𝒫𝑜𝓈𝓈𝑒𝓈𝓈𝑒𝒹 𝑜𝓇 𝐸𝓃𝓁𝒾𝑔𝒽𝓉𝑒𝓃𝑒𝒹?
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Today is my 35th birthday and I somehow managed to get a self-portrait done. This was shot at the beginning of November and I only just edited it today…haha…
Ive wanted to create an hyper ethereal self-portrait all year and while I didn’t quite intend for this to be my birthday portrait, my chosen title makes it feel rather appropriate.
This year—like past years of late—has been TURBULENT. Some days I’ve felt so lost with my trajectory and sense of self; self-doubt encases me and impostor syndrome burrowing deep. Experiencing burnout for half the year was awful and I continue to navigate the effects (a large queue of edits still being one of them).
In contrast, when I reflect on 2025, I actually recognize I have learned SO MUCH. I have to give a HUGE shout out and thank you to the incredible @misty.moss // @mossboudoir . I was lucky to be a part of her mentorship program where she had so much juicy info and wisdom to teach! Misty, simply the confidence you have instilled in me is life-changing—as an artist and as a business owner. Thank you so much for your guidance and hype.
Getting on ADHD meds has also been a game changer. Life no longer feels like it’s on hard mode daily (still hard on days, but now some days are easier)
Thank you to EVERYONE who has stuck with me, given me grace, and support. The last thing I want to do is let people—friends!— down and Ive been riddled with that feeling all year with my slow turnarounds, slow communications, and MIAs.
Anyhow, I don’t want to linger on negatives, especially knowing there are many positives to gush about! I’ll save it for the quintessential New Years 2025 wrap up post, haha! In the meantime, please enjoy this painterly birthday self-portrait and swipe for a close-up, the raw with scribbles (will type in comments), and a shot of me using my Cintiq.
NO AI USED
Skin Fetish.💜💦✨ Some #makeup shoots are both beautiful aaand hard to keep a straight face. Getting stuck together with @patmcgrathreal #glassskin at the end of our Messy Romantics photo series cracked us up, literally! @bunniehills and I were joined at the face!! Not sorry! I could barely stop laughing enough to get these shots.♥️✨ Thank you #dreamteam @baevocative@curlyhairvancouver@harnessyourharpy@seductiveperils@makeupjems@sare.hairdesigns for an especially sexy and sticky shoot at @ghostcoaststudios 👻📸♥️💄✨ #glassskinmakeup #makeupartist 💄📸✨
From backstage buzz to curtain call, @baevocative has a way of capturing the soul of a show and the people who make it unforgettable. Known for her legendary behind-the-scenes shots, we’re thrilled to welcome back Baevocative as one of VIBF's event photographers for our in-person showcases this year.
Get ready to see VIBF 2025 through her lens. It’s going to be iconic.
Trailer Park Royale. Her Majesty, Her Royal Lowness...
If you try me..
I will burn down your house, unchain your Rottweiler, sleep with your cousin, burn roadkill meat on an open barrel fire, drink all your Colt45, smoke all your marb reds, steal your legion meat raffle tickets, shit in your garden, unplug your trailer, and smile while doing it 😃
.
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📷@baevocative
#trailerparkqueen #trailerparklife #dragqueen #eastvandrag #whitetrashbeautiful #burnadart #vancouverdrag #canadasdragrace #gasstationgirl #jerrycan
While I don’t have time to contribute my own extensive 2024 wrap-up reel, I do want to say a big thank you to everyone for making 2024 special 💙💙💙 (especially considering it’s been a rollercoaster year of the good, the bad, and the ugly…globally, personally…you knowww)
This said, I have a plethora of manifestations and goals for 2025—with Baevocative and on a personal basis—so I am genuinely excited for the new year (with what fluctuating energy I have haha!)
Sending wishes to everyone for creative energy, meaningful action, well-deserved rest, joy, and success in the year ahead. As I say…WE GOT THIS 💪😤💙
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2024 highlight: Getting to photograph the City of Burnaby’s Blues and Roots Festival this past summer and witness (and photograph!!!) the magnificent Mavis Staples—Wow wow WOOOOW 🔥
𝚍𝚘𝚠𝚗 𝚜𝚘 𝚌𝚛𝚊𝚣𝚢 💔🪓
~*~
Reflecting on projects I had the opportunity to be a part of in 2024 and a major highlight was being the BTS photographer on set for @devondalgarno & @veronicabonderud ‘s music and short film collaboration—what a DREAAAAAAAM 🥹❤️
Thanks again for having me onboard to document all those beautiful moments and memories of that wicked weekend! I am also ecstatic and honoured to have captured the chosen album cover image—thanks so much @devondalgarno for your trust ❤️🙏.
I cant wait to see what these babes cook up next in 2025! 🔥
34 🎂
My second—and likely last—self-portrait of 2024, haha! I did artsy/mood for my birthday portrait last year so I felt due for some GLAM this time round. Hollywood Glam✨I used some new equipment as well which I was super excited about.
Before/After to come later as I don’t have time to do scribbles, so please enjoy the end result that most definitely was a PROCESS.
My quick 2024 reflection? It was busy, it was overwhelming a lot of times, but also full of some really really good things: my love @braden.mooch moved to Canada, the business continues to grow (I got to shoot so many incredible events and people), and of course there’s always so much personal introspection to be had.
More thoughts exist and 2025 is going to be a YEAR, but I am genuinely excited to tackle it 🔥 Thank you so much to everyone who hired @baevocative in 2024—amongst the chaos, documenting all of you brought me so much joy ❤️
2025 trajectory: MORE PORTRAITS 👀📸
I am immensely behind on sharing here, so I’ll be doing my best to roll out what I’ve been up to. I have been a busy bee, getting to work with so many wonderful people while also balancing moving in with my partner and navigating (what feels like) back-to-back illnesses.
But onwards and upwards! 💪
Outside of night life event photography, you’ll find me documenting events that take place when the sun is up. Music events are a particular favourite!
~*~
Vancouver International Jazz Festival 2024 @coastaljazz
The Jason Winikoff Hot 5
@jasonwinikoff - Drums & Vocals
@bonnienorthgraves - Trumpet & Vocals
@dogfooddaddy - Clarinet
@deanedwardthiessen - Keys
@noahgotfrit - Bass
~*~
#jazzfestival #jazzfestivals #festivalphotography #eventphotography #liveevents #musicphotography #vancouverevents
Speaking of Drag Kings, these INCREDIBLE photos were taken by @baevocative during my tribute performance to @kingfisherdrag at the @twosadfemmes Hozier show.
It's really special for me to be able to do this number again and to be able to connect with Jayme through one of his favorite artists and with his choreo. This number is a love letter to him and I know he was in the room with me that night. So a huge thank you to @phoenixsnackdragon and @pixie_lixx for having me 💜
I've been reflecting a lot on the ways the drag scene here has changed and the ways that it really hasn't. On one hand, things have changed a lot. The scene in general has probably doubled in size since I first started 6.5 years ago, and the number of kings specifically has probably close to tripled. Kings can perform on Davie now, which wasnt really thing back then. And now some of us even get recognized for the work we do and how talented we are, but a huge portion of us don't.
Jayme and I put together monthly shows for over a year in total, including the first Kings and Things brunch show in the city. It was always about creating a space that our friends and our community could perform and find safety and comfort amongst each other. Not being a drag queen is a very insolating experience but I think after Jaymes passing especially, our King community really came together to say "we are in this together, we acknowledge how we are all treated and we are here for each other". That was a huge part of what Jayme and I wanted and what I'm so happy to see continuing a year and a bit later. A lot of us still don't get booked like we should, but I think there is a lot more solidarity amongst ourselves that there wasn't before, and for that, I'm grateful. It's just very frustrating when people are given so many opportunities (past and present) to support Kings and Things and they just chose not to unless its also benefiting themselves. And that the people who were also trying to make a change are forgotten about so quickly.
#dragking #dragkingmakeup #dragkingcommunity #dragkingvisibility #dragkingfamily #dragkingsofinstagram #nonbinary #nonbinarydrag #nonbinarydragking
@savedbytheelle & @lindsaycfuller
1 year ago today: the Canadian Wedding 🍁💍
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Firstly, @sararogersphotography (as seen in the last behind-the-scenes slide) delivered a PHENOMENAL gallery of the backyard wedding!
My 35mm shots were just a fun addition 📸
