Photographer Greg Miles passed away suddenly in his home on Sunday, November 19, 2023 of a reported heart attack.

Gregory Scott Miles was born in Stamford, Connecticut on February 4, 1966. His parents moved to Maryland, where he grew up. Miles attended Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond Virgina, and pursued a degree in Communication Arts. He relocated to New York City in the mid-1980s and worked extensively in fashion photography. By working with renowned fashion photographer Michael Thompson, Miles assembled a portfolio, and shot for magazines Interview, Black Book and more. He met his wife Zoe, who was working to produce live events and music festivals, and they married in 2004. They moved to New Orleans in 2001, where Zoe’s mother lived at the time. The marriage produced two children: Violet, now 18, and James Ignatius “Iggy” Miles, who is now 16. The couple divorced in 2010.

When Greg moved to New Orleans, he focused on the city’s cultural epicenter—most notably its renowned music scene. He shot portraits of hundreds of musicians for both commercial and personal work. Miles took pictures for countless magazines around the world as well as dozens of commercial clients including Gibson Guitars, Island Def Jam Records, NPR, Neiman Marcus, W Hotels, Verve Records, Harrah’s Casino, Sonesta and Tasc Performance.

Miles began making a name for himself as a music photographer not long after he moved to the city. He began shooting photos of local musicians (see Miles’ music photos here and a portfolio of all of his work here. OffBeat Magazine recognized Miles’ immense talent and worked with him to produce several of OffBeat‘s covers and photos for cover stories over the years.

 

In addition to his commercial work, Miles’s photos have been included in several group shows nationally as well one-man shows in New York and New Orleans.  Most notably, in October 2005 his work was featured in a one-man show at Gibson’s studios in New York City.  One of the highlights of the opening was Allen Toussaint’s impromptu performance.  All of the proceeds from the show went to benefit New Orleans musicians affected by Hurricane Katrina.

Miles is survived by his children, Violet and Iggy; his family in New Jersey, Florida and Maryland; and his fiancée Julie O’Connell.

Funeral services in his memory will be 10 am, Thursday, November 30 at Celebration Church, 2001 Airline Drive, Metairie, followed by a private burial. Friends and family are invited to gather at 9:30 a.m. before the service. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial contributions in Greg’s name to the New Orleans Photo Alliance, 7800 Oak Street, New Orleans, LA 70118.