Disability Alliance of BC || Vancouver Headshot Photographer

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When the Disability Alliance of BC contacted me to do their Annual Report photos I had bronchitis, by shoot day I had no voice. Inflammation in my throat from continual coughing for two weeks resulted in acute laryngitis.
During the shoot my assistant had to verbally communicate for me while I wrote notes and did interpretative dances to communicate pose instructions.
Maneuvering in the world being non verbal is a challenge. Most people assume you can speak. Not all people can.
It was interesting watching the reactions when I passed my notebook to someone. On a few occasions people spoke to me as if I was a child. It was a deep practice in patience for me while I was out in the world trying to communicate.
It also heightened my awareness that people I meet might have a hidden disability and to never make assumptions.

Cicely-Belle Blain || Vancouver Headshot Photographer

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Cicely-Belle Blain is co-founder of the Vancouver Black Lives Matter and we created these portraits together for their Xtra Vancouver column.
Cicely-Belle was featured on the Coolest People in Vancouver list published by Huffington Post and created a diversity and inclusion consulting firm to help companies become more diverse and inclusive. (website).

Danny Ramadan || Vancouver Headshot Photographer

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When I googled Danny Ramadan, pages and pages of links for Syrian Refugee, Author, Journalist, Public Speaker, Activist and LGBTQ Refugee Advocate came up.
Danny has only lived in Canada for 3 years and has become a vital citizen sharing his passion and compassion to assist LGBTQ refugees from 80 countries where being a LGBTQ person is a punishable offense.
His TEDX talk video below brought tears to my eyes. His words are poetry.

Danny Ramadan portrait
2016 Pride Grand Marshall - photo by belle

2016 Pride Grand Marshall - photo by belle

Danny shares his intimate experience of uprooting himself from his homeland to flee from homophobia, and how arriving in a new country as a refugee is not necessarily the happy ending that many perceive it to be. Danny Ramadan is a Jack-of-all-trades who found his calling in activism, civil justice, journalism and creative writing.

Lifting Stars Pet Homecare || Vancouver Headshots

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Meet Squeak. Rescued as a kitten at Scottsdale Veterinary Hospital in Surrey, BC, he is the feline love of veterinarian Jeffrey Berkshire's life.
Two years ago our elder kitty was suffering and we had to make that difficult decision that no one wants to make.
We were so grateful to have a vet come to our home and assist Mr. Nigel's peaceful passing.
Lifting Stars Pet Homecare is a mobile veterinary service for end-of-life care and at-home compassionate euthanasia for dogs, cats and small mammals in the Greater Vancouver area.
Jeffrey is a gentle and caring person as these testimonials on his website attest.

Kashoo online accounting photo shoot

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This was such a funtastic photo shoot day with my clients Kashoo online accounting.
We drove all over the lower mainland setting up our mini studio at small business owners homes to create these promo images.
It was a long 10 hour day but we broke it up with a walk at Capilano Lake and a few stops for vital items such as hot chocolate and Cartems donuts.