Stesha Bella Photography
Clarence Dr Windsor, ON, Canada

Do you have someone who has been a source of on going support? Someone you could lean on, vent too and just feel safe with? At the beginning of last year right before we knew what Covid-19 was I started talking to someone. Over the months our relationship blossomed into more than I could of ever imagined. I secretly thank the universe for the way 2020 worked out for me in the relationship department. My partner was a constant rock and ‘safe’ place for me (and me children) to turn too through it all plus some. Let’s give a shout out to our significant others, partners, lovers, best friends , family whomever it may be. Drop and TAG their name below, tell me how they have been your support through the last year. Today the world needs more Light. Let’s give them a shout out with so much love for being there for us

‘Instead of worrying about what you cannot control, shift your energy to what you can create’ Roy Bennett 3 D A Y S.... In 3 days majority of us will be spending Christmas in a ways we may never have or want. For the first time many of us are grieving traditions lost, extended family we won’t see and oh my goodness ALL the food and laughter that surrounds the room. My Christmas wish for each of you is that you can find the magic in the small moments on Friday. I hope you embrace the ones who are there with you. I hope that you can gather, even in the mundane, joy and love around you and fill those empty spaces with it to make your day a beautiful one.

Coming to Stesha Bella Photography in February Digital Store front for quality print products from your sessions digital gallery. I am so stoked to show you this new branch of my business. I have been working hard setting everything up to make viewing, ordering and delivering beautiful art into your hands a flawless process! Some products you will now be able to purchase through your online gallery:... matte prints albums float mounts canvases framed prints A few weeks ago you saw some polls on products I was thinking of introducing! Well, I had a fantastic response to those stories. You guys have me so hyped to show you what’s in store! Stay tuned as I will be showing samples of what you can now order to fill the walls and hearts of your home .

Any astrology friends out there? Tomorrow Dec 21st, there will be a huge shift as Jupiter and Saturn will align at zero degrees, known as ‘ The Great Conjunction’. This will happen on the winter solstice . This marks the beginning of ‘Age of Aquarius’. Yass baby Aquarius right here!!! You heard that right those hippies were singing about it back in the 60’s. This is the first time in 200 years that The Great Conjunction occurs in an air sign . There are going to be some... huge shifts of energy, views and a new era we are about to walk into! There is SO much behind all this but I thought I would talk about a few thing here. 1. The planets Aligning at zero degrees. This represents limitless possibilities. 2. Air signs are more focused on humanitarian acts, collective/community based living. The last few conjunctions has been in earth signs which focuses more on ambition, big businesses, wealth and and creating things for our future. See the huge difference here? This give me hope for our community Tomorrow is a great day to manifest, write out, draw vision boards and open yourself up to creating the life you want over the next few years. There is so so much more about this beautiful astrological event about to take place tomorrow I don’t even know it all, but I am absolutely obsessed with learning how the universe is so connected. I am so geeked for it as it enters my sun sign. I have felt a push of motivation & energy the last few days like I have not felt since November of last year. I decided yesterday I am NOT going to write a New Years resolution. Instead I am going to flow with the months ahead, set small obtainable goals which will ultimately continue me down the path of my dreams. Tonight & tomorrow I am taking the first step of obtaining the life I have always dreamed. I am sitting down to revisit my journal over the last 12 months. I’m going to reflect, create a vision board and work on really figuring out what it is I want to crush in 2021 & over the next few years to live me dream life. I hope you walk on to the path of your dream life in 2021 & we can look back on 2020 as a time we needed to appreciate all that is to come. Who is with me???? See more

I am a firm believer in gratitude. I make daily affirmations, my boys and I talk about our little daily gratitudes before bed, and I show appreciation when I’ve been supported by a stranger or a loved one. One of the things I am most grateful for as I have transitioned into my adult life are the photographs and countless home videos my dad has spent hours recording to VHS and later transferring to DVD for each member in my family. Every first and last day of school, Christmas... morning, school concerts and plays, track meets, volleyball games, swimming in the backyard and singing in the bathtub have been documented. I didn’t realize it at the time he was recording (and believe me, he is almost ALWAYS recording), but capturing these moments is not just for him and my mom to hold on to Little Steph as I naively believed. I couldn’t fully understand the importance of these videos until I looked back on them years later, curled up on the couch with my boys, laughing hysterically at my Beach Boys dance routines, karaoke fails, and uncoordinated sports games. These home videos are bringing my children and I closer together, they get to be a part of my journey and look into a part of my life that without these videos, I could never express. What I am saying is, investing in photographing your family’s journey and growth is one of the greatest things you can do, not only for yourself, but for your parents, grandparents, children and grandchildren. Capturing a snippet of life will evoke emotion and spark memories for generations to come. I want for you to look back on such a fleeting time in your life and be thankful you invested in the time to photograph your family.

The more that you say, the less I know Wherever you stray, I follow I'm begging for you to take my hand Wreck my plans, that's my man... How many of you sang that with me ya’ll know I am obsessed, obviously I wasn’t going to let the week pass without referencing at least one @taylorswift song. I have been wrapped up so much in the Folklore ‘trilogy’ theory - has anyone else heard of it or think we are in for a third album? I dunno guys I have been sooo invested, my kids last night, ‘of course Taylor swift again’. She said that ‘woodvale’ was a mistake/ code name (cough cough) I still think it points to something in regards to a third album. Guess only time will tell. Until then TS4-TS9 will be on repeat

Life is fragile, it is uncertain and it takes a split second to change it forever. As a photographer, I am here for your families, and for you to remember where you are now so that you can see how far you’ve come. It is so important to be present in these pictures with your children as you are also constantly changing, growing and becoming. The person you were last year, the one you are today, and who you will be in 6 months from now, will not be the same. Each one is important in how you grow as a mother or father. I think the journey into parenthood is messy, chaotic and beautiful....but what about love isn't, right? I hope your first Monday of 2021 was one where you were present, kind and living purposefully.

2020 took a lot away from us, but in my opinion, it also gave us so much more than we could ever ask. It really made us open our eyes and see what truly mattered to us. I’m not going to ramble on about this year because almost every person today is reflecting back on the last few months and I would really be sounding redundant so I’m going to show you instead. My entire timeline is filled with so much hope and reflection...so I am adding mine below- don’t blink, lol there is... so much to see. To my clients thank you for your never ending support. You filled my 2020 with so much light. Wishing you all a gentle start to 2021 and may it be filled with so much love, happiness and health. Love always Stesha Bella Photography https://stesha-bella-photography.smartslides.com/2020-highl

Starts Friday November 27th - Monday November 30th. Who is ready to save some $$ ! ... Talking about Black Friday deals, I rarely ever score anything good. Have you guys bought or have your eye on anything awesome yet? Let me know below

R E S I S T A N C E I have been hitting road block after road block this year, trying to get my act together on the back end of things (my website, branding and a few other projects I have started). Most of these projects have been on the go since the beginning of 2020 and have still yet to be accomplished. Every time I get two steps ahead I some how take one or two back. About a week ago I had a moment (let’s be real) a day I was so triggered. I was overthinking and compari...ng myself to where I think I should be to where I am. I had it in my head to use the time during isolation and now lock down to start each of these projects up one by one. Every time I started again this last week I was hit with some form of resistance. So what did I do? I started sitting with negative feelings of self doubt and began watching other local photographers kill it in our Industry. Last night I could hardly sleep (anyone else have sever insomnia right now?) it dawned on me. I was turning my focus onto others and dumping my energy into places it didn’t belong. That was getting me nowhere except down a dark hole. I was being hit with resistance and instead of figuring out ‘why’, l was subconsciously doing everything to avoid the very thing I knew I had to do. I had to face my limiting beliefs & how they are putting me in yet another cycle of being stuck. I had to find a place of patience, sit back to understand that things are not working out (yet)for a reason. I have to sit where I am and celebrate the wins I did have over this year, not dwell on the things not working out. I need to refocus on how to get these things done differently. The way I thought it would happen isn’t working for me and my business. So, if any of you entrepreneurs or anyone for that matter, are met with resistance, I hope you read through this & remember; You are being met with it not because ‘your life is so difficult’ but because there may be a different path for you to take which will bring you to a place you belong. You just have to be patient, re-evaluate & walk around that hurdle infront of you. You don’t always have to push back.

This job has allowed me to reconnect with so many people. This family here started with a mom and dad whom I went to both grade school and highschool with. When a client who I used to grow up with reaches out to me, I always get these little flash backs of when we were younger. I picture us pretty much the same age as our children now and remember the ‘dream job’ I had back then...Boy band back up dancer *cough cough* fast forward to today being a photographer and able to do...cument this phase of their life. Lol a tad different direction than I thought. I have heard it many times ‘did you ever think we would be where we are today, you photographing my family?’. That would be a no from me lol my dreams were big and my dance moves were bad, so here I am lol. When we are younger we think these grade school friends will be around forever but when we move into high school, then moving forward we realize only some do. I am always overcome with a sense of gratitude that I am able to reconnect with these old school friends, even if it’s a quick walk into nature with them. Thank you for choosing me guys, each and everyone of you. To those grade school and high school friends, thank you for the endless memories and reminders of how lucky I am to have grown up along side some life long people.

This image made me happy. So I thought I would share it.

Keep your eyes peeled later today to see more of these BFFs The bond they share will forever melt my heart when photographing them. I never had a cat or dog but we did have turtles and an African grey named Fred. Lol he was a character and nobody really every believed I had one until they saw for themselves. Did you have any pets growing up? What was his/her name and your favourite memory?

Hands down one of the hardest parts of my job is picking out a few teasers to send clients and fill me feed with(pretty sure I said this before!!) . I just want to share them ALL. That is especially true when I was editing a few images from a session I had this weekend with the ever so talented @fearfullymadebylaura and her family. We spent the evening at @thewilloughbyfarm and it was everything I imagined it would be and more. If you haven’t checked out Laura’s work head ove...r to her page and check it out along with her newest post! Hint hint lol thank you so much to both this family and the farm for soaking up this incredible weather and golden light with me. I want to clog your feed so bad with everything I have been shooting since we opening back up in July but I am doing everything in my power to share at a pace to not overwhelm ya’ll. I had a hard time narrowing these down and IG doesn’t make it easy when you have to keep all the images in the carousel the same crop (booo) lol and I’m not tech savvy enough to learn those new scroll things ya’ll are doing so I will stick to ol school swiping haha! I’ll post more in my stories so you guys can see what I mean. Tell me, which one is your favourite from this session??? 1,2,3,4 or 5??

Cat is finally out of the bag! Congrats @rebeckahmuresanphoto ! I was so honoured to be able to capture this for you. Everyone knows I talk.....a lot but what ya’ll may not know is I am the BEST secret keeper!! I usually get to keep the juiciest ones too .

If you wondered what it’s like being a photographer in the fall, lol, dis babe is a perfect representation of me after 7pm the last few days. (Yes the forehead kisses help me sleep contently too ) I had an absolutely wonderful few days between newborn sessions and starting my outdoor Christmas Minis. Thanks to all those who came out yesterday and to those needing to be rescheduled due to today’s weather! Much love for being so understanding. Off to go run myself a bath to settle for the night and get ready for tomorrow. I start my indoor minis and I am looking forward to all the littles I get to photograph.

Walking into a new week like ‘I got this’. Your Monday reminder that you survived 100% of your worst days. You are doing great.

PSA to all fur baby parents. Hecks yas we can include them! This sweet family had to reschedule their newborn session due to covid and we ended up having and indoor family lifestyle session. They captured my heart the second I walked through their door. I could just tell the second I walked in how much love the house held. Thank you so much for allowing me to come in and do this for you guys. Check out my stories for more awesomeness from this session and the beautiful words after.

Walking in into October ready for all things spooky! Wanting to wish my dad the happiest of birthdays today If it wasn’t for you none of this would be possible - hope this trip around the sun brings you everything you hope and wish for . To my #1 fan - I love you.

I was photographing rooftop snuggles and chasing the sunset with these two last night. We had somuchfun!

Fall Family Photography Tip If you guys are thinking of booking fall family photos with your favourite photographer here is an important tip. * BOOK AS EARLY AS POSSIBLE*... Searching for and contacting your favourite photographer to book a date a few months in advance will most likely result in your favour. No, it’s not crazy and yes people do it all the time! When the nice fall weather/colours hits, our inboxes become flooded with inquiries and we are just as disappointed as our potential clients when we have to explain to them we are booked. Fall is hands down one of the busiest seasons for family photographers (any really). Majority of us are also a one man show. Which means we are doing the booking, marketing, shooting, editing etc all on our own. If we break it down to numbers, on average a month has 30 days which most 9-5’s are Monday through Friday (let’s make it tangible to something lol) if we were able to shoot 1 full session 5 days a week that would still only allow us to take on 20 clients. We could add more by only doing minis during week or on weekends, but for sake of keeping things simple, we are not adding too many variables. Let’s pretend its only ‘full family sessions’ we are booking. We now have to take into consideration the weather if we shoot outdoors. We also keep dates open incase we need to reschedule. So if we book 3 sessions a week (just picking a safe number) and leave 2 days open for weather, a day off and days we need to edit your pictures. That brings us to about 12 full session clients we can take on in a month. So you can see how quickly a photographer could potentially fill up. Of course there are MANY factors like adding mini session dates or double up full sessions on a night, we could book X amount more. This would all vary and be to the discretion of the photographer and their work/life balance, what they can physically/mentally take on. Reputable family/newborn photographers book out 2-4+ months in advance. 2020 taught us that life can be uncertain and I know it can be hard to pick a date and plan months in advance. However, it avoids potentially missing out on an opportunity to create magic.

I had a wild dream last night and lately they are becoming more vivid. I was at my house and there were multiple orange and yellow snakes everywhere, one bit me, I killed one and I felt worried and anxious the whole dream and when I woke up. I’m huge into interpreting dreams, our subconscious is extremely powerful. I could not believe when I looked up the meaning of the colours of snakes, snakes in general and what multiple snakes in my dream meant! Check out my stories to see what I found !

Hey moms & dads. Just a reminder. You are doing a great job.

Did you know that there are 700 grapes in a bottle of wine?? Yesterday a few of us played a little game finding random facts and dropped some pretty cool stuff such as: - kids ask 300 questions a day.... Hence all the grapes ... - Painted turtles survive winter by breathing through their butts. - A grain of sand is halfway in size between an atom and the planet earth -You lose up to 30 percent of your taste buds during flights. - Computer mouses were originally called turtles - Time slows down the closer you get to the center of the milky way (our galaxy) so if you were to visit and come back you would have aged slowly and everyone you know would have passed away by the time you returned We found and read so many ! Drop a random/interesting fact below to learn something new today

When mom posted this picture on her social someone in the comments said ‘ look at big sister and mom making a heart around the twins’ Now I can’t unsee it ! totally not planned and totally awesome I’m off to second shoot a happily ever after today then spend some time winding down tonight for the first time in weeks. Hope everyone has a wonderful weekend.

Excuse me Mr. E, can you give me any tips or tricks about your daily hair routine and how you get such a gorgeous head of hair??? When I asked him that, all I got was this adorable smirk I mean I tried guys, he wasn’t giving up his secret! Lol Over the years I have photographed some cuties rocking serious hair do’s- I’m often left with hair envy from someone less than 2 weeks old hahah. Show some love to this cutie and let me know if your baby had hair like this!

We keep moving forward, opening new doors, and doing new things, because we’re curious and curiosity keeps leading us down new paths. What new door have you opened lately?

Have you ever had to deal with Sprit Airlines customer service before? I have spent the last week on the phone and through WhatsApp, trying to get ahold of them. It’s been next to impossible to speak to an actual human, I totally understand how swamped everyone is with reopening and luckily I have never had difficulty like this before. I had purchased tickets to fly boys and I to Florida over March break and trip was cancelled due to locking down. I have zero intentions of tr...avelling any time soon and I’m just hoping to clear this issue up soon! Did you book a flight that was supposed to fly out during the Covid-19 lock down? We’re you able to get refunded ? Thank goodness my week has been filled with teeny cutie pies and their families to make me smile through the frustrations lets give sweet miss E some love for being the sweetest baby girl and brining some sunshine into my day!

PHOTOSHOOT TIP FOR PARENTS WITH YOUNG CHILDREN 99.9999% of my outdoor shoots are done during golden hour. (Note the image above ) When booking your outdoor sessions please consider the season in which you want to book and the time your photographer shoots at. Golden hour in the spring and summer will vary but can be between 7pm-9pm where in the fall can change between 4p-7pm depending on the month you choose. One of the most common concerns I hear parents talk about is bed... time and keeping their kids up later than usual for their shoot. Being a mom of two young boys I understand how important my kids sleep routine was and still is (especially Evan and these pre-teen years). If you are willing to try and push naps a bit later to give your photographer and extra hour or so in flexibility I promise you 9/10 your images can look like this one . If you are still concerned I would recommend pushing it up a tad bit to still achieve soft golden light towards the end of the day OR if you are an earlier riser and your photographer is too a sunrise session is JUST as beautiful. Ugh all the love for those. We family photographers hear this concern more often than not and as much as we don’t like to admit it, during the sessions the kids run the show! Experienced and skilled photographers who have worked along side children will pull out all the tricks to make sure you are handed over images that will be full of giggles to cherish. Read reviews and talk to other clients who have worked with your photographer and see what they are saying when it comes to the actual photoshoot experience. Were they comfortable and able to relax with the photographer? Was the photographer able to connect with the children and direct the session in a fluid way? Most importantly did they have fun? See more

PSA to photographers/entrepreneurs: Due to covid I had to rearrange my schedule many times and double book newborn shoots that were pushed back due to covid into outdoor family shoots ( which my season was already busy). I was starting to decline mentally and physically the last two weeks with trying to keep up when I finally decided im not super human, I am only human . I decided to hire on @breadupuisphotographydesign to kick some serious ass & catch me up editing wise ...as well as tie up loose ends on the back end stuff. YOU GUYS it took me 10 years to realize after two work sessions with Brea, how much of a relief, how much joy and time I had in accomplishing what I needed to. I gained FREEDOM - enough so that I took a whole 36 hours off lol. That doesn't seem like much but when Brea left my house, I sat down at night I cried. I cried from the amount of weight that was taken of my shoulders. I have a VERY hard time "letting go" of certain tasks and I won't lie at first I was a tad worried as to what exactly I could " let go. When we figured it all out and when my to-do list went from 25 tasks to like 5 in two days I just lost it. Let me tell you, this was the smartest decision I have made since coming back to work. Outsourcing where and when I can as well as automating my business has changed my life dramatically the last week especially. HUGE MASSIVE virtual hug to both Brea Dupuis for sticking by my side & working your magic and @thephotographybusinesscoach for pushing me to step out of my comfort zone to reach for bigger dreams and not giving up on me when I wasn't 100% in this coaching process. THANK YOU. Im crying again writting this and hope if you ever feel like giving up, if you ever feel like things aren't working or the load is becoming to heavy to hold, please reach out there is always help and know that every minute you put towards investing in your business and yourself will come back ten fold. See more

Morning and happy Tuesday! Have you ever met a momma to be and you couldn’t tell she was pregnant from looking at her straight on or from the back..it wasn’t until she turned to the side and you saw the cutest bump you ever did see? Welp, my friend @sarawiebephotography is rocking THAT bump. Swipe to see what I am talking about ! She is expecting baby number 4 and I had complete bump envy through our whole session. Thank you so much for climbing good ol Malden hill with me and allowing me to capture this season of your life. It is a complete honour to have another creative reach out and trust you to create memories for them.