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

Dapper in Gastown

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Thank you David & Link for this step back in time in Vancouver's historic Gastown.
2,850 nautical miles of Atlantic Ocean separate you from each other.
Today I witnessed the strength and beauty of the bridge you have created together.
Bon Voyage to you Link. Until you grace our shores again. With love.

We are stronger together

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I joined LOUD Business (Gay & Lesbian Business Association of BC) on April Fools day 2014. However, I am no fool.
Becoming a LOUD member was one of the best decisions I made for myself and my business last year.
Being in LOUD has enriched my feeling of belonging to a community that cares and supports each other.
I have made strong connections and some dear friendships within LOUD and I look forward to those connections and relationships deepening.

Below are some fun shots I took at the LOUD Luncheon in February with the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence and the Foundation of Hope in attendance.

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

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

Capture . Connect . Contribute

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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.

Check out more of my LGBT portraiture at belleancell.com

The Lowest Common Denominator

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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!!

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

Check out more of my LGBT portraiture at belleancell.com

Queer as Funk !!!

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Always exciting to see images I've created for folks featured on their websites. Check out the brand spanking new website for Vancouver's Funktastic Queer As Funk.
Click HERE to see images I shot during their spectacular sold out September 2013 show with the Leadfoot Butch Choir.