Brian Keith McMillen has photographed everything from pure white bridal gowns to pure white Alaskan snow, and the junior business major will bring that experience to The Commons this fall. On Oct. 1, McMillen will hold a grand opening for his new photography studio, BKM Photography, located on the second floor of The Commons.
As current owner of the BKM Photography located at 910 Main St. in Buffalo, the idea to open a second studio location came to McMillen as he was walking through the Commons one day and saw that space was available for rent.
McMillen, 29, graduated from Villa Maria in 2004 with an associate's degree in photography, but soon found himself at UB working towards a BA in business.
"Photography is always something I've wanted to do, and that I've been working towards," McMillen said.
McMillen's passion for photography began in high school, and followed him to Alaska where he was stationed in the army for four years. He worked for photographers and sold pictures of scenery on the side.
Once he returned to New York, McMillen worked at various portrait studios, learning the tricks of the trade, and ran a side business out of his house, taking photos at weddings. The side business grew rapidly, and three years ago he opened his Main St. location.
Laura Horton, a sophomore business major who is acquainted with McMillen through Pi Sigma Epsilon, a business and marketing fraternity on campus, said she wasn't surprised to hear of McMillen's second store opening on campus.
"I think this is a really great business move for him," she said. "Once he starts a project he takes it all the way until it is finished. This is definitely something he can do."
BKM Photography will encompass all photography services including graduation announcements, weddings, portraits, head shots, senior pictures, club photos, glamour shots and collage photos; all at prices much less than the previous company on campus offering professional photographs. There will also be no sitting fee.
"I know the market is here," McMillen said. "There's a lot of room to grow and a lot of room for success."
According to Rosario Malaver, a senior communications and Spanish major, Pi Sigma Epsilon held a fundraising event last year by taking photographs of seniors. McMillen was one of the photographers, and saw a new business venture in the making.
"We actually had a pretty good turn out, so from what I know that is what made him open it," she said.
Both BKM Photography locations will run by appointment in the beginning so that McMillen can schedule around his full time course load. He said that once he is settled, there will be more regular store hours.
McMillen plans to make the space different from other professional photography studios that can feel like a stark doctor's office.
"Mine's going to be more modern, friendlier, a place where you'd want to hang out," he said. "I'm not necessarily the standard traditional photographer, I like to go with a person's personality and do different things."
McMillen said he would not be like other studios that spend a few brief minutes with a customer. He said he plans to spend as much time as needed with a client so that they can get what they are looking for.
Once the idea to open a second store in the Commons came to him, McMillen said everything fell together fairly quickly. He didn't waste any time in bringing his idea to fruition.
"I'm very business oriented, I'm always coming up with ideas," he said.
McMillen links his success to the people he has associated with in the past, including Pi Sigma Epsilon.
"In order to be successful, you have to surround yourself with successful people," he said.
In the future, McMillen hopes to network with on-campus organizations.
According to Horton, that shouldn't be a problem.
"He's a really great people person," she said. "He'll make you feel welcome."
Photo: Courtesy of Matthew Messina, from the RMBERS' Instagram page
