Hello!
I am Dima Bell, award-winning professional photographer in New England.
Photography has been my chosen mode of expression since 1997; however, no one taught it to me. I taught myself while grappling with the rawness of life in many settings, from backstage at the Bolshoi Ballet in Moscow to the trenches in Donbas, Ukraine.
I was born in Russia, where my home was until 2022, the year Putin invaded Ukraine. With the outbreak of the war, I made the decision to relocate to the United States, guided by my personal values and opposition to the conflict. Currently I am based with my family in New England, Vermont and most of my work here has been in corporate and wedding photography, also environmental, family, business portraiture as well as people with special needs' imagery.
Since 1997, I have worked as a contributor to the New York Times; Washington Post; CBS News 48 Hours; Sunday Times and Sunday Times Magazine (U.K.); Telegraph (U.K.); Wall Street Journal; Newsweek International; Der Spiegel; Stern; Paris Match and many others.
From 2002 to 2008 I was a photographer on a freelancer contract for Bloomberg News Photo. My pictures illustrated business, political, economic and feature stories from throughout Russia and the former Soviet Union. I executed hundreds of corporate assignments for Bloomberg, covered numerous conferences, forums and summits including G8, G20 and WEF.
Throughout my 28-year career, I have also worked in a variety of challenging environments, covering a broad range of global events, including high-pressure assignments in regions such as Chechnya, Syria, and Eastern Ukraine.
In 2008 I accomplished comprehensive 8-week Portraiture, Lighting and advanced studio technique course at the ICP (International Center of Photography) in New York City and concentrated on professional commercial portraiture in the studio and on location, photographing some of the world top celebrities: Top Gear host Jeremy Clarkson, fashion designer Tom Ford, actress Gwyneth Paltrow, NSA intelligence contractor and whistleblower Edward Snowden, politicians Jon Huntsman and Becca Balint, poet Yevgeny Yevtushenko, filmmaker Andrei Konchalovsky, soprano singer Sarah Brightman and many others.
I am the author of several documentary portrait-story projects that lasted for 1/5 - 4 years each and demanded complete immersion in the subject area.
My professional accomplishments include recognition from several prestigious organizations, such as:
– Finalist, Amnesty UK Media Awards (Photojournalism), 2019
– Winner, IMAGELY Fund Grant, 2016
– Winner, Pictures of the Year (POY) – Print Feature Story Magazine Editing, 2015
– Winner, National Press Photographers Association (NPPA) – Portraits, 2010
– Laureate, Overseas Press Club of America – Borovik Award, 2005
As a highly experienced, award-winning photographer, I guarantee top-tier level of services provided. My expertise goes beyond capturing images — I guide you throughout the photoshoot, providing advice to ensure a seamless, unforgettable and enjoyable adventure. I understand the technique of networking, growing relationships with the clients and liaisons, technical and diplomatic requirements around the photo shoot at the highest level.
I would hope to put my decades of experience in professional photography to work with you.
Check out some of my local media spots:
