VELLA MEDIA
One of the things I've come to appreciate about our local car community is that everybody has a story.
We spend so much time talking about the cars. What engine , how much work has gone into them, and what somebody plans to do next.
But quite often, it's the people standing beside those cars who have the most interesting stories to tell.
And every now and then, somebody shares a story with you that makes you look at things a little differently.
That's certainly how I felt reading Peter Vella's answers for this feature.
Most of us know Peter through Vella Media. He's one of the familiar faces behind a camera at local car meets, capturing the vehicles, the people and all those little moments that make our automotive community what it is.
What I didn't fully appreciate until Peter shared his story was why he started filming cars in the first place.
It wasn't about photography, social media or starting a business.
It was about spending time with someone he cared about.
And I reckon that's a pretty special place for a story like this to begin.
It Started With Warren
Peter's father-in-law, Warren, was a car bloke.
The sort of bloke who could walk around a Cars & Coffee event, spot something familiar and immediately have a story to tell.
Maybe it was a car he'd owned years earlier. Maybe it reminded him of something he'd left at the family farm, or one he'd abandoned on the side of the road.
And like plenty of us, Warren had a few regrets about the ones he hadn't kept.
I think anyone who's spent time around older car enthusiasts knows those conversations.
There's always a car that got away.
Another one that should never have been sold.
And usually a good story about what happened to it.
For Peter and Warren, Sunday mornings at local car meets became something they could enjoy together.
They'd wander around, check out the cars and talk about the memories those vehicles brought back.
Unfortunately, Warren was diagnosed with cancer.
As his condition became terminal, getting out to events became more difficult.
Some days he simply wasn't well enough to go, while on his better days he'd still head along in his motorised wheelchair.
Around this time, Peter's wife Krystal bought him a GoPro Hero 12 for his birthday.
And without anybody knowing it, that birthday present would become the starting point for Vella Media.
Peter began taking the camera along to car meets, filming the cars he saw and capturing what was happening.
But there was a reason behind it that had nothing to do with becoming a photographer.
"I think part of me doing this was because I knew how much he loved cars, and I wanted to be able to come home, show him what I'd seen and talk about the cars with him."
It's such a simple thing, really.
Taking a camera to a car meet so he could come home and share the experience with his father-in-law.
What started as a way to keep Warren connected to something he loved would eventually grow into Vella Media.
And for me, knowing that makes Peter's work mean a little more.
Those Warragamba Mornings
Warragamba Cars & Coffee holds a special place in Peter's story.
It was the first proper car meet he and Warren attended together.
"The cars that were there were crazy, and still are to this day."
Peter remembers walking around with his GoPro, filming whatever caught his attention.
He wasn't particularly worried about having the perfect shot or knowing all the technical details.
He was just enjoying himself.
Looking back at those first videos now apparently gives him a good laugh, but as he says, everyone has to start somewhere.
What Peter didn't expect was the reaction he started getting from other people.
"I wasn't even really promoting or sharing my YouTube videos, but people started coming up to me at meets saying things like, 'I loved your video,' or 'I love how you captured my car and the event.'"
It meant a lot to him.
Here was somebody who'd originally started filming for Warren, suddenly discovering that other people were enjoying what he was creating too.
And that encouragement gave him a reason to keep improving.
"That's when I started thinking, 'Maybe Vella Media could actually become something.'"
Peter also shared a couple of particularly special memories from Warragamba.
One is connected to Peter and Warren's final ride together, heading home from an Australia Day event.
BAY6 Media
SIDE NOTE: There's another little connection here that I really love.
The photograph of Peter and Warren on their final ride together was actually captured by Tyler from BAY6 Media, another talented local photographer I came to know through Warragamba.
It's funny how these things come full circle. Different people, different cameras, different meets, but somehow our paths keep crossing.
And I reckon that's one of the things I love most about our car community. We're all connected in ways we don't always realise, and sometimes it's a photograph that reminds us just how small and special this community really is.
A big thank you to Tyler for capturing this moment and allowing another part of Peter and Warren's story to live on.
Those photographs remind us why capturing these moments matters.
Sometimes a photograph that seems fairly ordinary at the time becomes one of the most important ones we have.
A Car guy Before a Camera guy
When I asked Peter what came first, cars or photography, there wasn't much hesitation.
"Definitely cars."
And I think that's probably true of quite a few of the photographers we see around our local events.
They're car enthusiasts first.
The camera just gives them another way to enjoy being part of the scene.
For Peter, photography has changed the way he looks at vehicles.
He's now thinking about the lighting, the background, the angle and the little details that might make a photograph stand out.
But more importantly, it's encouraged him to get to know the people behind the cars.
How long have they owned them?
Why did they choose that particular build?
What have they changed?
And what does the car mean to them?
Peter isn't particularly concerned about whether a vehicle is expensive, rare or heavily modified.
"A car that has been loved, built and personalised by its owner can be just as interesting to me as an exotic or highly modified car."
It's something I've always believed with Car Church.
You don't need the most expensive car in the car park to have something worth showing off.
Sometimes it's the daily driver somebody has spent years working on.
Sometimes it's a half-finished project.
Sometimes it's a car that's been in the family for decades.
And sometimes the story behind the car is far more interesting than the car itself.
More Than Just Taking Photos
Peter enjoys both photography and videography, and I don't think he's particularly interested in choosing one over the other.
Photography allows him to focus on a single moment.
Finding the right angle, catching the light and bringing out the details that make a car special.
Video gives him the opportunity to capture the atmosphere of an event.
The cars arriving, the engines running, friends catching up and all those things that make a Sunday morning meet enjoyable.
"Photography lets me concentrate on one moment and really capture the car, while video lets me tell more of a story and show the atmosphere of an event."
Peter particularly enjoys smaller Cars & Coffee gatherings and local meets because of the variety of vehicles and people.
But he's also a fan of cruises, bigger shows and charity events.
And it's the charity events that have a little extra meaning for him.
"I think the charity events are particularly special because there is something bigger happening than just the cars."
I couldn't agree more.
We've seen some wonderful things come out of our local automotive community.
People giving up their weekends, helping raise money and supporting families and organisations who need a hand.
And quite often, the photographers and videographers are there helping tell those stories too.
It's easy to overlook how valuable that contribution can be.
The Work We Don't Always See
Something I really wanted to touch on with these Behind the Lens features is just how much work goes into the photographs we all enjoy.
Most of us see the finished work on socials.
We scroll through, find our car, tag a mate and maybe share a few photos.
But there's a whole lot of work happening behind the scenes.
"People see you walking around a car meet taking photos, but they don't see what happens afterwards."
Peter explains that an event can involve hundreds, sometimes thousands, of photographs.
Then comes sorting through them, editing, exporting, uploading and all the other work involved.
Video is another job altogether.
"Sometimes everyone else has gone home and you're still sitting there editing."
And I think that's something we could all appreciate a little more.
There are some incredibly talented people who spend their weekends documenting our local car scene.
A lot of the time they're doing it because they genuinely enjoy it.
But that doesn't mean their time, equipment or effort has no value.
One of the things I'd love to see through these features is more people getting to know the photographers behind the images.
Not just recognising their logos when an album goes up, but understanding the work they put in and supporting them when we can.
Still Learning, Still Enjoying It
One of the things I like about Peter's attitude is that he doesn't pretend to know everything.
He's still learning, and he's quite happy to admit it.
The GoPro Krystal bought him is still part of his setup today, but Peter has since started taking photography more seriously.
Earlier this year, he pulled out his old Canon 550D and began experimenting.
While it could still produce some decent photographs, its video capabilities were starting to show their age.
After doing a fair bit of research, Peter had the opportunity to buy a Canon R6 setup from a friend.
He went for it.
He's now shooting with the R6 and a 24–70mm lens, which has opened up more possibilities for both his photography and videos.
But Peter is quick to point out that equipment is only part of the equation.
"The gear definitely helps, but I don't think it's everything. You still need to know how to use it, find the right angle, understand the light and, most importantly, have the eye for the shot."
When I asked what advice he'd give somebody starting out, his answer was pretty straightforward.
"Just start."
Exactly what Michael Valeri said, we are seeing a pattern here.
You don't need expensive gear.
A mobile phone is enough to start learning.
Get out to meets, take photos, try different angles and don't be afraid to make mistakes.
And don't fall into the trap of comparing yourself to someone who's been doing it for years.
"Don't compare your beginning to someone else's finished product."
That's a pretty good bit of advice, and something I think applies to a lot more than just photography.
The People Make It Worthwhile
When I asked Peter about his experience within the Macarthur and greater Sydney car community, his answer was exactly what you'd hope to hear.
"It's been bloody good to me."
He's met some wonderful people, made friends and been welcomed into parts of the community he might never have experienced otherwise.
And while he loves the variety of cars, it's the people behind them who've made the biggest impression.
I think that's something a lot of us can relate to.
You might head out to your first car meet because you want to see what's there.
But after a while, you start recognising faces.
You get to know people.
You hear their stories.
And before you know it, you're heading out just as much to catch up with your mates as you are to look at cars.
For Peter, being behind the camera has given him another way to be part of that.
And when I asked about the moments he's proudest of, he didn't talk about social media numbers or how many people had watched his videos.
He spoke about something much more personal.
"One of the things I'm most proud of is seeing people genuinely excited when they receive a photo or poster of their car."
"Knowing that I've captured something they're going to keep means more to me than just getting likes on social media."
I reckon that says a lot about Peter.
Because to somebody outside the automotive community, a photograph of a car might just be a photograph.
But for the owner, that car could represent years of work, money saved, family memories or a dream they've finally managed to achieve.
And having somebody capture it properly gives them something they can keep long after the meet is over.
Where to From Here?
Peter has plenty of ideas about where he'd like to take Vella Media.
He wants to continue improving his photography and videography, working with more events, businesses and individual car owners.
He's particularly interested in exploring motorsport and track photography, as well as travelling further afield to cover different automotive events.
There's also an interest in developing more physical products, including posters and photography packages.
Something people can actually hang on a wall or keep as a reminder of their car.
But I like that Peter isn't putting too much pressure on himself to have everything figured out.
"I don't think everything needs to be planned out."
"Sometimes you just have to keep turning up, keep creating and see where it takes you."
And when you look at how Vella Media began, it's probably a pretty fitting way to approach things.
A Little Support Goes a Long Way
Part of the reason I wanted to start sharing stories like Peter's is that I think we sometimes forget about the people behind the cameras.
We enjoy their work, share their photos and look forward to seeing the albums after a good morning out.
But these are local people giving their time to something they love.
And whenever we can, I reckon it's worth showing them a little support.
If you've got a car you're proud of, consider booking a local photographer for a proper shoot.
If you're running an event or have a business that could use photography or video work, reach out to someone in the community.
Or if you've seen a photograph of your car that you really love, ask about getting it printed.
It doesn't have to be anything complicated.
Sometimes simply sharing their work, crediting the photographer properly or taking the time to say thanks goes a long way.
I'd love to see more of our local creatives getting opportunities to grow and continue doing what they love.
And Peter is certainly one of those people worth supporting.
Thank You
I want to finish this one a little differently.
Firstly, Pete, thank you.
Thank you for taking the time to answer my questions, for being so open about how Vella Media started and especially for trusting me with the story of Warren.
I know that's a personal part of your life, and I genuinely appreciate you being willing to share it.
When I first reached out, I wanted to learn a bit more about the bloke behind Vella Media.
I wanted to know how you got started, what you enjoyed photographing and where you hoped to take things.
I wasn't expecting the story behind that first GoPro.
And I think it's a lovely reminder of why these little Sunday morning gatherings can mean so much to people.
To some, it's just a few cars in a car park.
To others, it's a couple of hours with family, catching up with friends or a chance to get away from everything else that's going on in life.
We don't always know what somebody else is going through or why being at a particular event matters to them.
And I think Peter's story is a good reminder of that.
I also want to acknowledge Krystal, because without that birthday present, who knows whether Vella Media would have started the way it did.
And of course, Warren.
I never want to pretend I can tell somebody else's family story better than they can.
But I hope I've done a little bit of justice to the memories Peter shared and the part Warren played in getting all of this started.
Peter said something towards the end of his answers that really stuck with me.
"For me, Vella Media isn't just about taking photos. It's about documenting the scene and giving people something they can look back on."
And when you think about where it all began, with Peter taking videos home to share with Warren, that really brings things full circle.
He's still doing the same thing.
Only now he's helping other people hold onto their memories too.
So thank you again Peter, not just for sharing your story with us, but for the time and effort you put into capturing our community.
I'm genuinely glad I asked you these questions.
And I hope everyone reading this gets to know a little more about the legend behind the camera, because there's clearly a lot more to Vella Media than just some great photos of cars.
Sometimes the most important thing we take home from a car meet isn't a photograph of the car.
It's the memories of who we shared the day with.
And I reckon that's something worth remembering.
Will ‘Schultz’ Todd
Car Church Industries
Behind the Lens is a Car Church Industries feature series sharing the stories of local photographers, videographers and creatives who help capture and preserve our automotive community.
Don't care what you drive or ride. If you love it, we love it.
For Ross
