About me - belladaly.com

A Little About Me

The Drawer, the Camera, and the Why Behind It All

There’s a drawer in my mum’s house that I always open when I visit.

It’s nothing fancy – just an old wooden drawer filled with photo albums, curled prints, and little scraps of time. But inside that drawer is proof of who we are. Who we’ve been. How much we’ve loved.

For years, though, I quietly wondered why none of those photos were of me as a baby. My brothers were there, smiling from frames and albums, but I was just… missing. It sounds silly now, but I honestly wondered if I’d somehow been skipped over.

Then one day, everything changed. I found my dad’s old film camera, long forgotten in a box of things. Inside it — still loaded — was a roll of undeveloped film.

When I got those photos back, I cried. There I was: a newborn, swaddled in white, cradled by my mother and my grandmother. My grandmother, who I hadn’t seen in years, smiling with that quiet, familiar love.

That roll of film rewrote something for me.

It reminded me that photos aren’t just for now. They’re for the days your child grows up and comes home and opens the drawer. They’re for the moments when you want to feel close to someone again. They’re for knowing — without question — that you’ve always been loved.

That’s why I do this.

Not just for the perfect image. But for the child who, one day, will open the drawer, pick up a photograph… and find themselves in it.

That experience shaped not only how I see photography, but how I work with families too.

Clients often tell me they feel calm when they walk into – and leave – the studio.

I think that’s because I believe the best photographs happen when people feel comfortable enough to be themselves. There’s no rush, no pressure, and no expectation that children will sit still and smile on command.

Whether it’s a newborn session, a busy toddler, or a family portrait, I give people the time and space to settle in, relax and enjoy the experience.

Some of the best photographs happen when nobody is trying too hard.

Am I the Right Photographer for You?

You might be in the right place if you’re looking for more than a quick photoshoot.

My work is inspired by classic portraiture and the photographs that seem to become more valuable with time.

The ones that stay on the wall long after decorating trends have changed.

The ones that sit in albums and get passed around at family gatherings.

The ones your children will one day hold in their hands.

I love creating beautiful photographs, but I’m equally passionate about helping families enjoy them beyond a screen. Whether that’s a framed portrait, an album or a collection of prints, my goal is to create something that becomes part of your home and your family’s story.

My sessions are relaxed, unhurried and guided by the people in front of my camera. No pressure for perfect smiles. No pressure to perform.

Just honest, beautiful portraits of the people you love most.

If that sounds like what you’re looking for, I’d love to welcome you to the studio.

Bella