VANCOUVER WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER

For couples seeking a wedding photographer who values connection – between partners, loved ones, and the communities that hold them. Rooted in representation and inclusivity, my work is about creating a space where people feel safe, welcomed, and fully themselves. More than beautiful wedding photos, couples want their relationships, cultures, and chosen families captured with care and honesty. They’re drawn to an experience that feels calm and unforced, allowing them to stay present, trust the process, and let moments unfold as they naturally do.

Receiving all the photos from our October wedding in early December was the best early Christmas present that we could hope for. Just as we thought we were coming off the wedding high, we got to reminisce about the perfect day through these photos.

Besides the highlights that we remembered, we were especially moved by the many precious moments that John captured throughout the day, which we initially overlooked being the center of all attention – the emotions of our parents on that morning as they looked towards us, friends’ reactions during the celebratory moments, the bursts of joy, etc. Nevertheless, the dance shots were absolutely FIRE!

We knew John Bello was the right photographer for us from the moment we met him.

 We found John to be genuine, easy-going and professional. When we met him in person for the first time to do our engagement photos, John made us feel very comfortable to be ourselves in front of the camera. 

We did not have the budget to fit a videographer into our wedding, and one of the reasons why we went with John Bello was his skill to capture all the emotions and candid moments despite the still form of photography. We are so happy with our decision. Some say a picture is worth a thousand words, and we can attest that it is true with John Bello’s photos.

– Shuqing & Ben

John Bello is everything you could wish for in a photographer. He shot our wedding this past September and captured photos that were beyond our expectations.

But beyond incredible outputs, the level of professionalism and comfort that John brought to the photography process was deeply appreciated by my husband and I.

He has a keen eye for the artform. Through lighting, colour, space, and position he brought out the best in us both. We've got the photos throughout our house now - we're just so very proud of them. Also, our guests couldn't believe how he captured all these fantastic photos without getting in anyones or any processes way. He's got spidey-like sensibilities - a huge compliment. He caught every elements of our wedding - people, place, decor, and of course - us!
I would not hesitate to recommend John for anyone looking for a fantastic photographer for their wedding, particularly if you are a LGBTQ2IA+ couple. He knows what he's doing, he's part of our community, and he makes our love absolutely SHINE!

Thank you John - For Everything!

- Adam & Michael

Choosing John to be our wedding photographer was one of the best decisions we made, hands down!

From our very first meeting, we felt instantly connected to his warm personality and kind demeanour. He really took the time to get to know us, both individually and as a couple. He posted questions that only someone with lived experiences could understand about what it means to have a queer wedding. We knew well before that first meeting ended that John was it - he was the one!!

During the wedding, John was a ninja. He was everywhere at once, but never in the way. He was also well-versed in our venue location (Stanley Park) and brought us around to get a variety of photos. In fact, we even learned a shortcut to the seawall which we will be using going forward! When John delivered the photos, my wife and I were both blown away.

John captured joy.
Literally. He captured the day's smiles, happy tears, and laughter in a way that brought us back immediately. Every shot was intentional and had purpose. His framing, composition, and editing was world class!

If you need a photographer, there are lots around. But if you want a photographer that feels like your friend, that takes the time to get to know you (and your partner) deeply, and has the lived experience and understanding of the complexities and joy that is queer marriage...then there is John. 

- Sharon & Jamie

AUTHENTIC
VIBRANT
JOY

HELLO!!

Thank you for taking the time to be here.

 I’m a big believer in synchronicities and meaningful coincidences.

Life always has its way of bringing people together at the right time and right place, so I am grateful that our paths have crossed!

My name is John Bello and have been proudly capturing the love celebrated by LGBTQ+ humans and our allies for the past 13 years.

 Love does not fit in a box, 

and I celebrate every form it takes. Even if you’re not part of the LGBTQ+ community but consider yourself an ally, I’d love to work with you. Your guests may include LGBTQ+ folks or others from underrepresented communities, so having an inclusive photographer behind the lens helps everyone feel seen, safe, and welcome.

Your wedding day will go by in a blink of an eye, so the biggest piece of advice I always share with couples is to be completely present with each other and your loved ones to make the most of your special day. This where the magic comes from.

Vulnerability is beautiful, and is the secret to getting the best photos.

The people around you and the emotions the day carries is very important to me to document. I am able to do this by being a fly on the wall and immersing myself as a guest. It’s the ugly cries and the deep belly laughs that mean the most to me.

I would love to be a part of your story
and capture your joy
in a vibrant
and authentic way.

So let go, just be, and put full trust in me to capture your celebration.

With gratitude,

John

(He / Him)

MOMENTS LIKE THESE
ARE WORTH
RELIVING.

I acknowledge that I have the opportunity and privilege to document people, weddings, and celebrations on the traditional, ancestral, and unceded territories of the Coast Salish peoples—the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), Stó:lō, Səl̓ílwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh), and xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam) Nations—also known as Vancouver. This is the land where my photography operates, benefits, and continues to grow.

REPRESENTATION & DIVERSITY

 

 "Representation truly helps people feel connected, important and seen. If a person can see themselves in a photographer’s work, that deep connection is powerful beyond measure. "

 

Check out my interview with Young Hip and Married to read more about how highlighting diversity and valuing representation in my photography is something I am very passionate about.

AWARDS & RECOGNITION

LOVE IS
A STATEMENT.

GRATITUDE

 

“Wow, we looked through the photos over the weekend and all we can say is “thank you” and “wow” over and over again.

 Your ability to be seemingly omnipresent and capture the moments that really made our wedding so special was clearly seen in all the photos. 

We can’t count how many times we said to ourselves, “I’m so glad John was the guy to do this” and “we need to see John again!” during our photo-viewing session! There is really something very unique and special in the way you can capture the moments that will resonate in the hearts of others, and we’re just happy that there is someone like you out there acting as that source of joy for so many fortunate people. Thank you again, John, for simply being you. You provided us with the gifts and talents that make your work so special on our wedding day, and for that, we’re truly grateful.”

– Joannza & Lawrence

We could not have asked for a better photographer for our special day! John is everything you could ask for in a photographer — kind, professional, personable, and attentive. He excels at capturing candid moments and genuine emotions, and his compositions are artful and clear.

John also consistently goes above and beyond in his photography. For our first look, he found a perfect location where our wedding colour scheme was reflected in nature, and the photos turned out amazingly.

 He is deeply queer-positive and fosters a safe environment.

If you have need of a photographer for a wedding or any other special event, we highly recommend John.

– Larisse & Justin

 It was an incredible honour to have John Bello as our wedding photographer. We automatically fell in love with his energy and felt like we knew him for forever. His empathy, vulnerability and inclusivity is incomparable to any other and it's very clearly reflected through his art! 

We are so grateful for his patience during the whirlwind of wedding planning and all the changes that came with it. Working with John was honestly, one of the best decisions we made for our wedding. The photos came out above and beyond our expectations! John was able to capture every intimate moment for its true emotional experience, and how we want to remember it. Thank you so much John for your kindness, your professionalism and for capturing the beauty of the beginning of our adventure!

- Berlin & Endor

 

John Bello photographed our wedding this past summer on Gambier Island. It was an absolute pleasure working with him. Prior to our wedding day, we did a session with him which really helped us get comfortable in front of the camera. John is a true professional.

 You can see that he really cares about his craft and really know his stuff. His easy going, calm and accommodating nature was exactly the type of energy and support we appreciated on our wedding day. He captured all the heartfelt moments without us even noticing him doing it.  

The photographs are all incredible, we’ve had a really hard time choosing our favourite. We would highly recommend John to anyone!

– Alex & Ian

 

We had the pleasure of working with John Bello for our wedding and we were thrilled with the results. John has a talent for putting everyone at ease, working swiftly, and getting great results.

 He invested time up front to understand us, our community and our story. All through the process, John put us at ease and engaged in an authentic way. 

Plus his photos are incredible!

- Johnathan & Kevin

It's super important that you take the time to get to know me and my approach. Please go through each of these important links before you get in touch!

JOHNBELLO

 

A queer & POC owned wedding photography business in Vancouver, BC.