Last week, we launched what we hoped would be a fun way to pass the rest of the winter with a weekly contest that tests how well you, our loyal blog readers, can tell our work apart.

We had such fun reading everyone’s responses and comments! A great big thank you to everyone who participated! You all did great! But, only one of you identified all 7 photos correctly.

And the winner is……

Sandee & Matt!!! Well, Matt, looks like you were right!!

The contest was actually inspired by Matt, who claimed he could tell whose images were mine and whose were Andy’s! Way to go guys! You Rock!!! But, let’s be honest….you two had a slight advantage, having been there with us when we took all the photos. Even, still, we’re impressed that you were paying such close attention!!  Now we want to see if you can do it again, with images that aren’t yours!!

Everyone else….the game is on….let’s see if you can oust Matt & Sandee from their thrones! In the meantime, Sandee & Matt, your Lucky 7s scratch tickets will soon be on their way to you!!!

So, without further ado, here’s this week’s Lucky 7s Guess Who? photos. Please make your guesses in the comments section and remember, the first one to correctly identify all 7 photos wins seven Lucky 7s scratch tickets! Voting will end next Friday. Only one vote per person. Good luck!!!

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Our wedding season typically lasts seven months, from April until the end of October. During these busy months, we are lucky to be invited to share in one of the most special days in a couple’s life, capturing for them all of the joy, love, and once-in-a-lifetime moments that, as a bonus, provide plenty of fodder for our blog.

Unfortunately, during the long winter months, shooting slows to a crawl and our attention turns to album design & production. Now, in our second year of blogging, we’ve come to realize that this lack of new imagery makes our blog a little snoozy….I know it’s not really a word, but it’s kinda catchy, don’t ya think?

A couple of weeks ago, my sister, Kimmy, (one of our biggest blog cheerleaders) playfully complained, “I’m getting bored with the blog. You guys gotta put some new stuff on there. I’ve been going back and reading comments from old posts….it’s that bad.”

Honestly, we’re flattered that anyone takes the time to regularly check our blog, nevermind re-reading old post….But, we definitely don’t want to bore anyone. So, Andy & I put our heads together and decided to pass these next couple of months before the summer craziness begins by launching a little game we’re calling “Guess Who? Bello’s Lucky 7′s.”

Every week, we’ll post 7 images from the past year and ask you, our loyal blog readers, to try and guess whose images are mine and whose are Andy’s.

To keep it interesting, we will send seven Lucky 7′s scratch tickets to the first person who guesses all seven photos correctly. Entries should be made by listing your guess in the comments section below each post. We encourage you to play every week, but only one vote per person for each post, please. And, be sure to include your name & e-mail address when guessing, so we can contact you to send you your prize if you’re the smarty-pants winner.

The idea for Guess Who? was inspired by our friends Matt & Sandee. Matt once claimed that he can tell whose images are whose, which is pretty good going, considering Andy & my styles have become so closely meshed that we often get stumped. So, we thought we’d put Matt to the test and begin with 7 images from his & Sandee’s super fun Cape Cod engagement session and stunning Boston wedding.

Good luck everyone!!! (The pressure’s on Matt! Let’s see what ya got!)

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ADDITION: Just wanted to add a note that we will close voting on Friday, February 27th, when we’ll announce the winner (assuming we get one) and post the next weekly Guess Who? So, if you want a chance at possibly scoring some scratch cash on Sandee & Matt’s wedding & engagement session, make sure you vote before Friday. Also, we should have mentioned this before, since the prize involves scratch tickets, but you must be 18 years of age or older to play. Out-of-state or Out-of-Country (Candice…we love you!) winners must collect their prize via US mail. If there is no winner this week, the 7 scratch tickets will go into the pot for next week. Good luck everyone!!! xoxo

I haven’t always been a fan of Valentine’s Day. I’m not into red hearts or pink carnations, though I never tire of chocolate or kisses! But, what I really appreciate about Valentine’s Day is the opportunity it provides to give thanks for the love I have in my life. I am in love with LOVE and am blessed to be showered with much of it in my life!

I have an incredible husband, who demonstrates his love daily in the little things….like making me dinner when I’ve had a long day, giving me a simple hug or kiss or a kind word of encouragement, or having my toothbrush buttered when I come into the bathroom first thing in the morning and again at the end of the day. (Buttered, by the way, is our little code for putting toothpaste on the brush.) Andy is the kindest, most considerate, sincere, generous and deeply loving person I have ever met. He enriches my life in countless ways and I can’t imagine my life with out him. He is THE greatest love of my life.

I also have an incredible family – two sisters, who I adore and with whom I have shared much happiness and sadness, but without them, I wouldn’t have made it through the hard times and the good times wouldn’t be nearly as sweet. I have two nephews and a niece who have stretched my capacity for love in ways I couldn’t have imagined AND a father who has always been my rock, my biggest cheerleader, a truly good man, and one of my best friends.

As if all of this love isn’t enough, I also have amazing friends, who accept me and all my imperfections, and who love and support me, even when I all but disappear from their lives during the busy summer months. And, during the past six years, since starting Bello, our circle of friends has grown, leaving Andy & I dumbstruck by the outpouring of love and support we get from our wonderful couples and their families, who every day give me new reasons to believe in LOVE.

So, today, this Valentine’s Day, I celebrate all this love in my life – grateful, humbled and excited to see what next year will bring.

Andy & I started our Valentine’s Day with a delicious home-cooked breakfast with our friends, Lauren & Johnny, followed by a group walk in the woods. We sat on a dock, overlooking the water, soaking in the warm late winter sun (I actually got a little suntan), chatting and laughing. It was a perfect start to a wonderful day!!!

And, let’s face it….Valentine’s Day wouldn’t be complete without chocolate. I admit…I’m a chocolate freak. So, I thought I’d end this love-filled day by sharing a photo of some truffles we made in honor of Valentine’s Day this year. Mmmmmm! (PS…that’s our new logo, which we’re working on announcing soon with our new website & blog…stay tuned…although I guess I just announced it! whoops.)

Happy Valentine’s Day everyone!! Keep spreading the love!!!! xoxo Chris & Andy

Andy & I joined the Professional Photographers of Cape Cod about six years ago, when we first started Bello. We were very new to photography and were looking to gain information, share ideas, and network with other photographers in the area. Joining the group was one of the best decisions we made in those early years. Not only did membership allow us to be featured on PPOCC’s website, which provided us with invaluable exposure to couples looking to hire a local Cape photographer. But, we learned a lot attending the monthly meetings and workshops sponsored by the group.

On Friday, the tables were turned as we hosted our first workshop, sharing information and our personal insight on blogging.

Because our new studio space is small (and still not quite finished…note tape on the wall in the photo below, which outlines where a big canvas print will soon go…it, and a bunch of others, should arrive this week…I CAN’T wait!!!), we limited the workshop to the first six people who signed up. We had a full house and it was a great afternoon of sharing. In attendance were photographers:Lauren Clough, Stefanie Egan & Lee Geishecker of Vagabond View Photography, Tom Malames, Michelle Bosch, and Jack Foley of Jack Foley Photography.

Here’s Andy going over some of the different companies out there that host blogs. I admit, I loved listening to him talk about this stuff, because he’s so good at it and he is such a great speaker…very laid back, patient and really lays things out in an easy-to-understand way. Even though I tend to do most of the blog posts, he’s the technical brains behind all of our web-based interfaces and I learned a lot! You rock baby!!

A great big thank you to everyone who came out to hear what we had to say. We really enjoyed ourselves and look forward to seeing what you have to say on your blogs!!!

A brand new magazine hit newstands here on the Cape a couple of weeks ago. Well Wed, a boutique weddings magazine with issues in Vermont, New York, the Hamptons, and now, for the first time, Cape Cod & the Islands, is a great looking little wedding mag, with oodles of style and fabulous resources for couples looking to say, “I do.”

We were so excited last fall when we heard that they wanted to feature one of our weddings in their debut issue. We sent a few photos, expecting it would be a page or two, but when the magazine arrived in our mailbox yesterday, we were so stoked to see a few editorial images scattered throughout, AND a six-page spread featuring images and an interview with our very hip New York couple, Mollie & Ben, who got married this past summer at the uber elegant Wequassett Inn in Chatham. Mollie & Ben are such an awesome couple, we were so excited for them to have their wedding highlighted in such a cool way!!

Here’s a look at the new magazine and Mollie & Ben’s feature:

Mollie & Ben….pretty in pink!

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It was really nice to see the props they gave us by listing us as “Featured Professionals” We had a really positive experience working with the wonderful folks at Well Wed when we submitted our images and look forward to a long and mutually-beneficial working relationship with them.

We’d like to give a special thanks and shout out to Alison & Caroline at WellWed! You rock ladies!!! Thanks for all of your support and the awesome exposure!! Christine & Andy

You can pick up a copy of this first issue at Borders and Barnes & Noble bookstores or on Well Wed’s websiste www.wellwed.com.