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

Xtra: THE FINAL ISSUE PHOTO SHOOT

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On Wednesday, February 11th the last print issue of Xtra Vancouver was published.
I am so grateful to Editor Robin Perelle and Xtra for taking a chance on an emerging photographer with no editorial shooting experience.
The day Robin asked me into her office to invite me to shoot for Xtra I said yes, but I was terrified!! So terrified of failing that I turned down my first cover shoot with them. But I didn’t turn down the next one.
It was a shoot with the Little Sisters Bookstore family for their 30th Anniversary story.
I will always have that wonderful memory of working with them and with Jim Deva before his tragic death.
I will have many wonderful memories from the shoots I did, the fabulous people I was privileged to photograph, and the pride I felt at seeing my he{art} work in print on the newsstands.
Thank you Xtra for believing in me. Thank you for honouring me with the task of photographing this incredible group of community leaders for your last print issue.
 

Read the full story and the bios HERE about the individuals honoured in this commemorative portrait.

Behind the scenes of the Xtra newspaper final print edition photo shoot with Vancouver LGBTQ community leaders. Video by Tony James ~ dreamfixation@gmail.com

Check out more of my LGBT portraiture at belleancell.com

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My first 2015 COVER for Xtra newspaper of the wonderful Vancouver Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence.
This one was particularly satisfying as I pitched the story and cover idea to Xtra and they went for it!!
Click this LINK to read the full story about the Sisters and to see their beautiful portraits.

Xtra did a creative crop of my Sisters image for the cover so I couldn't resist having some fun with a silly selfie.  

Check out more of my LGBT portraiture at belleancell.com

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I'm a Mount Pleasant girl but I spend a lot of time in the West End, so I was so excited when WeARTS (West End ARTS) contacted me to be featured in the inaugural issue of Hatch magazine.
My friend Annie Reid wrote the article and she asked me some thought provoking questions.
It was a positive process for me as it forced me to dig deep about who, what and why in regards to my artistic practice.

Feast your eyes on Cor Flammae

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21 fabulously attired singers, 3 hair stylists, 3 makeup artists, 2 wardrobe stylists, 2 set stylists, 3 shoot assistants and one photographer. That is what it took to create this image of Vancouver's classically trained Choir Cor Flammae.
This shoot was a milestone for me as it was the most people I've ever photographed in one sitting!! 
What a wonderful experience it was to be a member of Team Flammae.


Go Team Flammae !!
Wardrobe Styling:  Adam Dickson (lead) and Jennifer Gagne
Hair:  Missy Clarkson, Soo Jeong and Shea April
Make-up:  Andi Alexander, Sande Rees and Belinda Siu
Shoot Assistants:  Reem Abdel-Jabbar, Lindy Cairns and Robin Toma
Photographer: belle ancell
 

Check out more of my LGBT portraiture at belleancell.com