The boy is 18 today

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Hard to believe it's been 5 years since I photographed him.
I still adore this image. I always will. It was the first time I ever pushed myself to get past my fear of approaching someone I didn't know who I wanted to photograph.
I feel like this image opened a door for me I never stepped through. I feel like I'm always at the edge of defining my style and I sense there's something more I need to discover about myself as a photographer.
It's like that feeling of having a word lingering just on the tip of your tongue.
I believe this image is the closest I've ever come to finding my voice. 

My summer vacation - by belle ancell

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Actually, there wasn't a summer vacation. However, there was a lot of love beginning with my first wedding of the season officiated by Sister Festivus Illuminata (pictured below).
The intimate wedding of Jennifer & Jocelyn was the first wedding ceremony ever performed in Canada by a Sister of Perpetual Indulgence. The Sisters are a worldwide 21st Century order of Queer Nuns who's lifelong vow is to spread universal joy and erase stigmatic guilt.

Sister-Festivus-Illuminata-Sisters-of-Perpetual-Indulgence

em′ula′tion

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My grandmothers pearls, a gorgeous actress and a wonderful team helped to create this image which was inspired by a portrait of actress Laura Dern by photographer Dan Winters.

Actress Eliza Hargreaves as photographed by belle ancell

Actress Laura Dern as photographed by Dan Winters

Awesome team: Assistant Bridget Shacklette, MOI, Model Eliza Hargreaves, Hair Stylist Hair by Soo.

'Unveiled' Photo Exhibit and Celebration

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Thanks to Graham Spence, Debbie Pipe and Jason Husmillo for capturing all the fun at my first solo photo show and the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence 5th Anniversary party.
I feel so grateful to the Sisters for this wee photo project that somehow took on a life of it's own and brought the community together in love and celebration.
I look forward to watching the Abbey grow and photographing more beautiful Sisters !!!

Outlook TV's coverage of the evening. Story begins at 9:09 minutes.

'Unveiled' - The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence

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The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence are a 21st Century order of Queer nuns.
They believe in spreading universal joy and expiating stigmatic guilt.
‘Unveiled' is a series of 10 portraits of the Sisters ‘in face’ and also without their facial makeup, or in ‘Boy Drag’ as they call it. I photographed them on an ethereal white background, as if they were walking through heaven’s door.
I find the Sisters beautiful. The designs and vibrant colours they choose for their faces and the playful, sexy outfits they create themselves express their individuality. I am intrigued with how they express their masculine and feminine sides. They are masculine in appearance, but to me when they are ‘in face’, they transform into beautiful feminine Deities.
Perhaps that is why I feel reverence in their presence.

  

Please visit my personal work website for more LGBT portraits. belleancell.com

  

The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence

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I have been spending a lot of time with these stunning creatures creating beautiful portraits in preparation for their 5th Anniversary celebration.
Are they Queer Nuns? Are they Glorious Clowns? Are you curious?
GayVancouver.net, B.C.'s online magazine wrote an article about the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence and the photo project we collaborated together on. You can read that story HERE. 

Sister Merry Q. Contrary, Founder and former Mother Superior of the Vancouver Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence.

Check out more of my LGBT portraiture at belleancell.com