Daily Inspiration: Meet Ala’na Miller

Today we’d like to introduce you to Ala’na Miller.

Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
My name is Ala’na (Uh-Lah-Nah) Miller, owner of Spiritually Gifted Photography (SG Photography)! I was introduced to photography while taking extracurricular courses my sophomore year at Dorman High School with Ray Tedder. I was a sports reporter for the school news and was able to attend mostly all football games to capture candids during the season. Then began taking photography classes at RD Anderson as well, learning how to develop my own film photographs, as well as, learning Photoshop and capturing images with a DSLR camera.

My junior year in high school (2003-04) I took interest in cosmetology as well as following my mentor in photography, my studio manager, who became my sister, close friend, and my son’s god-mom, Maria RosaRosa. I was a photographer at Sears Portrait Studio my junior year in high school, my first real job. Maria showed me the ropes and shared her passion with me. Then shortly after I graduated high school, I worked for Walmart Portrait Studio where I became studio manager (I do believe I was the youngest). I worked a few other jobs while still holding on to my personal digital camera. I did a few small weddings and other small gigs. I went to several portrait studios to apply, where I was told I was overqualified to work there.

The name, Spiritually Gifted Photography was birthed while sitting at my desk at American Credit Acceptance on the 12-9 pm shift back in 2013. I prayed and asked God where I was being led to go with my business and daily, I’m being shown my “spiritual gift” of guiding others with my passion for photography.

In December 2020, a friend opened up a door for me to grow my business in her space in my own suite. Where I was able to call “my studio” for about a year. I am currently renting/photographing in other studio spaces to continue to develop and grow my business. I am also assisting/training other aspiring photographers to get to a level of comfort behind the camera to grow a business for themselves.

My goal is to provide a photography experience to clients near and far, to bring back this side of life we tend to forget about. Pictures are memories that last a lifetime. I’d love for each of my clients to look at one of their photos and remember the conversations, the smells, and the time spent during the session.

I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle-free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
This road of my entrepreneurship has definitely had its challenges. I was in a studio for 1 year and decided that was no longer a goal for me in my season of building. When things get slow, I tend to question what I am doing wrong. I learned that in those moments, I should turn on my creativity and create some magic as I normally do. I’m passionate about creating a session that is unique and will have my audience saying, “That’s a session Ala’na created!”

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I more recently decided that my birthday package is my “best seller” and I noticed that most of these clients have not had a session in some time before then. To see their reactions during and after the sessions makes me love photography that much more to capture the pure essence of their moment(s).

I’m gifted to be a blessing in this business and different levels from capturing newborns, weddings, parties, birthdays and so much more.

Are there any important lessons you’ve learned that you can share with us?
The most important lesson I’ve learned was during a time, I was so discouraged due to there being so many other amazing photographers that I wasn’t being noticed. A message was shared with me that has stuck with me, “Go to the grocery store & look down the bread aisle. Same idea 15+ different companies are selling the exact same thing.” I’ve learned along this journey that the next time I feel discouraged, never forget where my passion lies because true passion never fails.

Contact Info:

• Email: sgmediprints@gmail.com
• Website: https://sgmediaprints.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sgmediaprints/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sgmediaprintsllc
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/imalanac

Image Credits
Jeremiah Drummond Briana
Makayah
Madyson
Qu’Myiah
Kobresha
Zorah
Zyana