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On location for Halo Surf Co.
Photo courtesy Corey Miller
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A 1957 issue of Nat Geo featuring Miller’s grandfather’s photography.
Photo courtesy Corey Miller
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One of Miller’s hobbies is restoring mid-century Danish furniture.
Photo courtesy Corey Miller
Williamsburg photographer Corey Miller is the type of person you want to sit down, have a meal with and listen to his stories. As we holed up in Culture Café, Miller laid before me a photographic showcase of his family’s history, which included photography from a 1957 issue of National Geographic shot by his grandfather Ardean Miller III. A third-generation photographer (his father was also a shutterbug) Miller moved to Williamsburg in 2009 with his wife and daughter. At Corey Miller Photography, he captures images for local clients like Amber Ox, The Cheese Shop, Colonial Williamsburg and Three Sisters Boutique. Known as a man about town, here’s what Miller’s perfect Williamsburg day looks like.
Like the Locals Do
Miller’s perfect day starts with a Williamsburg Saturday morning favorite–The Farmers Market. He’ll grab some coffee from The Cheese Shop and peruse the local goods, stopping to admire the fresh produce from local farms. A self-proclaimed night owl, Miller counts on this cup of joe to keep him going for the rest of the day. “Coffee is pretty high on the agenda every day,” he said.
Once back home, he hops on his Gary Fisher mountain bike for a 3-mile ride around New Quarter Park.
Food and Furniture
A fan of the growing Williamsburg restaurant scene, Miller relishes
the opportunity to refuel at any one of his favorite places to eat. “Some of my go-tos for lunch are Blaze, Pho 79, Aticha Thai and Amber Ox,” Miller shared.
After lunch, Miller hunts for mid-century Danish furniture. He fell in love with this style of furniture in the 90s when living in Los Angeles. With multiple pieces in his home, including a set of reupholstered chairs and refinished tables, his collection is ever-growing.
As residents downsize and sell this style of furniture through local consignment shops, Miller bounces between consignment shops to gather pieces.
“I go to the Velvet Shoestring or other antique stores and see what I can find,” Miller noted. “I’ve found some really valuable pieces at a fraction of the [original] price.”
After finding some pieces in less than ideal condition, Miller discovered he liked restoring them.
“I’ve been restoring them in my garage and just learning as I go,” he said.
Melding Work and Play
Being a photographer, Miller knows his way around “The ‘Burg” and loves location scouting, which allows him to find hidden gems for future shoots.
“I’m always looking for great light and interesting spots here,” he said, “because there is a lot I haven’t found yet.”
In his adventures around Williamsburg, he often runs into familiar faces. “I see people I know everywhere I go,” Miller said. “I like interacting with them…it’s nice to meet people that do so many different things.”
As the sun sets on his day in town, Miller settles in with a local brew (or two), usually Free Verse from Virginia Beer Company. It’s the picture-perfect ending to his action-packed day.
Want to tell us about your perfect day in Williamsburg? Email chris@localscoopmagazine.com.