Megan Miller was sitting in her freshman dorm with the front door open, drawing on a pair of white shoes, when a student passing by happened to catch a glimpse of her. “If you’re not already an art major, you should be,” she said. The encounter made Miller sit down and think about what truly inspired her, and the answer was obvious: art. After serious thought, she made the choice to turn her passion into a career, and instead of continuing as a Math major, she pursued a degree in Graphic Design.

While at Concordia, Miller displayed her work at student art shows and in the university’s literary and art magazine, "The Aerie." Photographs have always interested her because she is able to create art from true life and share it with the photo’s subjects. “I remember for my first art show as a freshman, Professor Soo encouraged me to put up a photo series I had made called ‘Feet,’" said Miller. “I used to love wearing fun shoes and I would always take photos of my feet in different places. Her recognizing that series was the first time I ever really thought of my photos as ‘artwork.’” Miller’s approach to art and desire to create unique pieces was deeply inspired by those who taught her at CUI. “Something that Professor Kruger taught me that I will always remember is to try and make art interesting—to take an idea and somehow make it different and unique, and to not just do what someone else might do.” It is something that can be challenging in her line of work, but she always bears it in mind.

While we were there, Professor Adam Lee used the syllables of my name to come up with my Chinese name, Beautiful Roots.”

Miller is currently the owner of Beautiful Roots Photography, which started as Megan B. Miller Photography while she was still at Concordia. The name links back to Miller’s trip to China with CUI. “While we were there, Professor Adam Lee used the syllables of my name to come up with my Chinese name, Beautiful Roots,” she said. “This meaningful name inspires my work—accentuating the inner and outer beauty of my clients through portraiture.”

Miller’s focus on lifestyle photography allows her to capture, as well as be a part of, the special moments in people’s lives. She adores her line of work because she is able to bring to life the joy of a particular moment so that others may look back on them. “I love being trusted to capture special moments in people’s lives that will help them look back and have a clearer memory of a time of life or event,” said Miller.

I constantly feel excited to grow and become better in the field.”

The most demanding part of being a photographer, in Miller’s opinion, is growing a clientele. She explained that she must always be going above and beyond in order to catch the eye of possible clients. “But, the most inspiring aspect about photography for me is that even if I get frustrated with a particular project or get busy with life and work, it’s always something I find myself coming back to, which validates my passion. I constantly feel excited to grow and become better in the field.” Miller’s fascination with photography is one that does not falter, but grows stronger as she further explores the possibilities of the art form.