✌🏽 2 years alcohol-free today! 💕
This journey has been a slow unveiling, rediscovering the real me beneath the layers.
Understanding the science of alcohol, its place in our stories, and how we learn to lean on it has opened my eyes to a new way of seeing life.
Darkness will always visit, that’s just life. But now, I sit with the shadows, feel their weight, and watch them gently fade. Now I know, they always do. And in their fading, a space is made for light, for what truly matters.
I’m proud of the path I’ve chosen and excited for the future. If two years can transform me this way, I can only dream of what the next chapters will bring.
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And through this all, photography has become something even more special — my way of reclaiming space, telling stories that matter, and giving visibility to the voices I longed to see growing up.
Early on, my identity of being gay and Filipino, caused me to struggle to feel connected to the world around me. I rarely saw people who looked like me in the shows, movies, commercials, or campaigns I consumed. That lack of representation deeply affected my self-worth and left me questioning how, or even if, I fit into the world.
That’s why, as a photographer, I’m incredibly passionate about the power of representation, especially when it comes to LGBTQ+ humans. There’s nothing more affirming than when someone tells me they chose to work with me because they finally saw themselves reflected in my work. That kind of connection goes beyond just booking a photographer, it’s about being seen, understood, and valued.
Representation matters. It helps people feel feel that they belong. And in a world where so many LGBTQ+ individuals still have to hide who they are, it’s a privilege I don’t take lightly when I’m able to share their stories.
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My name is John Bello, and I’ve been a photographer since 2012.
Beyond weddings and events, I also document the beautiful bond between people and their pets over at
@hausofrufus , and work with creatives to bring their visions to life through content and visuals at
@johnbellocreative .
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