Happy weekend my beauts! I hope you all are having a wonderful weekend so far, I know I sure am, what a hell of a week it has been. You know those weeks where they are super stressful and seem to take forever to get to Friday, welcome to my week by far. Of course, it was St. Patty’s day yesterday which was awesome! You guys do anything fun?  I managed to fall down a flight of wooden stairs so that was always a good time…not.I have some intense battle wounds which is unfortunate but hey… that’s clumsy Lyss for ya!  So enough of my rambling and let’s just jump right into this blog post for today shall we?  You know what I absolutely love? Starts with a P ends with a Y. You guessed it, photography. If you guys have guessed it I absolutely love the art of a good photo where the perfect moment is captured. In my blog posts I always try to incorporate some neat laid out photographs where I prop all my materials and snap away. I have also included some beautiful photographer’s work in my blogs as well. One in particular,I have used a while back on one of my previous blog posts on, “how to know you have found the one“. The pictures included in this post were of my boyfriend and I, and they were taken by someone very special to me. When I first got this shoot done, I remember it was the coldest day literally in the year I shit you not. I remember my boyfriend highly recommending this photographer who I really did not know nor did I meet before. When my boyfriend and I were discussing getting some profesh pictures taken right away he stated, “Alexandra Del Bello“. I am thinking wow my boyfriend was pretty confident when he said her name so she must be good right? No. This girl is fantastic and fantastic is just a little word when it comes to expressing her talent. My boyfriend and I never had profesh pictures taken before so we really did not know what to expect! When meeting her she was this cute brunette, about 5’2″, super adorable, and right away her spirit and energy made her extremely approachable and friendly. She made the photo shoot extremely comfortable and made us feel very at ease which was perfect! She directed us with poses and guided us as to what to do next, where to place our hands, where to look and so forth. What I thought was extremely neat about the shoot was I had mentioned that I saw some pictures on Pinterest that I wanted to mimic and really liked. Right away, “Let’s do that!”, and she looked at the photos and just jumped straight into it, even allowing my boyfriend’s truck at the time to be used as a prop (you know guys with their trucks).

(how unreal is this photograph though? Can you say talent?)

I actually got this picture blown up in black and white and now it’s above our fireplace in our home. I could not have asked for a better photoshoot yet a better photographer. She was unreal. I happened then run into this beautiful soul a couple times, including at my friend’s wedding, when low and behold she was the photographer there, amazing.

 

So I know what you guys are thinking, you want to see some more amazing pictures by her right? I know when I am looking into getting a photographer I am so interested to see their work just so you get that little idea behind their style and so forth. I will attach below some of her amazing work that she has done over the years including themes such as wedding photographs, baby/new born photographs, couple photographs and even family orientated photographs. You ready? Here ya go!

(for all you animal lovers out there meet Davey!)

(Alex literally knows how to capture the perfect moment and that’s what I adore)

(like how perfect is this? You can literally feel her happiness towards him being radiated from the photograph)

So I know what you beauts are thinking, when can I book an appointment right? You havn’t even seen a dent in her amazing talent but don’t worry, ill keep you updated with beautiful photographs throughout this blog! I had the absolute pleasure of collaborating with Alex for this blog post, and had the opportunity to ask her a few questions based off of her photography business!

So tell me a bit about yourself Alex!

• I prefer smoothies over cups of coffee any day
• I believe that scarves are the perfect accessory to all outfits
• I love Target and may have briefly went through a bought of separation anxiety when they were removed from Canada
• Being cozy is a daily goal and priority of mine. You speak my language if you too enjoy fuzzy blankets, comfy sweats, and loose knits
• If I am glued to the TV you’re sure to find watching either a horror movie or a reality TV show
• I love gifting. From birthdays to thinking-of-you presents, picking out the perfect item that reflects a person is something I enjoy
• I am a self-proclaimed hopeless romantic. I just love, love!

It’s nice to know that someone who has dedicated so much time towards photography still makes time to have her “down time”.  I also love to get to know everyone who I collaborate with on a more personal level. It’s amazing how much I find out about that individual and helps create a better picture. I then went on to ask Alex when she began being a part of photography and incorporating it into her life. She stated, “throughout my time in high school I would frequently borrow the family digital camera (a little Sony Coolpix) to document memories of trips, fun with friends and family events. I loved having the ability to capture moments that would fondly be recounted later on”. Alex explains, “my interest in photography was propelled further during a high school photography class that I took in grade 11. This class taught me the history of photography, construction of the first camera, darkroom techniques and allowed access to the school-owned digital SLR (DSLR) camera. To no surprise, it was my favourite class that term – bar none.”  What I loved about this interview was how down to earth Alex was. Of course, after reading her response to this I was wondering probably the same thing you guys were wondering, what is a DSLR camera? Alex states, “you know those ridiculously heavy black cameras with interchangeable lenses that you see professional photographers carrying around? Those!]”.   

Did you end up purchasing your own camera in the near future or what Alex? “The following summer I set out to purchase my own DSLR. I worked a little retail job and by saving all of the money I had earned, come August I had my very own Canon Rebel XSI in my hands. Although I only ever shot on automatic (yikes!) I was instantly hooked.As high school came to a close I was accepted into McMaster University where I began to pursue a BA in Art History. While completing my undergrad it is to no surprise that my DSLR, a one prized possession, became neglected. Most days it would sit on the shelf in my room collecting dust, however occasionally I would pick it back up to photograph family events or document new adventures with friends”. I find this is no surprise that hobbies and passions get pushed to the side when we are involved in our studies and so forth. It is so hard to balance the two of these, but it is important to do so. I know for a fact that I pushed blogging to the side at points because I was so stressed out and too busy with my program. I am so glad that Alex picked up the camera again and started shooting, I mean look at her now! Crazy talent I tell you!

So I had to ask Alex if she was always passionate bout photography! I know some people do not find their calling till much later so I was dying to know. Alex states, “as I was starting out no matter what I used, be it a cellphone or that little Sony Coolpix, I loved the potential of what a camera could capture. I would often bribe friends with the prospect of new Facebook profile images and set up small lifestyle shoots using them as my subjects. I enjoyed the challenge and excitement of shooting in new locations and lighting conditions while documenting beautiful moments”. I absolutely love this! Hey Alex, want to capture a new profile picture for me sometime soon? I would be down any day of the week that’s for sure! I also was very curious to see if Alex had attended

I also was very curious to see if Alex had attended post-secondary school for photography? “After completing my undergrad at McMaster I made the decision to further my education and enrolled in a 2 year Creative Photography program at Mohawk College. My time at Mohawk allowed me to grow as a photographer. I went into the program blind. I had no idea what avenue of photography I wanted to pursue (wedding, lifestyle, fashion, portrait, commercial) and admittedly was still shooting on automatic. Through the completion of weekly shoots and assignments I was able to begin developing my own style and was finally shooting on manual. To complete the program students are required to fulfill a set number of hours working alongside a professional in the industry. I chose to assist a wedding photographer from Brantford. I carried bags, changed lenses, helped organize shot lists, and even got a chance to second shoot. This experience was incredibly beneficial as it opened my eyes to the wedding industry and the potential to work within it”.  How interesting is this though, now Alex has developed her own unique ways to capture the perfect moment for other’s to enjoy, and I love this.

I went on to discuss Alexandra’s packages and what she has to offer when it comes to her photography business! So do not worry if you do not know how to go about getting ahold of Alex, I got you!  I had asked Alex what her favourite photo shoot was to do. She states, “my favourite thing to photograph is a wedding day. Every couple, love story and wedding is unique in its own way. It is so precious to me that I am invited to share in and capture a couple’s special day. For me, the best part of a wedding hands down is photographing the newlywed portraits. Right after the wedding party and family members are photographed and dismissed (or as I usually say “set free”) I snag the bride and groom and take them away for some intimate portraits together. I look most forward to spending this time with my couples, documenting their love and excitement”. This is absolutely beautiful. There is nothing more exciting than someone who has a strong passion to make your special day absolutely amazing. One person, one name…Alexandra Del Bello. 

How much do you charge for your sessions? What exactly is included in your packages? “Lifestyle sessions including maternity, newborn, portrait, engagement and family shoots start at $300.Wedding collections begin at $2,000. Packages include a minimum of 6 consecutive hours of shooting, complimentary engagement session, timeline planning, an online password protected viewing gallery, and a USB of all final images.Throughout the booking process I constantly maintain communication with all clients. Prior to lifestyle sessions I send out a PDF guide that offers location, clothing and timeline suggestions to assist with planning the details of the shoot”. My boyfriend and I as I had mentioned earlier had booked a photoshoot with Alex a couple years back and let’s just say you will not be disappointed. The amount of pictures we received was amazing, and there was so much variety to chose from. We were given the USB and also received a thoughtful ornament of my boyfriend and I in one of our shots. So thoughtful! Highly recommend booking an appointment with Alex and trying it out for yourself. If you beauts do end up booking with her, let me know how it goes and comment down below!

Alex specializes in a lot of different themes when it comes to her photography which is perfect if you are wanting different shots. Alex’s service offers lifestyle (maternity, newborn, family, portrait, engagement) and wedding photography. Alex also states, “as I have touched on, I am most drawn to natural light, soft textures, gentle colour palettes and airy imagery. I am particularly enamoured with how these characteristics add dimension, romanticism and vibrancy to my shoots, especially weddings”.

“The best advice I can give to someone interested in starting a career or hobby in any field is simple…Start!”

 What is the best advice to give someone who is interested in starting a career in photography or a hobby? “The best advice I can give to someone interested in starting a career or hobby in any field is simple. Start! No matter the industry, medium or activity, get out there and do it. Too often we let the voice inside of our head silence our dreams due to fear of failure and rejection.When I enrolled in Mohawk College with the hopes to one day own my own business I would be lying if I said that I wasn’t terrified. I mean, who the heck did I think I was? A twenty-something-year-old girl who happened to own a camera and developed a knack for taking pretty pictures? What I came to realize was: if I wasn’t willing to give myself the credit I deserved, how could I expect others to?Don’t be hesitant. Try new things. Take chances. Make mistakes. Ok, I’m starting to sound like Mrs. Frizzle – but seriously, she was onto something. Having the courage to start your daydream is something worth celebrating!” How cute is she though? I mean come on, love her. That’s exactly the piece of advice that people need to hear though, everyone is so afraid to start and actually just go for it. When it came to my blogging I had no idea where to start, and I have never even heard of WordPress in my life. I just went for it and said f*** it, and just did it. Now I can’t stop doing it, because I really did find something I enjoy doing, and something I am good at…just like Alex!  I was also curious if there were any words of advice that Alex herself received while starting this photography journey. Alex explains,”the best piece of advice I received also served as a forewarning. During a business course back at Mohawk College one of my professors shared that, “becoming a successful photographer is 80% business and 20% photography.” He went further to explain that photographers spend the majority of their time filling the role of a business owner and operator far more than the time actually spent with a camera in hand. Bookkeeping, marketing, editing, blogging, PR, emails… the list goes on. There are so many things behind the scenes that go into the successful operation of a business. It is still something that still overwhelms me!”. 

Who is your biggest supporter and who has played the biggest influence in your photography business? “My parents are my biggest supporters without question. I am so thankful that pursuing a career in the arts was never looked upon as something negative or less-than in my house.Last year my Mom graciously assisted me in the planning and execution of my first styled wedding shoot. After showing her my mood boards and explaining the vision I had in mind she helped me to source props, scout locations, and set up come the day of the shoot.Since the launch of my business I have been so appreciative of my Dad’s business advice and patience. From taxes and bookkeeping to contracts the number of questions I challenge him within a week is no joke”.

When discussing photography, there is a lot that has to do with purchasing the right equipment. I know when I am looking at profesh photographs I am constantly wondering what cameras people are using or what types of lens they use. I knew for sure I had to get the 411 from Alex! Thank goodness for her!  Alex states, “I shoot with all Canon equipment. I own two 5D Mark iii camera bodies. One to primarily shoot with and a second as a back up, in case something were to happen during a wedding day. I own various lenses from prime’s to zoom’s. Each lens serves a different purpose and is used at specific times during a wedding day. For example, I love my 85mm prime for newlywed portraits, while my 70-200mm zoom lends itself well for moments that I prefer to be unobtrusive, particularly during speeches and candid photographs”. I was also extremely interested in which types of apps that Alex uses once she is ready to start editing after capturing the perfect shots.  Alex explains”my editing workflow is very simple. My eye is drawn to natural light, soft textures and gentle colour palettes. When editing I try to enhance these qualities.I first cull through all of the images from a session. I delete any unflattering shots (eyes closed, hair in face). From there I take the remaining images and bring them into Adobe Lightroom. It is in this program that I tweak exposure, saturation, hue, and re-crop. Once complete I export all images to JPEG and upload them into an online password protected gallery. Each client is given access to their own gallery where they are able to view and download all of their photograph”. I find it absolutely amazing what a person can accomplish when they mastered some good editing techniques, it’s insane these days!  Alex does a remarkable job when it comes to editing pictures, mine looked absolutely flawless!

Having her DSLR camera, I had wondered if Alex was planning on purchasing some new equipment in her near future, you never know! Alex explains, “ I am a big fan of prime lenses especially for portraits and currently have my eye on a 35mm Sigma HSM Art lens. The 35mm has the advantages of a wide lens while still possessing the prime lens qualities that I am particularly drawn to. I plan to purchase this piece of equipment in the next few weeks before the 2017 wedding season hits”.

I had so much fun collaborating with the talented Alexandra Del Bello on this blog post about her photography career, but I had to ask her one last important question. In life, there are always people that inspire us to go further, to push a bit harder and to strive to be our best . I wanted to know if there were any photographers out there who had inspired Alex through her journey. Alex explained that there were so many photographers who had inspired her over the years but two very important people from the United States still continue to inspire her. She states, “Caroline Logan is a wedding photographer and educator from Lancaster, Pennsylvania. She photographed her first wedding at 16 years old just months after getting her braces taken off! You may have seen a BuzzFeed article about a bride and her bridesmaids forgoing bouquets and opting for puppies instead. Caroline was the photographer that captured those images. This talented girl is in her early twenties and taking the photography world by storm.Jenna Kutcher is a wedding photographer, watercolour artist, educator and podcaster from Wisconsin. What I admire most about Jenna is her willingness to serve others by sharing her knowledge on building a recognisable brand while staying true to yourself and your followers. Aside from being an incredible educator, her wedding photography is kick butt, and her Instagram feed is hash tag goals”. Alex has followed both of those people online for years now. Thanks to the power of social media, it has the ability to bring like-minded people closer together and share their ideas with one another. Alex also emphasizes how crazy it is to think you are so close to someone from far away yet you have never even met that person… thanks Instagram and Facebook!

I can not thank Alexandra enough for allowing me to show off her amazing talent that she continues to progress each and every day. She is an amazing individual who is such a hard worker and never fails to disappoint. It was a pleasure working with her! If you beauts are interested in reaching her I will leave her contact information down below, be sure to check her out!

http://www.alexandradelbellophotography.com

alexandradelbello@gmail.com

@alexandradelbellophotography

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Much love xo.