A year after I started my photography business, my online school (I was 17 at the time) wanted to interview me for the school’s journalist papers. It was so much fun and I recently came across it, 3 years later. It’s so interesting to see my answers then, as opposed to what I would probably say now. They’re still really wonderful answers. Here is one of my favorite sections:

Question: On your website, you list your motto as: “Photography is about capturing souls, not smiles.” Why did you choose this statement as your motto?
Aubree Della: I believe photography is meant for healing. Photography isn’t just for celebrating. Images are meant to tell a story, communicate a fact, or touch the heart when viewed (and captured). A photo is meant to capture a moment in time that we can relive by reviewing over and over. That is what I hope to communicate through my photography. I hope to create an image where you can see the person and not just a smile covering who they are. This is what makes me different as a photographer. I capture the very essence of a soul.

Check out the full interview HERE

Here are some images to depict what I mean:

Crying is good, it’s healing. Google says: “Research has found that in addition to being self-soothing, shedding emotional tears releases oxytocin and endorphins. These chemicals make people feel good and may also ease both physical and emotional pain. In this way, crying can help reduce pain and promote a sense of well-being.”

I create safe places, healing places for you to be a better you. I capture your soul, in your happy times, in your hard times and sad. Photography is not always about picture perfect, good clothes and happy faces. Remember that next time it’s family pictures, crying kids are OKAY. Screaming kids are OKAY. You can scream and cry. Sometimes, we need it. I appreciate you for letting me see you. As a photographer, who allows healing in front of my camera in any way that you need, I am grateful for you. I am happy for you. I am crying with you. I am loving you any way you need to be loved. Message me, if you need your soul captured during this time. It’s always the perfect time.

Message me.

I want my blogging to be about photos, but also about words. they are so important to me. As I’ve been traveling around Europe, I’ve been tuned into my inner self and my deeper creativity that lies underneath so many layers of fear/doubt/shame. This trip has opened my eyes to my dreams that I’ve had for years and years. To travel. To see. To educate myself. To BE. It isn’t fairy tales everywhere… unless you make it so. It isn’t beautiful everywhere, unless you see it that way.

Each night, i’ve been taking some time to journal about my day and my experiences that I feel, not just see. I did a journal prompt that was- “What does unconditional love look like for you?”

I decided to share this with you. It looks like something different for everybody, but it is hitting home for me in my life right now. And I hope it somehow helps you too. Love is something to cling to and I am understanding this more and more every day.

JOURNAL ENTRY November 1st, 2019. Naples. Italy.

“What does unconditional love look like for you?” Unconditional love is empowerment. It brings you satisfaction and hope. A kind of love that surrenders your heart, but pushes you for greater things. Unconditional love is flexible, but unwavering in it’s power and greatness. It is there when needed, but in the shadows giving you strength. Unconditional love is faith in you when you didn’t know you needed it. Unconditional love is forgiveness and gratitude. It is calm, yet strikingly impactful. It is like the ocean. Calm and gentle- but insanely powerful. Unconditional love is allowing me to be free, but giving me the support when I need it. It is there when I ask for it. But also there when I didn’t know I needed to ask. It is a supportive energy. Unconditional love is an emotional cry of peace and happiness and calm. It is that deep breath you take when you are safe. It is trust. It’s no judgement and complete acceptance. It’s safe to say anything. It’s okay to talk and be yourself, in any way you want.

Here are a few journal prompts that I’ve been writing on, if you feel inspired to do the same.

What always brings tears to your eyes? (As Paulo Coelho has said, “Tears are words that need to be written.”)
“Conversation with your 99-year-old self.” Pretend that you’re 99 years old, very wise and in perfect health. “What would you have me know? What should I concentrate on in the coming days and years? What things could I do or experience that would have the most positive impact on my life?”
I hope to inspire light and love through my photos. When you see a photo I took, I want you to feel the warmness of that person’s soul. Their heart. The way they laugh. I want you to hear it. To experience it through photos. So here’s some of my favorite photos of one of my favorite people who emanates love and light to me. A person who I love and adore and you can feel her spirit in these photos. Please enjoy! Ciao!

Creative Downtown SLC Portraits

|| Capturing Souls. ||

What is Unconditional Love? // Markale