This project came about as a conversation with my sister, Maddie Miller, to push myself as a photographer into new creative fields and her wanting to use body language, dance and expression to convey a message. The child of that conversation was this idea of producing a series of shots, all monochrome, and one group of photos in vibrant color and expression. We also invited our little sister in on the fun as an encourager and the ‘vlogger’ throughout the day. Creativity created in the midst of a pandemic because, “in the hardest of times, people find comfort in artists.”

Don’t Be So Monochromatic.

A collection of photos exploring the uniform nature of society and our need to break from the chains of “one color fits all.”

Monochromatic: Containing or using only one color

It is easy to want to be relatable, to find unity, to conform, but what conversations are we missing out on because of our desire to relate? It can be tempting when we identify with something to feel the draw to identify with all of their beliefs. For example, if you identify as republican you suddenly have to love guns and economics and if you bring up conversation that says otherwise, you lose the capability to identify as a ‘republican’ because you didn’t agree with every belief. This isn’t a problem only in the US, but all over the world. I have felt this as a photographer sometimes questioning my abilities because I didn’t have a formal education in photography or business. That I somehow didn’t fit the criteria and would one day be outed for being a ‘wolf in sheep’s clothing.’ It is a natural tendency in our brains to separate and categorize topics to make them easier to stereotype and file away - which is why we must be aware and fight actively against it. We are all called to different fights and we are all equally valuable with where the Lord has called us. You’re allowed to call yourself a ‘pro-life’ even if you’re not fighting for every single cause out there. You’re allowed to stand up for human trafficking even if you’re not daily standing up for other causes. Because that is where the Lord has called YOU specifically. I am allowed to identify as a photographer, despite having no degree. Be a human of many colors, beliefs, and values, not getting stuck wearing the same color for your whole life because that is where you ‘belonged’ and ‘fit in.’ Try on another color for once. Choose understanding instead of separation and indifference.

Don’t beat yourself up if you start to notice your monochromatic tendencies. When you are surrounded by the same thing, it is easy to not even recognize how influenced you are by your environment. We have all been there. But don’t stay there. It is a choice to choose color, to choose complexity, and to step our of your narrow-minded thinking. Remember that each color has something to offer, none any more important than the next. Individually all these photos are beautiful because the other has no influence on the next, but imagine a world where a little bit of spectrum existed in all spaces. Maybe you lean more towards red, but your socks are blue and you enjoy a little yellow accent purse, to be completely middle ground is not the goal, but to be willing to step out of your square of beliefs, to experience something new for a change. Laying aside pride and comfortability to press into conversation and understanding is what is going to bring people together, not a “you either come over to our side all the way or not at all” attitude. But an attitude of willingness, trust, and a bold ‘yes’ to put a piece of yourself aside and welcome a new idea. When we free ourselves up to adopt beliefs and ideas from a multitude of circumstances, we are able to have conversations in our niches, where we don’t relate with the others and that’s okay and conversation is birthed. It’s dirty, and messy, but all mosaics are aren’t they?

While you browse through these photos I would love for you to think about these questions, write them down if you need to, but don’t let this opportunity to introspect slip away.

Remember a time where you related/agreed on a topic that the majority agreed on, but you didn’t actually agree. Why didn’t you speak up?

Do you think conformity has more to do with a lack of understanding of our identity or the safety of a space to speak out?

Where have you not taken the time to hear someone out simply because you disagreed with them from the start? Where can you do better next time?

How has the way you grown up effected your beliefs? How do you want to cultivate them yourself?

Where do you see yourself slipping into a stereotype that you don’t actually identify with? How can you actively fight against that?

love in color,

Ellie, Maddie, && Leah Miller

Ellie: photographer, editor, concept design, writer Maddie: model, concept design Leah: Vloger

don’t believe everything you read

the 9 to 5

1984

la vie en rose

solids or stripes?

if the shoe fits…

love in color