Ariana del Mundo of Guelph/Toronto, Ontario on Life, Lessons & Legacy

We recently had the chance to connect with Ariana del Mundo and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Ariana, thank you so much for joining us today. We’re thrilled to learn more about your journey, values and what you are currently working on. Let’s start with an ice breaker: What is something outside of work that is bringing you joy lately?
Movement and creative hobbies—and the community that comes with them—have been bringing me so much joy lately! I weight train, box, play softball, and go to dance classes, and I love challenging myself in new ways. A mix of movement keeps me energized and genuinely happy. I’ve also been leaning into quieter creative outlets like reading and crafting. I co-host a silent book club each month and have quarterly “crafternoon” dates with my friends.

For years, photography was my hobby, but once it became my business, I didn’t really have another hobby for a long time. My husband always encouraged me to find one, but I was so focused on building and enjoying my photography career. Now, I’m really grateful to be in a place where I crave creativity, hobbies, and community outside of work—and where I have the space, time, and resources to make them a true priority.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m a branding photographer based in Southern Ontario. At the heart of my work is my belief that everyone has a unique purpose—and that when you celebrate your magic, you’re able to show up fully and share the impact you’re here to make in the world.

I help creative entrepreneurs and purpose-driven business owners show up confidently and authentically in their brands. I don’t just take photos—I create a collaborative experience where we uncover their story, values, and vision, and co-create imagery that feels true to who they are.

Clients often tell me they leave our shoots feeling more confident, seen, and aligned with their brand—which is the greatest gift of what I do. Right now, I’m excited about exploring how I support entrepreneurs through both photography and creative experiences, all rooted in the belief that your individuality and your purpose deserve to be celebrated.

Thanks for sharing that. Would love to go back in time and hear about how your past might have impacted who you are today. What did you believe about yourself as a child that you no longer believe?
As a child (and even as a teenager and young adult), I believed success meant following a set path and working hard in ways that other people expected. That belief was shaped in part by growing up in a very structured religion that I’ve since left, where the path always felt predetermined. Now I know success (and life) can be defined on my own terms, rooted in creativity, joy, and impact. In many ways, I’m still learning this—learning to live without permission, to say YES (or no) without seeking validation, and to trust that honoring my own path is the most authentic version of success I can create.

If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?
You don’t need to follow the path others laid out for you. Your creativity, joy, and purpose will guide you to exactly where you’re meant to be.

Alright, so if you are open to it, let’s explore some philosophical questions that touch on your values and worldview. What’s a belief you used to hold tightly but now think was naive or wrong?
A belief that was ingrained in me—but that I now see as naive—is that there’s only one right way to do things. I still catch myself slipping into that linear mindset and have to remind myself to let it go. I used to think I needed the exact blueprint for getting from point A to point B, and anything outside that plan felt like failure. Running my photography business has shown me that there are countless ways to move forward—and often, the unexpected journey is often where the magic happens.

Okay, so before we go, let’s tackle one more area. What light inside you have you been dimming?
For me, it’s the part that dreams big but gets buried under logistics and “what-ifs.” Being an anxious girly means I can think ahead—which can be super helpful, but also paralyzing. I know I have a purpose and that when I share my light, I can make an impact. Sometimes it’s fear of failure, rejection, or judgment that makes me pause, but more often than not, it’s simply feeling like I don’t have the capacity to handle what comes next—success or failure. It’s like I exhaust myself imagining the path before I’ve even taken the first step. I know there is mindset work I need to do to overcome this. I think one of the reasons I am passionate about cheering and celebrating others so much is because I know how powerful it is to have even one voice remind you that you can do it!

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