vancouver documentary wedding photographer

authentic

vibrant

joy

“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

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 🔥!

We knew John Bello was the right photographer for us from the moment we met him on a Zoom call while planning our wedding during the pandemic.

 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

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. Choose John!!

– Sharon & Jamie

 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

We found John on Instagram and really liked his style of photography: warm, candid, natural. He was the only photographer we consulted; we hired him right away as he immediately felt like a good fit. He kindly made himself available as a resource and happily answered any questions we had. The photography package included an engagement shoot, and John took the time to tailor the location to our personalities and interests, which meant a stop at an ice cream shop in Gastown. It was so much fun, and the photos were perfect!

During the wedding rehearsal, he suggested my husband and I walk in together.

The combination of John’s experience, attention to detail, and his high emotional intelligence resulted in the perfect entrance. It felt symbolic of our journey and who we are as a couple: companions, partners, teammates.

We received our previews the day after the wedding and were overwhelmed by a rush of feelings all over again.

 Thank you, John, for making us feel comfortable enough to be vulnerable in front of the camera. 

You are a kind soul with an amazing gift, and we are so fortunate we got to work with you.

– Richard & Roanne

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

 “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.