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A passion for photography, music and working with people has turned into a labour of love for an award-winning Ladner photographer.
Dennis Bellia, owner of Dynamic Weddings & Events, recently won the Photographer of the Year award at the B.C. Wedding Awards at the Executive Hotel Vancouver Airport.
Bellia, who moved to Ladner 11 years ago with his wife Jennifer and children, said his story goes back to high school.
“It started in Grade 9 when I fell i love with photography and I wanted to pursue it, but back then it just wasn’t the right timing, so I turned to music instead,” he told the Optimist.
“Music became the passion for me and I started Dynamic DJ Service as a business after post-secondary. A few years later I started getting back into photography and it was probably about six or seven years ago that we re-branded into Dynamic Weddings & Events.”
His company now offers photography, videography, photo booth, DJ, event planning and day of coordination. Bellia was among a list of 10 finalists for the award.
“We were asked to submit submissions of our work within the last year as well as reviews and client comments. We have more than 100 reviews and they are all five stars, so we have a terrific reputation. They were thoroughly impressed obviously and before we knew it we were handed the award,” he said.
Three years ago he was named Best Wedding DJ finalist at the B.C. Wedding Awards and Wedding Wire, which is the equivalent to TripAdvisor in the wedding industry, has presented an award to Bellia and the company the past seven years.
He said winning the Photographer of the Year award tops all of that.
“For one, it is such an honour, but there are so many amazing photographers out there – so many amazing professionals and for us to be named the best is truly an honour for sure,” he said.
“A true professional photographer – there is so much that goes into it. The constant education, upgrading equipment, the constant practice and always wanting to learn it is such a passion so for that to be recognized is just awesome.
“For us it’s all about people and relationships and capturing those moments of great expression.”
– Ian Jaques, Delta Optimist