Alexis McKeown .photoblog.

~ scissors & stamps & sparkles, oh my! ~

Well life has been a lot busier than expected lately, so I haven't had much of a chance to bloggity-blog but I have been sharing a bit of my work over on Google+ (find me (+Alexis McKeown) and add me to your circles if you are into it!)  

Other than playing around on G+, I have been having a blast working in dance studios, dabbling in a bit o' real estate photography, and getting my business and myself ready for the crazy class-photos-and-dance-festivals season.   I can't beleive it's already springtime O_o

Oh, and I've also had the pleasure of spending a couple of lovely evenings with my bestie & her beau, gettin' my craft on :)  Won't their friends and families feel so special when they each receive a custom, one-of-a-kind wedding invitation?!  A whole lotta love (and glitter) is going into these babies...

~

~ dancin' in the new year ~

Happy 2012 everyone!

I could not think of a better way to start a new year than this ~ hanging out with a bunch of dance kids :)  I was out in Leduc last week at Stageworks Academy and I had tons o' fun making photos all week.  So many classes full of bright young faces ~ it was lovely.  And it just happened to be Tutu Week at the studio; extra fun :P  Thanks for having me Stageworks!

~

 

 

~ a calgary christmas ceilidh ~

Wow.  It has been a crazy fall.  I feel like I say this every year, but - oh my goodness, I can't believe it's already December!!  I've had so much fun meeting hundreds of new dancers this fall, and making photos for old friends and new ones all over Alberta.  I am so happy to spend time in dance studios with these incredibly talented youngsters; they are endlessly inspiring.  Life is good.

This week I took a quick little trip to Calgary to see one of the funnest (hmm, not even sure if that's a real word, but it's applicable, so I'm using it!) and most lively dance shows I have seen in a long time.  The Irish dancers from Possak School of Irish Dancing were absolutely dazzling!!  I had a hard time holding the camera in front of my face because I could hardly stop myself from boucing around in my seat :P

Thanks for having me Possak School dancers!  Good luck at Nationals in Belfast and in all of your other upcoming competitions!

~

~ mural girl ~

You may remember this little beauty from a while back...  She is an incredibly talented young lady who has recently been nominated for a Canadian Folk Music Award (congrats Rebecca!) and I had a fun session with her before the snowflakes started to fly.

We visited three of her favourite murals and tried out three different album photo looks for her new cd, to be released in the coming months.  Check out Rebecca's music here!

~

~ moments in dance ~

It's been a fantastic & busy fall season for me, and one of my favourite parts of all of it has been my time spent in studios with dance kids :)  I love this part of the season because I get to see them during their regular class times; they go about their usual routine and I have the opportunity to make some candid images which I hope convey a little of that 'special something' there is about growing up in a dance studio. 

This is a little sneak-peek for the lovely students from Devon School of Dance.  I am always inspired and entertained by the friendly energy, the passion and the positivity that is buzzing around studios like this one.

~

~ back in the studio ~

Even though this little photoblog is entitled "life outside the dance studio", every once in a while I feel the need to take you all inside the dance studio.  

This beautiful young woman is named Evelyn ~ the camera loves her and we had such a great Studio Session that I just had to share a few of the results.

~

~ rebecca's keys ~

This is Rebecca - she's a stunning wee girl who writes music, sings, plays piano, and is all-around talented (for reals - check her out here on her YouTube Channel) and I had the pleasure of making some portraits for her last week.

~

~ i whip my hair backnforth i whip my hair backnforth ~

That's a little tribute to Ace & Bussa (who have nothing to do with this post, but they are two of my favourite people.)

This post features another one of my very favourite people; I wanted to play with a little 'movement + directional light' combo, and Carmen was ever-so-lovely and offered to help out.  Even after a killer-long night of dancing it up at FreezingMan, she still had some sweet moves left over for our Sunday morning shoot.  I am so lucky to have such wicked friends.

~