The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)

Photograph­er works to build brand

Vermilion resident Grace Miller, the artist behind Grace Marie Photograph­y, helps locals tell their unique stories through her lens.

Specializi­ng in a diverse range of events, Miller’s portfolio currently shines with capturing the essence of weddings, but she has also serviced area entreprene­urs, couples and families.

Before establishi­ng her own business, Miller began building her brand in 2019 by offering photo shoots to friends and family. Later, to hone her skills, she worked as a second shooter on site, collaborat­ing with local photograph­er Steve Steinhardt. The mentorship she received allowed her to refine her techniques and enhance the overall quality of her work. Inspired by this learning experience, Miller founded Grace Marie Photograph­y in 2021.

Miller has not limited herself as she develops her photograph­y style, finding beauty in every session and cherishing the diversity of her clients and their stories. “I love trying a little bit of everything and seeing what I enjoy the most!” she says.

One of Miller’s primary goals is to make her clients comfortabl­e. Getting to know her clients as individual­s is key to her approach, as she believes it lays the foundation for capturing authentic, candid moments. Miller, described herself as a “fly on the wall” during event photoshoot­s, valuing the power of understand­ing her clients’ stories to anticipate and capture the most meaningful moments.

Typically, Miller offers her services within a 100mile radius of Vermilion and as far south as Columbus. But, when scheduling allows, Miller occasional­ly can shoot events for locals in farther locations, such as destinatio­n weddings.

Reflecting on a picturesqu­e ceremony in Anguilla, a Caribbean island, she notes, “it was my favorite place I have shot a wedding.”

Miller fondly recalls another destinatio­n wedding in Napa Valley. For this session, the relationsh­ip she was able to build with the clients during pre-session interviews about their photograph­y expectatio­ns and what meant the most to them on their special day made all the difference in the outcome. The seamless collaborat­ion resulted in a relaxed atmosphere where Miller felt like a guest rather than a working photograph­er.

“At the end of the night, a bridesmaid had me put down my camera to come dance,” she reminisces.

Molly Disbrow of Avon Lake, a personal trainer, hired Miller to take promotiona­l photos for her business and had a wonderful experience.

“Grace is profession­al yet holds space to help you feel comfortabl­e and be authentic. The whole shoot felt like my best friend taking my picture!”

Looking to the future, Miller aims to expand her business further by collaborat­ing with local photograph­ers and participat­ing in events and seminars to connect, brainstorm and continue growing her brand. With an unwavering commitment to creating memorable experience­s for her clients, Grace Marie Photograph­y is set to capture moments that will be treasured for a lifetime.