Ratchford Studio

Celine Paul

We are so proud to have Celine Paul as part of our Next Top Model lineup this year, representing her home community of Eskasoni.

Celine is 19 years old, and she came into this at what we like to call ten to midnight. Not literally, of course. 😂 But she was the very last entry we accepted this year.

Most people probably would have said, “Sorry, we’re finished.”

But if there’s one thing we’ve learned about John over the years, it’s that he has a hard time saying no when there’s still some way to say yes. Even if it means giving up some free time or squeezing somebody in on a day he probably shouldn’t. It’s one of the things we appreciate about him here at the studio.

And John said Celine was particularly easy to say yes to.

She came through the door with a smile on her face and this very gentle way about her. She told us she had always wanted to be part of something like this. She also understood that, coming in so late, she didn’t have much time to pull everything together.

She didn’t care.

She was willing to go for it anyway.

John’s time with Celine and her friend that day was limited, but he said it didn’t take long to get a sense of who she was. What stood out to him most was how gracious and thankful she was.

And then there was that laugh.

John said Celine has one of those beautiful laughs that just makes you love life a little more.

Don’t you love being around people like that?

People who don’t take themselves too seriously. People who know how to smile, know how to laugh, and maybe most importantly, know how to laugh at themselves once in a while.

They’re the best kind of people to have around.

And Celine is absolutely gorgeous.

Now, here’s one little piece of trivia we learned about her. Celine was named after Céline Dion.

Naturally, that led to the obvious question…

“So, can you sing?”

Apparently, much like the clownfish in Finding Nemo who wasn’t particularly funny, Celine informed us that despite being named after one of the greatest singers in the world…

she doesn’t sing. 😂

Well, not in front of people anyway.

We’ll take her word for it.

Celine, we’re very happy John found a way to say yes at ten to midnight. You brought such a sweet energy into the studio, and we’re proud to have you representing Eskasoni in this year’s Next Top Model.

Good luck, Celine. We’re so happy to have you with us. ❤️

Emma Jane McLean

Emma Jane first came to the studio this year for our Ultimate Prom Experience, and John said it only took him a few minutes to figure something out about her.

He looked at Emma Jane and told her, “You need to be in a long-term relationship with the camera.” 😂

Apparently, she loved every minute of being in front of it.

Not in a conceited way. Not in a “look at me” kind of way. John said she simply enjoyed the whole process. There was something very natural about it, and the camera seemed to bring another side of her out.

But what started as a fun prom shoot became something much more meaningful.

Emma Jane’s mother, Crystal, brought along her own prom dress from when she graduated high school. She also brought a photograph taken during Crystal’s graduating year, with a very little Emma Jane there with her.

We can only imagine what it must have been like for the two of them to look at that photograph all these years later, with Emma Jane now standing there in her own prom dress, celebrating her own graduation.

That’s a pretty beautiful full-circle moment.

But John said what happened next was the part that really got him.

Emma Jane began talking about her mother and how aware she is now of the sacrifices Crystal had to make, becoming a mother so young and still finding a way to raise her, provide for her and give her everything she could.

John said there wasn’t a dry eye in the studio.

Her stepfather was there as well, and Emma Jane made sure he wasn’t left out of the story. She talked about how, no matter what might be happening at home, he always seems to find a way to make his girls smile.

That told us an awful lot about Emma Jane.

It’s one thing to be grateful for the people who love you. It’s another thing, especially at her age, to actually recognize what their love has cost them and to be able to say it out loud.

John said Emma Jane has a very wholesome sweetness about her. She is beautiful in front of the camera, absolutely, but it was what he saw when the camera wasn’t the centre of attention that impressed him most.

And that’s why he was pretty determined to convince her to join our Next Top Model program.

As John put it:

“That’s the kind of people we want.”

We think that says it all.

Emma Jane, we’re so happy you said yes and that you’re part of this year’s Next Top Model family.

Enjoy every minute of it, keep that beautiful heart of yours, and good luck! ❤️

Arianna Boakye

Arianna is what John likes to call an old soul.

It was actually her grandmother who first recommended that her mom, Margaret, give us a call about Next Top Model Tween. And once we got to know Arianna, we could certainly understand why her family thought this would be such a great fit for her.

Arianna is incredibly close with both her mom and her grandmother, and you can tell they absolutely think the world of her. They see how gifted she is, how much she loves to perform, and they are right there cheering her on.

Arianna is an actress and has already appeared in several productions around the local area, so stepping in front of our camera seemed to come pretty naturally to her. She was comfortable, expressive, easygoing and just an absolute delight to work with. For someone who loves performing, an experience like this really is a natural fit.

John was laughing when he told us about a conversation he had with Margaret. Apparently, Arianna has plans to become a lawyer someday, and her mother seems pretty confident she could do it.

Why?

Because apparently there has never been an argument Arianna has lost. 😂

John looked at Margaret and asked, “Do you ever win a debate with her?”

Margaret’s answer?

That would be a hard no. 😂

We all got a pretty good laugh out of that one. Something tells us there may be a courtroom in Arianna’s future!

Arianna was also our final Tween shoot of the year, and John said it couldn’t have been a better way to finish. After a year filled with so many wonderful young people, it felt good to go out on such a high note.

Arianna, we absolutely loved having you as part of our Next Top Model Tween family. Keep performing, keep dreaming, keep that wonderful old soul of yours, and maybe save a little mercy for Mom the next time you’re debating her. 😂❤️

Good luck, Arianna! We are so happy you were part of it.

John Ratchford

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✨ Faith Billard | Next Top Tween ✨

Faith’s story with our studio actually goes back quite a few years.

Like some of our other entries, Faith first came through our doors as part of our Cutest Little Caper contest. And wouldn’t you know it, she won that year! 🥰

We still remember that adorable little photograph of her in a purple-and-black plaid top with her little overalls, just standing there looking as cute as could be.

Of course, her family was thrilled. Who wouldn’t be?

Cutest Little Caper has always been something very special to us. It’s a fun promotion, but it also gives back, with proceeds going to the Cape Breton Regional Hospital Foundation. Over the years, we’ve raised more than $35,000, something we are incredibly proud of.

Fast-forward a few years and that cute little Caper winner isn’t so little anymore!

When Faith came back to us, we suggested she give Next Top Tween a try.

Faith has so many interests now, but one stands out pretty quickly: she LOVES horses. 🐴❤️

So naturally, part of her experience took us out to their property to photograph Faith with her horses. And you can tell immediately when you see those photographs that this is her world. She is completely in her element around them.

But there was one moment during her studio shoot that may go down as one of our funniest moments of the year.

John was positioning Faith and fixing her hair. Every time he walked back to the camera, he would tell her:

“Don’t look down, even for a second, because your hair will fall back into your face.”

He walked back to the camera.

Her hair fell into her face.

So back John went to fix it again.

With a smile, he asked her, “Did you look down?”

Faith very sincerely said, “No.”

Then she added…

“I looked at you.” 😂😂😂

Now, you need to understand something for that line to properly land.

Even as a tween, Faith is taller than John.

John does not exactly push any vertical limits. 🤣

There was this little delayed reaction in the studio while everybody processed what Faith had just said… and then it hit us.

We LOST it.

John said the funniest part was that Faith wasn’t trying to be sarcastic whatsoever. She was completely sincere!

That made it ten times funnier.

And really, that little moment sums up the whole evening. It was relaxed, genuine and just plain fun.

Afterward, everybody headed out for ice cream, something John often likes to do after a great shoot, and it was the perfect ending to a pretty wonderful night. 🍦

From that tiny Cutest Little Caper winner in her little overalls to this beautiful young horse-loving girl standing in front of our camera for Next Top Tween…

It’s pretty special getting to watch these kids grow up.

Good luck, Faith! ❤️

Thank you for coming back and being part of another chapter at our studio.

And thank you for giving all of us one of the best laughs we’ve had all year.

Although John may never tell another tall person not to look down again. 😂📸

✨ Layla Gray Murphy | Next Top Tween ✨

John loved this session.

From the moment Layla Gray Murphy arrived, he said she was just the most adorable little girl. She wanted to do everything just right, and you could see how hard she was trying with every pose and every little idea they came up with together.

She had a pretty great cheering section along for the day too: her mom, Rita, and her auntie Jessica, who has been a wonderful friend of John and the studio for years.

And what a day they had for it. 🍂

It was one of those beautiful Cape Breton fall days, and Layla fit into it perfectly. John said she has such a natural Irish look about her: that gorgeous hair, those little freckles, those beautiful eyes and the sweetest expression.

At first, like so many people who step in front of John’s camera, Layla was a little apprehensive. But then came another outfit… and another.

And with every change, a little more confidence appeared.

Before long, she wasn’t the least bit unsure anymore. She was having fun, trying everything John suggested and blossoming right in front of the camera. That’s one of our favourite things about this entire experience: watching someone begin the day wondering if they can do it and finish the day knowing they absolutely can. ❤️

But John’s favourite moment didn’t actually happen during the photo shoot.

It happened at the reveal.

After Layla and her family had seen all the photographs, picked out their favourites and were getting ready to leave, Layla started walking out with everyone.

Then she stopped.

She turned around, looked John directly in the eye and said:

“Remember, I’m your bestie.”

🥹❤️

Well, how do you beat that?

You don’t.

Layla, we are so proud of you and so happy that you are part of our Next Top Tween lineup this year. You brought sweetness, personality and a whole lot of heart to your experience.

And don’t worry…

We remember.

You’ll always have a bestie here. ❤️📸🍂

✨ Lila Jeddore Next Top Tween 2026 ✨

Lila first came to our studio with her mom and siblings when her mother took part in our Mom & Me promotion. It was during her consultation with her mom that John discovered something about Lila that immediately caught his attention: she’s a dancer. 💃

Naturally, he had to ask, “Have you ever thought about doing Next Top Tween?”

After their family photo shoot, Lila decided she was going to take the plunge.

John said Lila started the day a little on the shy side, but one of the beautiful things about these sessions is watching that shyness slowly disappear. With every set of photographs, you could see her becoming more comfortable and more confident in front of the camera.

And starting with dance was perfect.

Those photographs were especially personal for Lila and her family, and you can see immediately how much work she has put into something she loves. Dance takes strength, discipline, grace and a whole lot of energy, and Lila brought all of that to the camera. She gave it everything she had.

It was also the perfect way to begin. John got to photograph her doing something she already knew she was good at, something that felt like her, before they headed outside and began creating some completely different looks.

By then, the confidence was already starting to shine through. ❤️

There was another nice connection to this session, too. John photographed Lila’s mom’s graduation photos way back in the 2000s, and he has known her dad for many years through retreats they attended at Villa Madonna. There’s something pretty special about photographing one generation and then, all these years later, having the privilege of photographing the next.

When it came time for the reveal, both of Lila’s parents were there.

And were they ever proud of their girl.

You could see how much they loved watching her see herself in these photographs and recognize what everyone around her already sees.

Lila, you did such a wonderful job. We are so thrilled you decided to step outside your comfort zone and become part of our Next Top Tween lineup this year.

You are talented, hardworking and surrounded by a family who clearly loves you to pieces.

We’re so happy you said yes, Lila. Now enjoy every minute of it. 🌟📸❤️

✨ TALLON CAINES- NEXT TOP TWEEN ✨

John first met Tallon when she was just a little girl, when her mom and dad brought her into the studio for our Cutest Little Caper. And now, here she is, all grown up enough to be part of our Next Top Tween lineup! 💕

There’s something pretty special about watching these kids grow up in front of our cameras.

John still laughs when he talks about Tallon and her dad, Colin. Colin is a big, strong, burly sort of fella, but put his girl Tallon in front of him and that tough-guy exterior doesn’t stand a chance. 😂 She absolutely melts him.

And really, how could she not?

Look at that sweet face. That beautiful smile. There’s such a gentleness about Tallon, and you can see immediately why her mom and dad are so incredibly proud of her.

John had such a great day with Tallon and her family at the studio, and one of the things that stayed with him was just how much Colin and Charlene adore their girl. ❤️

Her dad even has his own special nickname for her…

“Twerp.” 😂

Yep. His little Twerp.

And somehow, when you hear him say it, you know it might just be one of the most affectionate words in the English language.

Tallon, we have a sneaking suspicion you have your dad pretty well wrapped around your finger. And Mom probably isn’t too far behind! We’re thinking if you really wanted something badly enough, holding firm on that “no” might be a challenge for either one of them. 😉

There’s also a little bit of Next Top Tween history in this family.

Tallon’s cousin Jolie won Next Top Tween back in 2019! 🏆

Apparently, this stuff runs in the family!

Tallon, we are so happy you decided to be part of our Next Top Tween family this year. We hope this is only the beginning and that we get to watch you grow, change and become even more confident in the years ahead.

Colin and Charlene, you have every reason to be proud of your girl.

And Tallon…

Good luck, ❤️📸✨

ADIA NARDOCCHIO ✨

This is the second time Adia Nardocchio has taken a chance on herself and stepped in front of the camera as part of Ratchford’s Next Top Model.

And we think taking a chance on herself might be the perfect way to describe Adia’s story.

John remembers Adia as a young girl coming into the studio with her mother years ago. As she got older, he started seeing her pop up on social media, and eventually he threw the idea out to her that maybe she should give Ratchford’s Next Top Model a try.

At 27 years old, Adia would probably tell you herself that she spent a lot of years living inside a bit of an insecure shell. Entering this competition has been one of the ways she has challenged herself to come out of it.

And apparently, she’s pretty good at it. 😂

Last year, Adia tied for first runner-up, so she certainly made her mark.

John speaks very highly of Adia and her boyfriend, Aaron, and really enjoys working with the two of them. He loves their dynamic as a couple and particularly how supportive they seem to be of one another. They really do come across as a team.

One thing John noticed pretty quickly is that Adia genuinely enjoys being in front of the camera. Maybe even more importantly, she enjoys challenging herself there. She’s willing to try things, push herself outside her comfort zone and see just how far she can go.

And now she’s back for another year.

Another chance to push herself.

Another chance to step a little farther outside that old shell.

And maybe that’s one of the nicest things about watching Adia do this. Confidence doesn’t always suddenly appear one morning. Sometimes you build it by making one brave little decision after another.

Adia seems to be doing exactly that.

Good luck, Adia. ❤️📸