At The Table With BP Miller
BP (which stands for Brian Paul) Miller is an award-winning photographer and photojournalist.
We talked initially about his family’s Russian heritage. While his family name is indeed Miller, it didn’t start out that way. His paternal grandfather Samuel’s last name when they came to Ellis Island was Villitcher, but as it was for most families that came to America at the turn of the 20th century, they were not able to pronounce it, and they were named Miller instead. He always wanted to track down old family members in Kiev and Russia, but in today’s political climate, he has put it on hold.
He is originally from Abington, Pa., and directly entered the workforce in the broadcast industry right out of high school. He wasn’t the best student in the world, but he had a pretty decent voice, so he went right into radio and even did a short stint in the Army. After 18 years, he shifted professions to his other lifelong love: photography.
2006 was a big year for BP. He was one of the founding partners of Chorus Media Group, which now goes by the DBA “Chorus Photography.” Plus, he married his wife, Michele after a whirlwind courtship. BP and his wife made Phoenixville their home five years ago. There is Murphy, their spoiled furry-child, rounding out the family.
BP is busy-busy with his work interests. Chorus Photography has two locations — one based in the Philadelphia area and the other in San Francisco, where they opened in 2015. BP also is the Mid-Atlantic chair for the National Press Photographers Association (NPPA), which leads him to speaking on a regular basis across the country about photojournalists rights. Non-profit work takes up a large part of their regular shooting schedule as well. Brian stated, “You have to feed the soul just as much as you feed the wallet. … I don’t think you can really be successful until you’re able to give back.”
Part of that giving back can be found every fall in Reeves Park in Phoenixville. He takes free family portraits for families that may not be able to afford them otherwise.
“Phoenixville has been so warm and inviting to us since we made it our home, so it was so important to us to give back to those that gave to us, he said.”
His expertise lies within his photojournalism. While he’s the first one to admit that it’s mostly harmless, it can be, and has become, increasingly dangerous of late.
“When the camera comes up to my face, I don’t care what political party you belong to — I’m just there to do a job and document the history of that moment,” he said.
While most of his work is based in the Philadelphia area, he and his team of photographers work nationally as well. They do photo shoots of corporate photojournalism, executive portraiture, families, children, mitzvahs, weddings — whatever your needs maybe. Check out their Facebook page or their website, chorusphotography.com.
Speaking of Facebook, recently BP started a local community Facebook page called “The Good, The Bad & The ‘Ville.” This page has no censorship. One can voice their opinion — no matter what.
BP shared his mother’s kugel recipe with us. Kugel is a baked pudding or casserole dish that originated in the Jewish homes of central Europe. He lost his mom almost nine years ago, but her world-famous kugel lives on. There are different kinds that can be made, but her sweet kugel was always his favorite.
MICKEY’S MARVELOUS KUGEL
1 lb. egg noodles (large flatter ones work best) 6 eggs (beaten) 1 pint sour cream(16 oz.) Cinnamon and nutmeg to taste 1 dash of salt 1 package of golden or regular raisins (or both)
1 stick of melted butter (cool before adding to eggs)
Cook noodles according to package directions, and allow to cool for a fewminutes. Mix in eggs, sour cream and cool butter. Then add spices and raisins. Bake at 350 to 400 degrees for an hour or so in a lightly greased elongated casserole dish. The top will be a nice golden brown when finished.
Enjoy!
Let Better hear from you: banjack303@verizon. net. Search YouTube for “Look Who’s Cooking with Bette Banjack,” as well phoenixvillenews. com (search bar: Banjack) for this column. Find Bette on Facebook by searching “Bette Banjack’s Downtown Kitchen.” Her book, “2 Cups of Yesterday,” is available at Gateway Pharmacy or by contacting her.