography coverage. If you are a wedding couple, getting married in the next couple of years, what are you looking for in your wedding photography as to style, albums, and photographer's experience? Thanks for taking the time to tell us!

Family Portraits Make Great Gifts

2009-10-16T12:59:00.000-07:00

With the fall colors right around the corner, now is the time to think about having family portraits done. Not only do they capture the memories of family members for framing, but they make wonderful cards and gifts for the upcoming Christmas season.

Our appointment times for these portraits are filling up, especially if you want outdoor ones. Call us today!

Being on Top of the World

2009-08-13T06:03:00.001-07:00

As a high school senior it seems like you are on top of the world. Freshman, sophmores, and juniors look up to you. Independence knocks on your door, as well as major decisions that could impact the rest of your life. It is one of the best times in your life, as well as, one of the scariest. The unknown awaits you after you leave the doors of high school.

We at Miller Photography Inc (http://www.miller-photo.com/) wish all 2010 seniors the best for a year full of happiness, grasping your dreams, and beginning a secure and fruitful future!

The above is one of our latest senior portrait sessions where this senior appears to be on top of the world!

Being Part of the Family

2009-08-13T04:54:00.001-07:00

Over the last 15 years we have had the honor of photographing over 600 weddings throughout Virginia, Maryland, West Virginia, and North Carolina. It is always special to be a part of recording the memories of families that can be cherished for decades to come.

It is especially wonderful for us when we get to photograph in the same family multiple weddings, babies, and families as they grow. On August 1 of this year we had such an honor. We got to photograph a second sister's wedding at the University of Richmond and Bull and Bear Club in Richmond, VA. It was like a homecoming for us catching up on all the family and capturing the joy and happiness once again for this great family.

Richmond, VA Area Senior Portraits

2009-07-21T12:26:00.000-07:00

We have thoroughly enjoyed already photographing and getting to know many seniors from Atlee, Lee-Davis, Hermitage, King William, Caroline, and Hanover high schools. Our August portrait dates for high school seniors are filling up quickly. Since most schools have an early yearbook deadline date, please consider booking your senior portrait before school starts.

Bring a senior friend and share the sitting fee. It is always fun having your portrait taken with a friend!

Richmond Wedding or Bridal Show

2009-07-21T12:20:00.000-07:00

Thank you to all who came by our booth to talk to us about their wedding photography. We met many couples from all over Virginia, such as, Lynchburg, Charottesville, Norfolk, Farmville, Providence Forge, Colonial Heights, Glen Allen, Mechanicsville, and, of course, Richmond. We, also, met couples from outside of Virginia. They lived in Maryland and North Carolina.

For any of you still searching for your wedding photographer, we would love to talk to you more about your plans and see how our options can work into your budgets.

Richmond Bridal Show

2009-07-17T18:42:00.001-07:00

Don't forget to visit us at the Richmond Wedding Expo on this Sunday at The Downtown Richmond Marriott, 1 p.m - 5 p.m.. Pre-register at www.Richmondweddings.com for quicker entry into show. Be sure to let us know if you found out about this show through our blog!

See there.

Engagement Portrait at Radford Unversity

2009-07-17T18:08:00.000-07:00

We met Julia and Scott at their alma mater, Radford University, yesterday for their engagement portrait session. We will be doing their wedding photography in the Spring of 2010 in Richmond, VA. We really enjoyed our time with this couple. It was exciting to capture their love for each other

New Ceremony Venue

2009-07-17T17:20:00.001-07:00

We had the privilege of photographing at Gardens by Pat in Goochland County. The owners are halfway between Richmond and Charlottesville. If you are looking for a beautiful outdoor ceremony location for a small (about 50 or less guests), intimate location for your wedding ceremony, then contact Pat or Richmond Carrier through their website at http://www.gardensbypatva.com/.

Pat is a Master Gardner. She and her husband, Richard, created, by hand, themed gardens on their many acre homesite. The gardens are bordered by a beautiful lake. It is the perfect place to say, "I do."

Why is There Such a Difference in Wedding Photography Pricing

2009-07-13T08:30:00.001-07:00

It is bewildering and wearisome choosing the right photographer. While all professional wedding photographers take pictures, that's about all they have in common. Asking a wedding photographer on the telephone how much their packages are is like calling a car dealership and asking how much their cars are. In the end, if you select a car based on its pricing, and you don't like it (or even see it), or it falls to pieces when you drive it out of the lot, you are stuck with a useless piece of metal that you might have to pay on for years to come! You don't want to continue to pay emotionally for selecting the wrong photographer for your wedding coverage.

Pricing structure for wedding packages, a-la-carte options, and quality are so different among wedding photographers that it is impossible to directly compare them. You may find some sell "fast food value meals at a drive-up window" and some sell from a full menu where you can sit down, enjoy the atmosphere, communicate and get to know the staff, and have an option of eating filet mignon.

Since planning a wedding is a one-time event in a couple's life, knowing how to choose a quality photographer can be overwhelming. Here is some information to help couples select the right photographer for them.

1. Do not shop for price over the telephone or through email. Asking for price before viewing the work fails to recognize the professional's time, skill, education, experience, and personality. Decide if you like the qualifications and style of the photographer first and then discuss price and options. Most photographers will strive to work with you if you have a particular budget in mind. Here's something to think about: If you are applying for a job--will your salary be based on your experience and education?

2. Since most photographers do want to try to work with you and your budget, it is unfair to base your decision on your photographer if he/she has a price list on their website. Most experienced, high-quality professional photographers do not list pricing on their website, because they want the flexibilty of working with you and your budget. Since most people in general will assume the pricing listed on a website is set in concrete, they will not call to ask if there is some flexiblity in the packages listed.

3. A photographer's preparation time before your wedding is important to you. The more high quality or technologically advanced his/her equipment is, the more time it takes to plan, test, and prepare. All professional wedding photographers should spend careful time testing, cleaning, and recharging their equipment before your wedding. Is this important to you? Do you want your photographer to find out an equipment problem while he/she is photographing your wedding?

4. Do you want a photographer to have an assistant or an additional shooter? It's difficult for one photographer to be everywhere at once. If an assistant or an additional shooter is included in the wedding package, this means there are two salaries involved and double the time spent on your wedding day coverage and post-wedding day work.

5. Some wedding photographers spend hours with pre-ceremony preparation and consultation; post-editing; uploading images to a professional lab; assembling proof albums; uploading images to an on-line website where family and friends can view your photos; post-consultation with the couple; designing, ordering, and assembling formal and family albums. Others just show up at your wedding, shoot, and hand you a CD of unedited images or a handful of photos on low-quality photo paper.

6. The owners of most photography studios spend time with you personally, and others pass you off to a freelance photographer, who is learning the job or has no commitment to the studio other than a paycheck. How does this make you feel?

7. A highly qualified wedding photographer will be a member of a professional organization with other experienced or equally qualified members, or be in association with other wedding photographers with equal experience in case something happens to your wedding photographer on your wedding day. Some of the professional organizations give the wedding photographer the benefit of purchasing insurance to protect you on your wedding day in case of equipment failure. Both the memberships and insurance do not come without a price tag for the professional wedding photographer, but both protect you and give you more of an assurance of your images being recorded and perserved.

8. All of the items listed above require countless hours and extra effort by a high-quality wedding photographer. To work on a total wedding properly--pre-wedding, day-of, and post-wedding--requires an average of 40 hours or more devoted to each wedding couple, families, and friends. This is an average work week for most people. This is not just the six or so hours you and your guests see the photographer at your wedding.

9. All the above information gives you some idea as to the differences in amateur and professional wedding photographers, but what about talent, education, skill, and the experience level of the wedding photographer? The time and labor of an expert professional wedding photographer is more important to you on a per-hour basis than a beginner who picked up a digital camera, saw the image on the back, and said, "I can shoot a wedding!" These beginners are looking to build a portfolio and will even offer to do your wedding for free or at an extremely low price. This is a definite sign of an inexperienced photographer and one that is not have confidence in his or her skills. They may be weekend hobbyists who have no previous experience in photography. The weekend hobbyist, who works a full-time job elsewhere, does not, in most cases, have the time to devote to a couple that a full-time professional wedding photographer has. He or she may run the risk of having to work on your wedding day at his or her full-time job because of a special requests of the boss, too.

10. Another aspect to consider is the equipment used at your wedding. Simple techniques used on your wedding day require inexpensive equipment. More elaborate techniques and sharper photos require highly advanced and costly equipment. A photographer who uses a camera body that costs $3,000-$10,000 and lenses that average $1000 or more each will likely charge more than a photographer who uses a $300 camera body and the lenses that came in the kit. It is nothing for one highly qualified professional wedding photographer to carry equipment on him or her that averages $10,000. But, do you want two photographers at your wedding? Do you want your wedding photographer to have backup equipment for all the equipment he/she is using on your wedding day?

11. Is it important to you to have a wedding photographer who has a background and/or education in photography, such as a corporate, magazine, or newspaper photographer? Or are you satisfied with a photographer who says, "I've always loved taking snapshots of family and friends since I was a little boy or girl," or "I took a class in photography in high school or college?"

12. Lastly, how much will your photos mean to you in the future? Does it matter to you that the memories of family and friends be recorded in such a way that you can relive them even after these family and friends pass away? Do you want them to show your children and grandchildren? It is sad to say, but some couples consider the alcohol costs at the wedding more important than the photography that will be with them for a lifetime.

Richmond Bridal Show

2009-07-10T10:04:00.000-07:00

Join us on July 19, 2009, at the Downtown Richmond Marriott for the Richmond Wedding Expo, 1 p.m. - 4 p.m. We are one of the participating Richmond Wedding Photographers at this show. Register on-line at www.Richmondweddings.com to save yourself some time at the registration desk the day of the show.

We have been participating in this bridal show for nearly 10 years. It is one place that an engaged couple can go to and find all their wedding vendors under one roof. It gives you the opportunity to talk one-on-one with wedding experts.

We have met so many wonderful couples, their parents, their families, and their friends during this show. These couples have given us the honor of photographing their special memories over the last 15 years. This year we reached our 600th wedding.

Be sure to come by our booth and say, "Hi." Also, let us know that you saw this blog!

Engagement Portraits

2009-07-04T14:52:00.001-07:00

It was a beautiful day yesterday
at Maymont to do an engage-
ment portrait. We went from
the Italian Gardens down to the

Japanese Gardens. John and

Janet will be saying their "I do's"

on August 2, 2009, at Maymont

Happy 4th of July!

2009-07-04T14:04:00.000-07:00

We hope you have a wonderful and safe 4th of July!

We are now on Facebook

2009-07-01T13:15:00.000-07:00

If you enjoy Facebook.com, you can now communicate with us by searching for Miller Photography Inc. and becoming a fan. You can, also, become our friend by going to www.facebook.com/debbie.m.miller

We will be happy to answer any questions you might have on wedding photography, high school senior portraits, family or children portraits, or any other photography requirements you might have. We are booking into 2010 for weddings and filling up August for high school senior portraits.

Have a safe and happy July 4!

New Wedding Photos

2009-06-25T15:25:00.000-07:00

We have had the honor of photographing many couples' wedding days lately. Lewis Ginter Botannical Gardens, The Colony Club, and Sheraton Park South made beautiful backdrops for these special days.

Check out our weddings at www.Collages.net. Go to:

Peverall-Koger - username, 8720 password
Stone-Oboyle - username, 8720 password
Ingram-Gleason username, 8720 password

If you are a engaged couple looking for a wedding photographer, we would love to hear more about your plans and to show you what we have to offer.

High School Senior Portraits

2009-06-25T15:20:00.000-07:00

It's hard to believe that another school year has come and gone. We watched our daugther walk the graduation aisle on June 12, 2009. It seems like 13 years flew by! She is off to Virginia Commonwealth University in the fall.

We are, also, booking appointments for 2010 high school seniors in the area, such as the counties of Hanover, Caroline, King William, Henrico, Richmond, King and Queen, and Essex. Check out our website, www.Miller-Photo.com, for more information on our high school senior portrait programs and packages. Book early, because our August and September dates go quickly.

We look forward to talking to you soon!

Happy Memorial Day!

2009-05-25T09:50:00.000-07:00

I hope all of you are having a wonderful Memorial Day! Can you believe that May is nearly over?

We have been extremely busy photographing our special couples saying their "I do's!" Take a peak at a couple of our recent weddings.

Go to www.Collages.net. At the View an Event, type in:

Bushman-Kern for username and 8720 for the password or

Hicks-Weisleder for the username and 8720 for the password.

What a Beautiful Weekend

2009-04-27T10:07:00.000-07:00

I think all of us bypassed Spring and went right to Summer Fever this past weekend! What a great time to be outside. It is a shame that the pools don't open for another month! What do you like to do outside?

As you can see from the photos below, we spent a lot of time outside with our cameras.

Our son the pitcher!

At the end of our day.

Welcome to our Blog Site!

2009-04-24T11:41:00.000-07:00

Thank you for visiting our blog. We hope that you will enjoy getting to know us. We would love to hear from you, and to get to know you too!

We are Eric and Debbie Miller, owners of Miller Photography Inc. We will be celebrating our 22nd wedding anniversary on May 16, 2009. Out of the 22 years, we have worked together for 15 years in our business. We have met so many wonderful people during this time. Many of them gave us the honor of photographing their "I do's," and many introduced us to their families and children. Others, like high school seniors, shared with us their hopes, dreams, and goals in life.

Eric, a graduate of UNC-Chapel Hill (GO Tarheels!) with a degree in journalism, has photographed professionally and full time for over two decades. As a professional photojournalist, his newspaper and magazine jobs took him to Congress and the Virginia General Assembly. He photographed representatives, senators, and governors. Also, he photographed music and film celebrities, as well as sporting events and Special Olympics.

Many of his assignments, like photographing down in unpublicized caves, going out at 2 a.m. with an alligator hunter, and gliding through the air in a motorless plane, made me wonder how his life insurance would work. During these years he won many local, regional, and national awards, as well as achieved his Associate Fellow degree with the Virginia Professional Photographers' Association.

I'm a graduate of Virginia Commonwealth University (watch out NCAA next year!), with a degree in secondary education. When college ended I followed my love of art and magazine design. After working with a couple of Virginia magazines, and being a part of an art circuit that traveled all over Virginia, Eric convinced me to exchange my paint brush for a camera.

When we aren't sharing our passion of capturing people's memories, we enjoy being with our three children, dog, and guinea pig.

Eric at work.

With the forecast of 90 degrees tomorrow, there will be a whole lot more boats on the water than this!