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Bellomo Studios and Behn Gallery

BY CHERYL JOHNSON, RESIDENT WRITER

Rallying the troops for that annual family photo, complete with outfit coordination and uncooperative children, can be overwhelming and a bit stressful. As much as we want to capture those precious memories, sometimes the result is less like our family and more like a staged magazine cover, void of our family’s personality.

Roben Bellomo, master photographer and owner of Bellomo Studios and co-owner of Behn Gallery, understands this and prides himself on providing unique experiences for each customer. “I focus on photos with intention, seeking to understand my customer and their stories to create photographic art that is meaningful, memorable and masterful,” explains Roben.

Stepping into Bellomo Studios and Behn Gallery is a sensory experience not felt in most studios. The photographic art lining his walls has an incredible depth that breathes life into each image, giving it a personality and a visual platform to share its story. Roben opened Bellomo Studios in the Village of WestClay September of 2020, as well as Behn Gallery with co-owner Jim Hamel. “The gallery focuses on artists and is the space I use to experiment and let my creativity flow,” says Roben. “The studio is the service side of the business, influenced by our gallery work.”

Roben and his wife, Adrienne, were Midwest transplants in California for about seven years, when Adrienne’s job relocated them to Indiana in 2014, bringing them and their two children, Neva (11) and Bodhi (8), back to the Midwest and closer to the grandparents. “The relocation also gave me the motivation and opportunity to retire from my middle school teaching career and forge full-time into my true passion and original path, photography,” explains Roben. Since then, Roben has received a master of photography degree, as well as a photographic craftsman degree and is a certified professional photographer through Professional Photographers of America (PPA).

What gave you the concept for a studio/gallery?

My original studio started in 2014, operating out of our basement. It served as both a client studio as well as my workroom for print-making and creative experimentation. As customers would come into the studio, I noticed how interested they were in the creative side and loved seeing the work in progress. I realized I offered a unique peek into the world of photography most people do not see, and my concept was born.

How did you get involved with your business partner, Jim Hamel?

Jim is a professional travel photographer residing in Dallas, Texas, with his wife, Susan, and two daughters, Elizabeth and Hannah. He specializes in all types of “scapes” (landscape, seascape, cityscape), nighttime photography, as well as photography education. He was a regular guest speaker at my photography club, and we hit it off exceptionally well. His experiences and philosophies aligned with mine, and we decided to partner on the gallery, displaying our photography, highlighting other photographers and incorporating his photography tours abroad.

How did you come up with the name for the gallery?

It was a collaboration of our children’s names, Bodhi, Elizabeth, Hannah and Neva, to remind ourselves every day that our families are a big part of our personal journey.

What drives you?

I like helping people find ways to connect to themselves, each other and the world around them. Creative art is a great way to navigate the world we live in and connect us at the core. The environment we’ve created allows patrons and clients to check their baggage at the door and immerse themselves in another world, connecting at a more human level.

How has your business changed or grown since opening?

On the studio side, we still do a lot of portraits, but we’ve also moved into corporate branding and professional marketing. We like to think of it as business storytelling through photography, allowing us to capture the client’s vision and personality for each project. The gallery has nicely evolved into an experience through art. I love to intertwine art forms, creating a multidimensional experience versus just visual.

An example of intertwining art forms is the blending of music or poetry with their photography. Recently, the gallery highlighted three large pieces of visual art, each accompanied by a chair and headset so that patrons could listen to a custom score of music created specifically for the art by local musician Matt Barber. “We want people to improve their lives through art, and the best way to do this is with a multisensory experience,” explains Roben. 

Where do you see the future of the business going?

In our minds, the business is like two different, connected rooms. The dream room (gallery) and the service room (studio). We expect the service side to continue to grow, allowing more connections throughout the Carmel community. The gallery doesn’t have the same boundary lines, and we see it becoming more encompassing as an education hub and a liaison between the patrons and the rest of the world.

What is most unique about your style?

We get to know our clients, their personalities and what they want to do with the art and incorporate that into the end product. Our time together is an experience allowing us to capture what is most important to you and your family.

Given your business expertise, what advice do you have for residents interested in photography?

The motivation behind my business stems from my childhood, where I attended an all-boy collegiate-prep school. The school’s focus was in professional studies such as law, medicine, etc., and the arts were discouraged. I wanted to prove that art is a viable career path, and creativity is a part of all of us. With that, my advice is to ignore the biases on careers and listen to your creative side. Be an advocate for the arts.

Despite his many degrees and accolades, Roben is dedicated to continual learning and improvement of his craft. He involves himself in various projects and competitions with PPA, participates in national and global publications and has been a three-time U.S. team member for the World Photographic Cup. Roben uses this development to refine his focus annually, providing fresh experiences and enhancing the community he works in.

“The Village of WestClay was the right choice for my business and for the Bellomo family,” says Roben. “I wanted a small-community feel where I could get to know the people and forge relationships with those around me.” Whether you attend one of the many events at Behn Gallery, like first Fridays with live music or one of the rotating gallery exhibits like “Big City Nights,” or engage in a portrait or business project with Roben, you are sure to have an experience that will enhance your life and leave you with an improved perspective.