Category Archives: photography studio

“Ok! It has only taken 6 months, but I’ve gathered the courage to do this!”

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It started with a short email inquiry.

Then, 6 months later there was another email. She was ready to make a plan. To get photographed. To be seen. To be courageous enough to be vulnerable. To do this!

“Beauty is how you feel inside, and it reflects in your eyes. It is not something physical.” – Sophia Loren

That she found me online is incredible. That she chose to be vulnerable in front of my cameras in my cozy studio is humbling.

We covered clothes and accessories during the online consultation session. She aced that part! She brought several outfits and accessories that suited her figure and personality perfectly. I laid them out during the hair and makeup session and decided on the sequence of the various looks we would shoot.

We used natural light for most of the portrait session. We flow-posed from one outfit to the next for about 2 hours. We were both tired and exhilarated. We had created images that were authentic and timeless. This was a great team effort.

Her European elegance and flair were a delight to capture. Capturing the essence of this luminous soul was both a pleasure and an honour for us.

We needed to create headshots that had a more corporate look, but it was rewarding and thrilling to finish the shoot with some sequins.

Credits:
Makeup by Lacey of Laceface Makeup
Hair by Chloe

Eastern Ontario Portrait Studio

New Year + New Headshot = New Job

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When T. reached out to me, she was finishing a degree in Data Analytics and in the process of embarking on a new career path.

She is an experienced and educated woman with a collection of impressive degrees: Biology, Fish & Wildlife Biotechnology, and now Data Analytics. She is a mother of two school-aged kids, who had gone back to school to reorient her professional life. This was a bold, ambitious, and courageous move. When life throws you a curve ball, you either duck or swing at it. And swing she did!

Time-pressed and budget-conscious, we had to get these headshots done. So we did.

We did a video call consultation before the shoot. We went over what message she wanted to convey with her professional headshots. We discussed the various looks we would photograph and talked about items of clothing and accessories to bring. She purchased some and borrowed a few items. Clean and simple was the way to go. We had to showcase her personality: competent, experienced, approachable, and talented.

As the session progressed, the self-confidence built. Can you see how much more relaxed she is becoming over time in the sequence of the portraits?

I’ve mentioned this before and will write it again:

A professional-looking headshot you are proud to show off to the world (online or in print) will boost your confidence. This newfound confidence generates an energy and a vitality that impacts your business directly.

Hair and makeup by the talented Samantha of Raw Beauty Cosmetology.

When you know better…

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I recently shared some beautiful images of Lake Ontario and some of its sandy beaches. I’m blessed to be able to walk and relax on them. I’ve visited this particular beach about a dozen times in the last two years. Every time I go, I hunt down trash and notice a handful of dead birds. On average, I collect the equivalent of one shopping bag full. I find all sorts of treasures: plastic water bottles, beer cans, plastic tampon applicators (ever heard of the Diva Cup or OB tampons?),…

I also find partially disintegrated balloons. At first, I thought they were plastic bags but the decorative ribbons give them away. On every trip, I collect at least 3 or 4 of these. On this last trip, however, I collected 8 within a distance of 100 meters. 8!

These balloons, brought to the beach, courtesy of helium gas, break down, release their gas, and gather on the ground.

Helium icon by Icons8

“Helium is the only element on the planet that is a completely nonrenewable resource.”
Source: npr.org

I see a handful of dead birds on every trip. Within that same stretch of beach, I saw 4 dead birds and a number of bones: 2 seagulls, 1 bird of prey, and a cormorant. Natural causes of death could be at play here. I am not a biologist. However, guess what I saw in two of the bodies’ bellies? Ribbon! These shiny ribbons attract the birds who swallow them.

So I am asking you to ponder the choices we make when it comes to unnecessary purchases. There are alternatives. Collectively, we can do better.

“Do the best you can until you know better. Then, when you know better, do better.” – Maya Angelou

#whenyouknowbetter #eachactioncounts #freshwater #canada #greatlakes #pec #princeedwardcounty #iPhonephotography #abelle #nature #doyourpart

Abelle Photography business headshot Brockville

Woman of Influence: Part III

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I photographed this trailblazing woman back in 2016.

circa 2016

Now, she needed updated headshots. She is the host of Reader’s Corner and F.Y.I. on http://yourtv.tv/brockville.

Business headshot by Abelle Portraits
circa 2023

Doreen brings a wealth of experience and passion to all she does.  Doreen is curious about and engaged in the community. She is a woman of influence.

With the collaboration of Samantha, makeup artist extraordinaire and owner of Raw Beauty Cosmetology @rawbeautycosmetology, we created new business headshots.

Hair and makeup makeover portrait session
Samantha, the artist, at work.
Abelle Photography business headshot Brockville

The Pre-Shoot Consultation is an important step in this experience. It helps make the portrait session flow.

It may not look like it but getting photographed demands energy on the subject’s part. It is essential we work efficiently and that we have a good idea of the must-have shots we want to create. During the consultation, we map out the shoot by discussing looks, outfits, accessories, etc. We also get clear on the purpose of each business headshot while allowing for spontaneous additions or changes.

Doreen, being a returning client, has mastered the art of outfit selection. We were able to choose outfits with matching accessories to fit the different portraits needed.

Accessories aren’t necessary but are a nice complement to an outfit
to provide a slightly different look.
Abelle headshot studio
Abelle photography studio Brockville
Showcasing the independently published novel
by Neville Johnson: The Naked and the Damned.

Country Music Star: Another Woman of Influence in the Arts

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A year ago, Jessica came to me with an exciting request: to create images that visually translate the lyrics from her latest music. This styled music cover portrait session was another opportunity to get the creative juices flowing and practice my craft.

Her songs talk of her hometown (Lourdes-de-Blanc-Sablon, Québec), her ties to Newfoundland and Labrador, her Metis heritage, and the sea.

“Love of the coast that flows through my soul.”

I’ve never been to Blanc-Sablon, and the mighty St-Lawrence river isn’t quite the Atlantic ocean. However, the frozen waterway, ice, and snow would have to do. We needed to figure out a way to bridge the 2500-kilometer gap!

The majestic Thousand Islands is one of the country’s most beautiful places to live. At the time of the photo shoot, we had arctic-like temperatures and ice thick enough to drive over. So we had a lot to work with.

One of the cameras froze a few times. Luckily, I had other camera bodies that my assistant kept warm so we could rotate them. The light meter was indiscernible so I couldn’t tell if the shot was properly exposed or not. The LCD screen on the back used up too much battery power so I couldn’t check the shots. Another camera’s digital sensor went wonky and added weird noise to the image files. I had to rely on my instinct and experience hoping the images would turn out. They did. I love the results.

This may sound strange but it felt like I was guided toward the settings I should be using. As I lost access to the digital controls, the cameras became simple metal boxes that let light in. It felt like my gut instinct was guiding me to only look at the scene and make this woman’s essence shine through.

At various moments during the photography session, the sun came out from behind the clouds and provided the most perfect halo around her body. I had natural rim light outside the photo studio! How awesome was that?

Also used during this shoot were “Hot Shots”. Lots of “Hot Shots” for the crew and the artist’s mittens and socks. Although it was well below zero, we stayed toasty warm. We had mapped out the shoot beforehand and we were very efficient. We had to be.

Jessica Lavallee’s music is everywhere online. Her first single is called Small Town Girl. You may stream it here:

Preggy and Pretty. A maternity portrait photoshoot turns magazine-style at Abelle Studio.

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Maternity portrait from Abelle place in a magazine cover.

“Birth is the epicenter of women’s power.” –Ani DiFranco



This woman has had to wait for baby no. 2 less so than other women but more so than most. It hasn’t been an easy adventure, to say the least, but, at last, “Audrey” is on her way. In order to document this life-changing milestone, G came into the studio to immortalize the delicate and raw beauty of her pregnant state.

In-studio, we created a number of different looks with a flowy sheer maternity dress, some taupe taffetas fabric, and then black, body-hugging dresses, tops, and leggings that she selected from her wardrobe.

It is easy to get carried away in the photo studio with props and accessories while creating a magazine-style shoot because there is so much excitement attached to this moment. However, we tried to keep it simple yet elegant. Emphasizing the bump and classic body poses enhanced by natural and studio lighting.

Ideally, for comfort and ease of movement, weeks 32 to 37 are the ideal time frame to schedule the photo shoot. After that, moving is more difficult and your energy level starts to run low. We may have been a bit late to schedule this one but G is strong and flexible. We scheduled two different sittings and took breaks during each session. The results speak for themselves.

Most women feel self-conscious during their pregnancy and hormones sometimes get the better of the self-talk. Feeling fat and unattractive is common for expecting mothers. So, this session attempts to push the self-inflicted negative self talk away as it is simply that: negative self-talk!

Also, many of my readers will look at the finished portraits and believe they could never look this good. I started photographing women in 1999 and have created portraits of close to 1000 women and the feeling of inadequacy is universal. Let’s put an end to it, Sistahs!

I am extremely grateful I got to participate in creating these timeless studio portraits with G. The memories will stay with me forever.

To see more images, visit this link.

#maternityportraits #portraitstudio #pregnancyphotos #pregnancyportraits #glamthebelly #babybump #maternityphotos #contemporaryportraits #portrais #professionalportraits #studioshoot #glamourportraits #magazinestyle #photographer #prophotographer #brockvillephotostudio #montrealphotographer #fineartportraits #existinphotos #portraitsmatter #womenpower #abellephoto #abellestudio #photographystudio #luxeportraits #boutiquestudio #brockvillephotographer #brockvillephotography #brockvilleportraitstudio #2meterdistancing #magazinestylephotoshoot#notouchportraits

Lifestyle gender reveal family photoshoot

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Social distancing and the shutdown of non-essential services had Abelle Photo Studio, like the rest of the world, at a standstill. I reconsidered the future of my portrait and wedding photography business. I dabbled in stock photography and fine art landscape photography. It enabled me to improve my study of light crafting and bending and my technical skills.
In the end, there was a silver lining to this. I realized just how important creating portraits and playing with light are to me. How contemporary portraits are priceless to families. How essential professional headshots are to business owners and entrepreneurs, and how cherished wedding photo albums are to couples and their families.

Time didn’t stand still, though. Children grew up and families shared more and more intimate moments. Some businesses disappeared yet others evolved, streamlined, and redefined themselves while new businesses were born during these unprecedented times.

Naturally backlit. Fall-style. The. Best. EVER.

Meet the Fortier family. They decided to document the announcement of the future member of their family in a fashion similar to their firstborn, Oli. We discussed the ideas and general feel of the session ahead of time. What types of images did we wish to create? When was the best time for our busy schedules? For Oli’s schedule? He is 3 years old, goes to daycare, and has decided to skip his afternoon naps.

With the help of a valiant helper, I tested various lighting situations. I got my light readings ahead of time and when the crew arrived, we started shooting, wasting no time.

A toddler’s attention span is short. Very short. But we rolled with what Oli was willing to give us. The images aren’t posed. Much. The images were directed. I decided on the best angles and sunlight position. The rest was taken on the fly in rapid-fire fashion. The results are images that convey a sense of joy and elation and tell the story of the day mom, dad, and son officially announced that Audrey would soon join this family.

To view more images of this cute family portrait session, click here.
To book or inquire about family portrait sessions, write to me.

Brand your business like a Girl Boss

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Researchers say it takes many touchpoints before converting a follower into a client or a member of your tribe. A consistent and polished media feed is key to building trust with your audience.

Upgrade your social media presence to make your business stand out.

From professional, casual, or fun portraits to images of your storefront and polished photos of your service and products, this experience is all-inclusive to help you promote your business.

Abelle personal branding portraits

Define what your brand stands for, its core values and tone of voice, and then communicate consistently in those terms. – Simon Mainwaring

The shoot includes a styling consultation, an in-studio or on-location professional shoot, a variety of looks, professional business portraits, a curated bank of images of your place of business, and of the outstanding service and products you offer. Optional and highly recommended hair and makeup services are also available by a licensed professional.

Professional business headshot by Abelle.ca
Madison putting her best face forward.

When you photograph a face…, you photograph the soul behind it. – Jean-Luc Goddard

What types of images does your business need?

Clients do business with people they know, like, and trust, so it makes sense to proudly show your face in some of your social media and marketing.

Curious? Ask for the Girl Boss Photoshoot brochure.

For all of your luxurious pampering needs, be sure to check out the Madison Gagnon Beauty Lounge at the Glitz Spa in Prescott, On.

#girlboss #personalbranding #bossportraits #businessheadshots #businessphotos #yourbusiness #yourbrand #socialmediaready #socialmediaphotos #photostudio #portraits #brandyourbiz #kickassbrand #marketingphotos #2meterdistancing #sanitarymeasures #safeshoot

Session de portraits masculins chez Abelle.

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EVP: la maîtrise de l’écoute.

Abelle business portrait in studio. Male subject.


Écouter est un art et cet entrepreneur et formateur maîtrise cet art depuis longtemps. En matière de vente et conseil, il préconise la préparation. C’est là que le lien de confiance se tisse entre le conseiller et le client.

Corporate studio portrait session. Male subject. Abelle Photography

C’est un peu ce qui s’est passé dans le studio. Il faisait chaud à la fin de la session de portraits pendant laquelle se sont succédés des portraits corporatifs et personnels. Plus la session avançait, plus le côté généreux et passionné de Félix transperçait sur les images. À la fin, Monsieur n’avait plus besoin de coaching; son charme naturel venait de prendre le dessus.

PRÉPARATION:
Armé de différents ensembles, il est arrivé préparé avec chemises, cravates, accessoires et vestons allant du très professionnel bon-chic-bon-genre au look apéro 5 à 7 pour terminer avec le look décontracté de fin de semaine.

Abelle business portrait in studio. Male subject.

Nous avons eu de la difficulté à choisir quelle image définit le mieux cet entrepreneur de talent et renommé. C’est aussi difficile de choisir l’image qui dresse le portrait de l’homme derrière l’homme d’affaire.
Qu’en pensez-vous? Laquelle est votre préférée?

Abelle business portrait in studio. Male subject.
Abelle business portrait in studio. Male subject.

École de vente professionnelle, St-Bruno-de-Montarville

Abelle Photographie: portraits et mariages

Montreal Headshot photographer

Meet the i Sparkle lady: A luminous photo shoot at Abelle

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We met on a very rainy Friday in June of 2017. Back then, Cheryl was the owner-manager of a Golf course where the WMB Kingston hosted their annual Summer Kick-Off event
At the end of the evening, she had won a portrait session with us as part of the door prizes draw.

She called about a year later. Lots had happened in her life. We spoke on the phone and discussed how she wanted to be photographed. She wanted to celebrate a new chapter in her life and celebrate life itself. This delicate and elegant woman overcame cancer in the last few years.

She now dances just for fun almost daily. She is saying yes to opportunities and invitations all of the time and her positive and vibrant energy is contagious.
Take a look for yourself and scroll down…

Montreal portrait photography studio
Montreal portrait photographer_02
I find there is a Diane Keaton element to her personality.
We squeezed in a few corporate casual portraits for her future business ventures.
Montreal portrait photography studio
On her way out, I said: «Grab your hat and let’s see.»
Montreal portrait photography studio

Celebrate life because

another day is another chance to sparkle.

Hair and makeup by the fabulous Madison Moore: http://madisonmooremua.com/about
@mua_madisonmoore

#photostudio #Kingstonphotographer #Abelle #existinphotos #beautyportraits #glamourportraits #contemporary portraits #isparkle #businessportraits #photostudio #professionalphotographer #howdoyouwishtobephotographed #celebrateyou #justforfun #beautiful #kingstonphotographer #headshotstudio #innersparkle