Meet Belle Fall | Portrait & Fashion Photographer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Belle Fall and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Belle, what led you to pursuing a creative path professionally?
Long before I figured out what I wanted to do with my life, I was creating. Whether it was orchestrating elaborate photoshoots with friends during sleepovers or turning science projects into music videos, I was constantly drawn to creativity. It wasn’t until my junior or senior year of high school that I realized I needed to pursue a career in a creative field. I chose to major in video production in college, but like many enthusiastic students, I was unaware of the real challenges and competition in making a living from creativity. My passion for capturing people and their expressions has always been clear to me, though it took some time to refine exactly how I wanted to do it. Despite juggling various odd jobs and side hustles to stay afloat, I’ve always managed to stay connected to capturing moments, and I believe I always will.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
Honestly, I started taking photos simply because I loved it, without thinking about making money or building a career. My goal was to capture people’s faces and raw emotions with whatever medium I could get my hands on. Each portrait session was focused on reflecting the subject’s authentic self. As I developed this skill, the value of my work began to change. I really started to understand that this could be a job once I started immersing myself in my community—learning about and engaging with people. Growing up in Maine, where everyone is interconnected, helped me build a strong network. My early clients were mostly friends, their friends, and family acquaintances. I quickly realized that a significant part of the “work” involved being active and present in the community, learning how to genuinely communicate, and building trust. People are unlikely to invest in your work if they don’t trust you. I think that trust is evident in my photos, showing how comfortable and vulnerable my subjects are willing to be.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I’m just going to say it: we should all embrace a little bit of cringe. We live in one of the most iconic cities in the world, rich with history. If my best friend were to visit, we’d definitely hit the Hollywood Sign, Griffith Observatory, and the Santa Monica Pier. But after checking off those tourist landmarks, we’d head to a taco truck. I haven’t found the absolute best one yet, but as long as it’s authentic, that’s where we’ll go. We’d also dive into some traditional Korean BBQ in Koreatown and wrap up the night dancing at Kiss Kiss Bang Bang. I usually get there early to avoid the lines and enjoy dancing with a crowd that’s not too cool to start before 11 pm. The place features a light-up dance floor and occasionally has roller skating dance performances—what’s not to love? At some point, maybe on a cloudy day, we’d catch an old film at Vidiots in Eagle Rock, formerly the Eagle Theatre dating back to 1929. That theater is like stepping into a time capsule, and in Los Angeles, where movies are everything, it’s the perfect spot.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I wouldn’t be where I am today without my parents. I understand that not everyone is fortunate enough to have such supportive parents, and I’m deeply grateful for their unwavering encouragement. There have been numerous times when I felt like giving up or worried that I was disappointing them by not choosing a more traditional career path. Yet, they have always been there to lift me up, dust me off, and remind me to stay persistent. From appearing in my homemade videos back in middle school to taking on roles as extras in the music video I recently wrote and directed, they’ve been present in every part of my journey. I truly can’t thank them enough.

Website: https://www.bellefall.com

Instagram: @bellefall_

Image Credits
Djj Media