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http://www.ratchfordphotographic.com/

Ratchford Studio, 208 Commercial Street, North Sydney, NS (2026)

10/10/2026

And as promised yesterday… here is Part Two of Kendra’s Ratchford Next Top Model shoot! ❤️

Yesterday I told you a little about how Kendra had been thinking about doing this for the last few years. Maybe the idea was just incubating until she finally decided the time was right.

Well, once she decided to do it, she certainly didn’t hold back. 😂

I also mentioned something her dad said that day that really stuck with me.

He had been playing baseball with his buddies in Glace Bay that afternoon, but after joining us for the shoot, he said this was the best part of his day.

I loved that.

I especially appreciate when the guys get into what we do here.

We guys tend to be pretty visual creatures. Sometimes we need to actually SEE something happening before we fully understand what goes into it.

And Dad definitely got to see what goes into it. 😂

Actually, he became PART of what goes into it.

At one point I needed a little more height to get the angle I wanted.

So…

I had him get down on all fours.

And I STOOD ON HIS BACK. 😂😂😂

Now THAT is a dedicated photography assistant.

I've included some behind-the-scenes pictures because they're simply too funny not to share.

He was an absolute champ, and I think all of us genuinely enjoyed having him there that day.

Mom was very much part of the creative team too. The flowers you see in some of these photographs were her idea, and she has always been incredibly enthusiastic about our photography and appreciative of what we create.

So this really did become a bit of a family affair.

And I love that.

These experiences are about so much more than showing up, standing in front of a camera and having your picture taken.

They're about the ideas.

The adventure.

The laughs.

The people who come along for the ride.

And sometimes… apparently… using your father as a piece of photography equipment. 😂

So this wraps up the fall chapter of Kendra’s Next Top Model experience.

The next time you see Miss Kendra…

it’ll be WINTER. ❄️❤️

And I can't wait to see what she comes up with for that one!

10/09/2026

Yeah, I know… it’s Cutest Little Caper season. 😂❤️

But did you know that Ratchford Next Top Model and Next Top Tween run ALL YEAR ROUND?

That’s one of my favourite things about this experience. We’re not tied to one particular season. Fall, winter, spring, summer… if you have an idea, we can create it.

And Kendra had ideas.

LOTS of them. 😂

But let me back up a little.

I photographed Kendra for her high school graduation a few years ago, and I remember thinking immediately that she would be a shoo-in for Next Top Model.

Beautiful girl. Photographs incredibly well. Comfortable in front of the camera. And she genuinely seemed to enjoy the whole process.

And then…

She didn’t do it. 😂

I actually wondered from time to time what ever happened to her.

Turns out the idea was just incubating.

She was waiting until the right time.

Earlier this year, when we put Next Top Model on special, my phone rang.

It was Kendra.

FINALLY. 😂

And I was genuinely excited.

I think Kendra needed a little time to grow into her confidence. I see that more often than you might think. High school can be a tough time for some people, and sometimes the person who walks through my door a few years later is very different from the teenager I first photographed.

More sure of themselves.

More willing to take chances.

More willing to say, This is who I am.

And Kendra wanted to do something DIFFERENT.

Well…

You don't have to ask me twice. 😂

What you’re seeing here is only part one.

Actually, it’s part one of part one. 😂

Kendra wants to create in two different seasons. We started with fall, and there may be some winter ideas brewing too.

But there was one little detail that meant we couldn’t wait too long…

She wanted to get IN THE WATER.

In Cape Breton.

In the fall.

Okay then. 😂

On the big day, makeup artist extraordinaire Wren Fraser, who has also been friends with Kendra for years, arrived to create this gorgeous Renaissance-inspired look.

And I think she absolutely nailed it.

Kendra’s sister Jessica came along. Her mom came.

And eventually…

Dad arrived.

Dad may have been my favourite part. 😂

I’m not entirely convinced he knew what he was signing up for.

Before long I had the poor man IN the water helping us.

And at one point, I needed more height for a photograph, so I had him get down on all fours…

…and I STOOD ON HIS BACK. 😂😂😂

Yes.

There are behind-the-scenes pictures.

And yes.

You will see them. 😂

But something her dad said that day really stuck with me.

He had been playing baseball in Glace Bay and left his game to come join us. And if you know Glace Bay, you know baseball is serious business.

Yet somewhere during all of our craziness, he said this had been the best part of his day.

I loved that.

He was fascinated by the whole process. He noticed the lighting. He noticed the work. He noticed how much goes into creating a photograph rather than simply taking one.

That meant a lot to me.

Because light tells the story.

I've spent my whole life studying it, chasing it, shaping it and figuring out exactly when to press that button.

And that afternoon, we had some BEAUTIFUL light to play with.

We started in the studio and eventually made our way outside, where the next couple of hours became nothing but creating, laughing, experimenting and occasionally using Dad as photography equipment. 😂

Kendra has such a sweet personality, and I have always really liked this girl.

There is actually a photograph I took of her in her prom dress years ago that her mother put into a beautiful gold frame.

That photograph still lives in my head.

It was a standout.

And now, years later, I get to create something completely different with the same beautiful girl.

That’s pretty special.

Because Ratchford Next Top Model has never really been about who wins.

It’s about the EXPERIENCE.

It’s about putting yourself out there.

Trying something you’ve never tried before.

Seeing yourself differently.

Feeling beautiful.

Feeling confident.

And maybe even accepting parts of yourself that you weren't quite ready to appreciate before.

I’m awfully glad Kendra finally decided it was her time.

And trust me…

You haven't seen much yet.

This blonde beauty has a whole lot more coming.

This is just the tip of the iceberg. ❤️

10/09/2026

Life has a way of bringing out either the best in us or the worst in us during times of crisis.

And in Jailyn, I think life has brought out something pretty beautiful. ❤️

Jailyn and her “pretty mom,” Nadara, came over for our Ultimate Prom Experience back in June. They wanted to do something special to commemorate Jailyn’s graduation year.

What I didn’t realize when I first met them was that this wasn’t just any ordinary year for their family.

Just before Christmas, Jailyn lost her dad after his battle with cancer.

I can’t imagine going through that kind of loss at any age, but especially during a year filled with milestones that are supposed to be some of the happiest of your young life.

Graduation.
Prom.
That first dance.
All those moments when you naturally look around for your dad.

Jailyn brought a photograph of him with her because she wanted to make sure he was part of this milestone too.

And I remember something about that.

She did it with a smile. ❤️

Jailyn is quiet, but there is a warmth about her that you notice.

I actually got to know her a little better through our Messenger conversations over the last few months, and when she spoke about her parents, I understood where that warmth came from.

First, her mom.

Jailyn told me she honestly doesn’t know what she would do without Nadara.

Her mom is ALWAYS there for her — and Jailyn emphasized that “always.” She supports her, gives her advice and makes sacrifices to ensure Jailyn and her brothers have everything they need.

She described her mom as someone who puts everyone else first.

“The most beautiful soul.”

And yes, Nadara, I know you were probably blushing when I kept calling you the pretty mom. 😂

Then Jailyn told me about her dad.

She called him the strongest person she knew.

Even while battling cancer and dealing with everything that came with it, he continued to show up for his family and love them unconditionally.

He made memories with them.

He watched the Toronto Maple Leafs with them.

He helped whenever help was needed.

And apparently, he had a great sense of humour and could make them laugh even during some of the hardest moments.

There’s something special about people who can do that — who can find a little bit of laughter even in the middle of their own pain.

I never had the privilege of meeting Jailyn’s dad.

But after hearing her talk about him, I feel like I got to know just a tiny piece of who he was.

And suddenly Jailyn made a whole lot of sense to me.

Her sweetness.

Her warmth.

Her quiet strength.

When you hear her describe her parents, you can see where it all came from.

Life is short. Sometimes painfully short.

But I think there was something incredibly meaningful about Jailyn making sure her dad was still part of this chapter of her life — bringing his photograph, holding it close and making him part of these memories.

Thank you, Jailyn, for trusting me with something so personal.

I’m glad we got to play a very small role in remembering your wonderful family and, especially during such an important year, remembering your dad. ❤️

Good luck with everything ahead of you, Jailyn.

All the best to your brothers — and your pretty mom — give her an extra hug from me. ❤️

10/09/2026

Meet Bennett, our newest Cutest Little Caper! ❤️

He’s just over a year old, but already has quite the vocabulary.

“All done.”
“Mom.”
“Dad.”

And, of course… TRACTOR! 😂

Tractor might actually be his favourite word — and judging by these photos, I think we know why!

Bennett is a force to be reckoned with. Those red curls and big blue eyes could charm just about anybody, but he also has that little bit of cinnamon spice that seems to come standard with every redhead. 😂

I was a redhead myself, so I can spot a kindred spirit a mile away.

Sadly, I haven’t completely grown out of my spicy side either. LOL.

So when Victoria and Bobby warned me that Bennett likes to keep moving, I assured them we would be just fine.

With busy little people — and let’s remember, he’s only 13 months old — the trick is to keep moving right along with them.

We started with the hard stuff.

His dressy outfit first. Apparently Bennett does NOT wear hats. They go on, and immediately come back off.

I told Victoria, “Get him in position, let me distract him, and we’ll get that hat on.”

And we did!

I think Mom was more shocked than anybody that he actually left it there. 😂

Next came the Blue Jays outfit, and by then our window was getting shorter.

But we had a secret weapon.

THE TRACTOR.

Somehow during our consultation, nobody mentioned just how much this little fella LOVES his tractor.

Oh my goodness.

Put Bennett on that tractor and suddenly we were golden. Look at that face! ❤️

That’s often how photographing little ones works. Do the harder things while you can, keep everything moving, and when they’re starting to run out of steam… give them a win.

We finished outside with a little rubber hatchet, where Bennett was perfectly content banging away on anything he could find. It was a cool, windy autumn morning.

Bennett couldn’t have cared less. 😂

Mom, Dad and Nan came back for the reveal, and I think they were pleasantly surprised by just how many smiles we caught.

Because here’s the thing about photographing kids: they don't have to smile for 30 minutes.

Sometimes I only need a split second.

And I’m pretty good at finding it. ❤️

There’s always an extra-good feeling around our Cutest Little Caper sessions because these photographs are doing something beyond creating memories for one family.

They’re helping another family too.

A portion of every Cutest Little Caper entry goes to the TLC Fund, helping families of children in crisis during their hospital visits. It’s something our families are proud to support, and something all of us here are incredibly proud to be part of.

I even had the honour of being on the radio yesterday talking about Cutest Little Caper for Radio Day!

If you have a child from newborn to eight years old, we would LOVE to have them join us.

The entry is only $149.95, you’ll create some beautiful memories, receive a beautiful portrait — and help a Cape Breton family when they may need it most. ❤️

📞 902-794-8880
Or message us right here on Facebook.

And Bennett…

I have a feeling Mom and Dad are going to have their hands full when you turn two. 😂❤️

10/08/2026

Meet our newest Cutest Little Caper, Miss Isla! ❤️

Although apparently around home, she has another name…

Serious Sally. 😂

And to her credit, Isla lived up to that nickname when she first arrived. She was taking me—and this whole photography business—VERY seriously.

But then Dad came back.

Apparently, she thinks Dad is funny. 😂

There’s actually a story behind why Dad had to “come back.”

Isla’s mom, Jenna, arrived from Glace Bay with Isla, and when I walked into the waiting room, I could tell there was just a little tension in the air.

Turns out her fiancé, Mitchell, had been given one job that morning:

Bring the bag with Isla’s outfits.

The bag was still in Glace Bay. 😂

I looked at him with a smile and said, “You had one job, buddy!”

Jenna was giving me the impression that Mitchell might be spending the next week on the sofa. 😂

Thankfully, he’s a pretty easygoing guy and took it all in stride. Jenna definitely wanted those outfits, so off Mitchell went back to Glace Bay to retrieve the infamous bag.

And this is exactly why I leave lots of time for children’s sessions.

Kids don’t work on our schedule, life happens, bags get forgotten—and sometimes Serious Sally needs a little time before she decides to leave the building.

But here’s where Mitchell completely redeemed himself.

When he came back, suddenly the BIG smiles started!

Apparently Isla was just waiting for Dad. ❤️

So not only did Mitchell return triumphantly with the missing outfits, he somehow managed to bring Smiley Isla with him.

Serious Sally had officially left the building.

I think that probably got him off the sofa. 😂

But there’s another reason this session was special to me.

I already knew Jenna.

Seven years ago, she brought her twin girls, Peighton and Sophia, to me for Cutest Little Caper—and they actually won their category that year!

But that’s not what I remember most.

They were tiny and couldn’t quite sit up yet, and Jenna discovered that whenever she sang Baby Shark, both girls would smile and kick their little legs.

It was the first time I had ever heard that song.

For years afterward, I couldn’t even remember Jenna’s last name. In my head she was simply Jenna Shark. 😂

She may always be the Baby Shark mom to me.

And now, seven years later, she’s back with another beautiful little girl, planning a wedding and building this next chapter of her life.

There’s just a little special chamber in my heart for this lady. ❤️

And the story gets even better because next week Peighton and Sophia are coming back—this time for our Next Top Tween program!

What a privilege it is to photograph a family through different chapters of their lives.

And that’s really what Cutest Little Caper has become for us.

It’s beautiful photographs, funny stories and memories—but it also helps families who are going through much harder days.

$50 from every Cutest Little Caper goes to the Cape Breton Regional Hospital Foundation’s TLC Fund, helping families during times of crisis.

We would LOVE to make this a record-breaking year.

Our Cutest Little Caper experience is $149.95, including your planning session, photography session and an 8x10 portrait of your favourite image—with $50 from every session going to the TLC Fund.

If you have a little one from newborn to eight years old, we’d love to meet them.

Call us at 902-794-8880 or message us right here on Facebook.

And don’t worry…

If Dad forgets the outfit bag, there’s still a chance he can redeem himself. 😂❤️

10/08/2026

Here are the Cutest Capers for 2025 and early 2026!!

10/08/2026

This was pretty special. ❤️

Let’s face it, all of our Cutest Little Caper appointments are special. There’s always a story there. There’s always a connection we’re proud of, and there’s always someone new to discover.

But this one had a little extra history behind it.

I photographed Beck’s mom, Mackenzie, when she was just a little bit older than he is now. She was one of our little princesses back when we were doing our Fairy Tale appointments.

She was a gorgeous little girl then, and she’s grown into a beautiful young woman — and now, a mom.

A nurse, a career woman, building a life with her partner Jonathan, and beginning this whole new chapter with this sweet little guy.

And let me tell you… Beck was definitely one of the easiest and happiest babies I’ve encountered. 😂❤️

This photograph seemed to be their favourite, but I can assure you there were MANY more adorable ones from this session. I think poor Mackenzie was a little overwhelmed trying to choose!

I wouldn’t be surprised if you see a few more turning up here over the next couple of weeks. There’s one in particular where Beck has his little nose all scrunched up with this delightful, almost mischievous grin. 😂

But what really gets me is the history.

After Mackenzie’s Fairy Tale photos, she came back when I had a baby goat at the studio. I’m pretty sure she made it to our bunny shoots, too. There was a big family Santa session, her high school graduation, and she was one of our Ratchford’s Next Top Model entries around 2016.

To be part of someone’s life for that long is surreal to me.

Mackenzie will always have a warm place in my heart, and now I get to photograph another generation of her family.

God willing, I’ll still be standing behind a camera when Beck graduates from high school.

Wouldn’t THAT be something? ❤️

And that’s one of the things I love so much about our Cutest Little Caper. Yes, we get to create beautiful photographs of these little people at such a fleeting time in their lives, but there’s something bigger happening too.

The entry fee is $149.95, and from every entry we donate $50 to the Cape Breton Regional Hospital Foundation’s Patient Care Fund, benefiting Pediatrics.

Over the years, our Cutest Little Capers and their families have helped us raise nearly $40,000 for our local hospital. That’s something I’m incredibly proud of.

So when you enter your little one, you’re not only creating something beautiful for your own family — you’re helping other Cape Breton families and children at the same time.

The Cutest Little Caper is open to children from newborn to eight years old, and the entry is $149.95, with $50 from every entry going back to our community.

And who knows?

Maybe someday I’ll be writing a post about Beck’s graduation pictures and pulling this photograph out to show everyone where it all began. ❤️

10/07/2026

I think there’s something kind of special about having a little boy named Barrett photographed next to a bunch of boats on the dock.

Anyone remember Barrett’s Privateers?

Stan Rogers classic.

That just tickled me when I saw it. 😂

And this session was fun — partly because we were under a ridiculous amount of pressure that night.

Let me rewind a little.

I met Barrett’s mom, Alycia, several years ago, and she had been wanting to get his photos done for quite some time.

Somewhere along the way, our Cutest Little Caper came up, and I thought it was a perfect idea. With their family’s fishing background, photographing Barrett down by the boats just made sense.

We actually tried to make this happen last year, but they live all the way out west now, so the logistics didn’t work.

Then we planned it for June.

Remember June?

Actually, don’t. 😂

Cold. Rain. More rain.

I think we set this shoot up and cancelled it three times — maybe four. I lost count.

Now we were really coming down to the wire because the family was heading back out west.

Alycia also wanted a family portrait while everyone was home.

Ideally, she wanted some extended family included too, but there simply wasn’t enough time.

So we made a plan.

Barrett at the docks first.

Family portrait at the beach afterward.

And because beach portraits need that beautiful evening light, we had to do it later in the day.

Anyone with young children already sees the problem. 😂

Morning kids and evening kids can be two completely different species.

Then I arrived and Alycia’s husband, Brandon — a good guy I’ve known for years — told me he had about 30 minutes.

I think he was afraid this was going to last forever.

I told him, “Don’t worry. The kids probably have less than that.” 😂

We photographed Barrett down by the boats first, and I absolutely loved it.

Then we hightailed it to the beach.

Five minutes away by car, and probably another five or ten by the time we hauled everything down those big stairs.

And I kept telling everyone:

“Don’t worry about the kids. Just trust me.”

That’s one thing 40-plus years of photographing families has taught me.

Parents naturally watch their children during a family portrait.

Is somebody looking away?
Is somebody acting up?
Is somebody smiling?
Is somebody eating sand? 😂

But I tell Mom and Dad, you worry about yourselves. Let me worry about the kids.

Over the years, I’ve learned to look at a family almost like pieces of a puzzle.

Get one child exactly where I need them. Get the expression. Move to the next one.

Once I know I have that child, I’m not worried anymore.

Besides, I have a very good friend named Photoshop. 😂

And I LOVE the family portrait we created that evening.

I sat them together in almost a mountain-shaped composition that echoed the mountains behind them in Neil’s Harbour. The twilight sky was beautiful. Everybody looked great.

Brooklyn and Ariyah, the two older girls, were wonderful. I didn’t get nearly enough time to pay attention to them individually, but they listened to everything I asked of them.

And little Amelia — whom everybody calls Buzzy — absolutely made me laugh.

Buzzy!

That name alone tickled my heart. ❤️

In a perfect world, I would have photographed all the kids together, each of them individually, and probably a dozen other combinations.

But this was not a perfect world.

There was a dark cloud coming up behind me that looked like it was getting ready to dump torrential rain on all of us.

And Brandon had somewhere to be. 😂

So we worked FAST.

When it was over, Brandon helped me carry my gear back to the car and said something that made me smile:

“I can see why my wife loves you.”

😂❤️

And I was especially happy that we got him away in time for his guy thing that night. It was his last night in Cape Breton, so I’m sure there were plans!

Driving home afterward, though, I thought about the whole evening.

Someone could look at that family portrait and say, “It only took you ten minutes to take that.”

And they’d probably be right.

Normally, I put a couple of hours aside for a family session. I rarely need all of it, but I want the time there so nobody feels rushed.

That night we didn’t have it.

We had fading light.

We had little kids at bedtime.

We had another location to get to.

We had a dad with somewhere to be.

And we had a rain cloud chasing us off the beach.

And strangely enough, that made me appreciate those 40-plus years behind a camera.

Because all those years teach you things.

How to read children.
How to position a family quickly.
How to see a composition before everybody is even in place.
How to know when you have the shot.

And maybe most importantly, how to tell a family:

“Don’t worry. Trust me. I’ve got you.”

Alycia was happy.

I was happy.

And that meant a lot to me because I knew how important this photograph was to her. She had been talking about making it happen for almost a year.

And to think, the whole adventure started because of one little Cutest Little Caper named Barrett.

Barrett.

Boats.

Neil’s Harbour.

How could I possibly resist? 😂

Our Cutest Little Caper is open to children from newborn to eight years old, and your participation also helps us raise money for the Cape Breton Regional Hospital Foundation’s Patient Care Fund, benefiting Pediatrics.

And sometimes, as happened with Alycia and her family, a little child’s session turns into an opportunity to create something meaningful for the whole family.

If we can make that happen, we’re always happy to try. ❤️

If you’d like your little one to be part of this year’s Cutest Little Caper, message us right here on Facebook or give us a call at 794-8880.

We’d love to photograph them.

10/06/2026

Have you ever asked a child if they’re enjoying something?

Maybe it’s a trip you’re on together, or a Christmas gift they’ve just opened, and you get that very guttural answer — right from the pit of their stomach:

“Ohhhh, I LOVE it!”

And they say it with such passion that you know, beyond the shadow of a doubt, they mean every single word.

I asked Sarah if she enjoys being a mom.

That’s the answer I got.

“Oh, I LOVE it.”

It was unmistakable.

And I think that love came through in every part of this beautiful session with her daughter, Evelyn, our newest Cutest Little Caper of 2026–2027.

The day was made even more special because Sarah came with one of her best friends, Naomi Colford, someone so many of us know and are proud of for her achievements with Miss Canada and Miss Universe.

Naomi kept watch while Sarah stood behind me and sang familiar songs in Mi’kmaq to her little girl.

And Evelyn responded every single time.

You could tell immediately that her mom sings to her a LOT. ❤️

I don’t think I’ve ever experienced someone singing so much to their child in their native language during a session, and there was something incredibly beautiful about it. Watching Evelyn recognize her mother’s voice, the songs and the language is something I won’t soon forget.

Every season at the studio seems to bring a different kind of joy.

Before long, we’ll be talking about Santa. Through the winter, it’ll be our 40 Women Over 40. Then grads. Then Next Top Model.

But right now, we are smack dab in the middle of Cutest Little Caper season.

And these little people bring a completely different energy through our doors. There’s a different kind of joy in the studio this time of year, and we all truly love it.

Maybe part of that joy comes from knowing there’s something bigger attached to it too.

Through the Cutest Little Caper, we are contributing to the Patient Care Fund, benefiting Pediatrics at the Cape Breton Regional Hospital — helping families during times when they may need that support the most.

That means something to us.

People will sometimes ask me, “You must be thinking about slowing down or retiring soon?”

The truth is, I feel anything but.

As long as I’m healthy and able, why would I want to give up all the joy that comes through these doors?

Running a business on Cape Breton Island, with our small economy, can certainly be trying and stressful at times. But then you have days like this one.

And they remind you why you do it.

There was another little full-circle moment with Sarah too.

I photographed Sarah and her brother during a family session for her mom, Donna, probably sometime around 2004, 2005 or 2006.

I can still see the portrait.

The two of them were lying on the floor with their heads together.

Back then I used to tell moms, “Just chill. We’re going to get a picture of the kids, but I want their eyes to tell the story.”

I very seldom worried about getting a big smile.

And people loved those portraits.

More than 20 years later, I still remember that photograph of Sarah and her brother.

And now here I am photographing Sarah with her own little girl.

How wonderful is that?

Someday I’d love to publish a book filled with some of those portraits and the stories behind them.

But that’s another story. ❤️

For today, welcome beautiful little Evelyn to our Cutest Little Caper family!

We are still accepting entries for our 2026–2027 Cutest Little Caper, and we would absolutely love to hear from you.

📞 Call us at 902-794-8880 or hit us up right here on Facebook.

Have a wonderful day, everyone!

— John & the Ratchford Gang

10/06/2026

Cutest Caper Winners Announced At 11:30 AM!!!

Ratchford Studio

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