Xtra: THE FINAL ISSUE PHOTO SHOOT

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.
 

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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

Cor Flammae

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.

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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
 

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Check out more of my LGBT portraiture at belleancell.com

Capture . Connect . Contribute

Contributing to our community with our photography is important to us. So, when my friend Robin Toma Photography and I were asked to collaborate to create this group portrait for the Vancouver Trans and Gender-Variant Working Group, we were honoured to say YES!!

READ THE FULL XTRA NEWSPAPER ARTICLE ON THE GROUP HERE.

UPDATE April 28th, 2014:  Parks Board unanimously approves the Group's recommendations to make Vancouver Parks & Rec facilities safer for trans and gender-variant folks.
Read the full Xtra article HERE.

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The Lowest Common Denominator

These folks from playwright  Dave Deveau's new play 'The Lowest Common Denominator' were such fun. I wish I had more than 20 minutes with them to create these images for Xtra Vancouver. We could have gotten into some trouble!!

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Pictured: Shawn Macdonald (bearded), Dallas Sauer (brown t-shirt), Deborah Williams (striped shirt).

Check out more of my LGBT portraiture at belleancell.com

There goes the Octegenarian Club

I always say each new photo shoot is the funnest shoot ever, but this one really was, when I photographed the ever so lovely and naughty Linda Fillmore for her 80th birthday feature in Xtra newspaper.

Linda is the Matriarch of the Fillmore Family Foundation. The Family is a non-profit foundation that raises money for organizations such as Out in Schools, A Loving Spoonful, Camp Out and McLaren Housing Society. I posted last month about the raucous Prairie Fairy Fowl Supper event the Family puts on each fall to raise these funds.

This was an amazing experience as it was the first time I 'pitched' a cover and story idea to Xtra and they accepted. I wanted to honour all that Linda Fillmore and her Family have done for our Community and create some beautiful images for her. We all had a blast in the studio and even did a 'Commando' run out to the Bull Statue downtown.

You're in good hands Linda Fillmore.

I'm aging myself, but does anyone remember the series Dallas?

Such wonderful folks to play with.

It takes a TEAM:

Assistant: Robin Toma
Assistant: Jason Blais
Stylist: Stephen Fahlman
James Goranko (dark beard)
Shayne Forster (red beard)

Check out more of my LGBT portraiture at belleancell.com

Prairie Fairies Fowl Supper 2013

A fun time was had at the 14th Annual Fillmore Family Prairie Fowl Supper and Barn Dance.

Over $70,000 was raised for worthy receipients, A Loving Spoonful, McLaren House and Out in Schools.

This year was a special event as the Matriarch of the Fillmore Family, Linda Fillmore was turning 80 years old. Here are a few of my favorite images I shot of the evening.

Linda is welcomed into the Octogenarian club by longtime pals.

The Boomchix entertained and Kate Reid worked her magic.

Verna and her winning Jello Salad entry. Frightening really.

Mayor Gregor Robertson and City Councellor Andrea Reimer serving up dinner.

Park Board Commissioner Trevor Loke (middle) and Vision Vancouver team members.

Derek.....

will you.....

marry me?

CONGRATULATIONS!!!

Awesome hots Linda Fillmore and Barb Snelgrove. (that's a typo and I'm leaving it in)

The Mary Tyler Moore HAT TOSS!!

Just the Mayor of Vancouver singing her Happy Birthday.

Happy Birthday Linda Fillmore

Fyn's first photo shoot

Griffyn is a Welsh name that means 'strong lord'. He is a wise soul born in the month of Libra.

What a fortunate soul he is to be born into such a loving family and what a joy it was to capture these precious new moments for them.

Top 30 Under 30

My Freelance job at Xtra Vancouver permits me to meet such amazing people.
Case in point when Xtra hired me to shoot 7 of the 30 folks honoured in their 'Top 30 Under 30' List of B.C.'s brightest young Queer leaders. Meet the Top 7!!

#7 Carven Li

#6 Ander Gates

#5 Paige Frewer

#4: John Kuipers

#3: Melanie Matining

#2 Dave Deveau

#1: Justin Saint

Check out more of my LGBT portraiture at belleancell.com