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Monday 10am - 5pm Tuesday 10am - 5pm Wednesday 10am - 5pm Thursday 10am - 5pm Friday 10am - 5pm

http://www.ratchfordphotographic.com/

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

04/03/2026

This is how I started my morning today.

How did you start yours?

This is the second time I’ve photographed this trio… and man, what a crew. 😄

Ezra is the oldest… cool as they come right now. Hockey on the go, personality to match.

He told me he’s a Toronto fan… so I said,
“Bit of a tough year, isn’t it?”

He just smiled… and rolled his eyes.

Perfect response. 😂

Then there’s Ariella…

A force to be reckoned with. She’s the stick that stirs the drink in this family.

Fun, full of life… but like a little hurricane. You’re never quite sure which direction she’s heading next lol.

Lucky for me… this was right at the start. 😄

And Luka…

Last time I saw him, barely any hair.

Now look at him.

Growing up right before your eyes.

And the best part?

Even though Ariella might not love the spotlight herself… she sure loves her little brother.

That always shows.

Hope this brightened a dreary Friday night for you.

04/03/2026

Somebody was excited!!

Mom loved his little face here!

How could you not!?

It was his first visit and Mom and Dad waited a long time for this cute little fella so who knows this may be an annual thing now!

hope this brightens your dreary Friday!

04/03/2026

Happy Easter from these two who make their way every year for this special!

Always a pleasure to have Tylen and Brielle who still love coming

Hope this brightens your Friday!

04/02/2026

Becca is a little firecracker.

The kind that doesn’t stop moving, doesn’t back down, and definitely isn’t built out of sunshine and rainbows. 😄

She’s competitive. Very competitive.

She wants to win, and you can tell that’s not just something she says, it’s part of how she’s wired.

She’s a serious volleyball player, and from what I hear, a couple of universities are already after her for that. That tells you plenty right there.

She’s also planning on going into physiotherapy through kinesiology, which makes a lot of sense to me. She seems like the kind of person who likes to understand how things work, how to improve them, and how to stay one step ahead.

Very assertive personality.
Very take-charge.
Very much the kind of girl who has a strategy for everything.

And I mean everything. 😄

This was my first time meeting Rebecca, though I had photographed her older sister Erika on a few occasions before.

The funny thing is, while they look alike, Kathleen said they are just about night and day personality-wise.

And I believe it.

Sometimes that’s exactly why siblings get along. One zigs, the other zags, and somehow it works.

Now Rebecca is not only driven, she’s also very pretty and perky, with a strong presence about her. She’s the kind of person that walks into a room and you can feel the energy shift a little.

Then during the reveal, I discovered something I wasn’t expecting.

She loves classic music.

We were looking through her photos with American Pie playing, and I thought to myself... this girl is pretty cool.

Competitive.
Focused.
Sharp.
And with a little old soul in there too.

That’s a nice combination.

Thanks to Kathleen and Rebecca for coming in. Loved meeting her, and I have a feeling wherever life takes this girl, she’s going to go at it full tilt.

03/30/2026

There are some mornings in the studio that feel less like a photo session…

and more like stepping into someone’s living room, coffee already poured, stories already waiting. ☕️

This was one of those.

Tiffany MacKinnon and her daughter Aislynn came in… and right away, you could feel it.

Connection.
Clarity.
No guesswork in this family.

Now if you’ve been following along, you know I like to ask questions. Not the surface stuff… the real stuff.

And sometimes… people pause.
Think.
Search for the words.

Not this crew.

They were locked and loaded. 😄

I asked Aislynn ,
“What’s your favourite thing about your mom?”

Without missing a beat:

“She’s the strongest person I know… and she doesn’t take any s**t from anyone.”

And just like that… you understood Tiffany.

Kind. Warm.
But not someone you’d push around.

And honestly… I’ve come to really appreciate people like that.

Years ago, I had a good friend nicknamed “Whipper.”
Said whatever was on his mind, whether you liked it or not.

Took me a minute to get used to it… but once I did?

You realize… there’s peace in that kind of honesty.
No guessing. No wondering. Just truth… and then you move on.

This family has a touch of that.

No passive-aggressive fog.
Just straight lines.

Aislynn shared that her “go-to” talk person is her dad, Dan.
The one she can talk to about anything.

And here’s the twist…

He’s also her swim coach.

So imagine that dynamic. 😄

Home life… meets the pool deck.

They’re part of the Dorados, and from what I gathered…
they don’t go easy on each other.

They call each other out.
They laugh about it.
And somehow… it works.

Dan spent time in the military before retiring early due to injuries, and now he’s all in as a coach.

He joked he’s outnumbered in the house… even the dog’s female. 🐾
But I’d say he’s holding his own just fine.

Then I asked Tiffany something I always love asking:

“What’s the biggest thing you’ve learned from your daughter?”

Her answer…

“Well… not everybody was a teenager like I was.” 😄

And with a grin she added…

“She gave her mother a run for her money.”

(No details shared… but she did make a point to say the cops were never involved… which, depending on your own story, might be considered a win. 😂)

We got into one of those conversations that sneaks up on you…

About getting older.

About how you start to see your parents differently.
How the sacrifices come into focus… years after the fact.

You don’t see it when you’re young.

Not really.

But one day… it clicks.

We even drifted back into stories of the “old days”…

Smooth Herman’s. Late nights. Music echoing through a different era.

Her mom talked about walking in just as the calendar flipped to her birthday…
and hearing Sam Moon playing.

To Aislynn, it was just a story.

To her mother?

It was a time machine.

That’s the thing about music… it doesn’t age. It just waits.

Aislynn’s path has shifted a bit over time.

At one point, she thought she might go into criminal analysis… influenced by her mom’s work with the police.

But life has a way of refining direction.

Now she’s heading into social work at Cape Breton University.

And when I asked why…

She said something simple… but telling.

“The older I get, the more I see the need… and I’ve always wanted to help.”

You don’t really teach that.

It’s just there.

Woven into who someone is.

And maybe it started years ago… teaching kids how to swim.

Helping people find their footing.

Same heart… different setting.

She looked absolutely stunning in her dress.

Those big brown eyes… the way she carried herself…

Confident, grounded… completely her.

And here’s the part that got me…

The first time I photographed her?

She was curled up on Santa’s arm… over 10 years ago.

Little Aislynn… leaning into Santa as he read her a story.

One of those moments you don’t plan… you just catch.

That image went on to win Best Child Portrait at the show.

And now?

Here we are.

Grad photos.

Life doesn’t just move… it leaps.

The whole crew showed up for this one.

Mom juggling three jobs.
Dad arriving with Molly the dog.
Grandmother coming in near the end.
(yeah I know Jeanette doesn't look like a nan)

And the orders?

Let’s just say… this girl is well loved. ❤️

Her dad got very emotional during the slideshow.

And those moments…

You can’t fake them.
You don’t script them.

They just show up… when everything real is already in the room.

We even got into how Tiffany and Dan met…

Back in the MSN days.

He was in Ontario with the military… saw a username: “Caper Girl”… and took a chance.

They talked for months.

Then came the big moment…

He was biking the Cabot Trail to meet her, planned this whole dramatic finish with a flag…

And instead?

The flag got caught in the chain…
sent him flying…
left him a bloody mess at the finish line. 🚴‍♂️

Romance… Cape Breton style. 😄

His father ended up feeding him beer while he recovered.

And somehow…

That was the beginning.

I’ll tell you what…

I could’ve sat there all afternoon listening to stories.

But the next appointment was knocking.

And that’s always the hard part…

Leaving a good story before it’s finished.

But something tells me with this crew…

There are plenty more chapters still being written.

hey guys, have me over for supper ok? there is unfinished business to hear!!

03/30/2026

The first time I met Skiann was back in 2021.

She came in with Logan for their bridal photos.

And right away, you could tell…

She wasn’t used to being in front of the camera.

A little nervous.
A little unsure.
Much more comfortable being the one behind the lens than in front of it.

But then there was Logan.

Easy-going.
Funny.
A little bit of a goofball when the moment calls for it. 😄

The kind of guy who doesn’t just walk into a room…
he lightens it.

And you could see it right away…

That balance between them.

She steadies things.
He loosens them up.

And somewhere in the middle of that…
they just fit.

Over the years, I’d see Skiann back in again…
supporting her sister through her grad photos.

Always the same.

Sweet.
Respectful.
Quietly kind.

The kind of person you’re always glad to see walk through the door.

Now here we are…

And life has shifted in the most beautiful way.

Skiann is now a proud mama to a little girl named Skyler…
born just over a week ago. 💕

And you can already imagine it, can’t you?

A home filled with that same balance…

A dad who brings the laughs…
(the same guy who was lifting his shirt and sticking out his belly mid-shoot trying to get a reaction 😂)

And a mom who brings the heart…
the calm…
the care.

That’s a pretty powerful combination.

I remember during her bridal session…

Skiann just wanted one thing.

To feel beautiful.

So we did what we always do…

We brought in Wren Fraser to get things started the right way.

A little confidence.
A little reassurance.
A little bit of magic.

And sure enough…

She stepped into it.

And now…

She’s stepped into something even bigger.

Motherhood.

And if it’s anything like the way she carries herself…

Skyler’s in very, very good hands.

I can’t wait to meet her.

And who knows…

Maybe one day, years from now…

I’ll be standing in this same studio…

Looking through the lens again…

Photographing Skyler for her grad.

Now wouldn’t that be something. 💫

03/29/2026

This is a tradition that started back in 2019 for Jaya and her sister, Jaycee.

Their grandmother, Carol, had booked a bunny session for the girls.

That day didn’t come easy…
They were running late, and Carol called to ask,
“Is it still okay to come?”

I remember looking at the schedule… weighing it out…
and saying yes.

Thank God we did.

Because none of us knew…

That would be Jaycee’s last portrait.

She passed away suddenly not long after.
Something no one saw coming.

Since then, Jaya and her grandmother have kept the tradition alive.
Every year… whether it’s Santa or the bunnies… they come back.

And every year, we honor both sisters by placing their photo in the mall.

I know how much that means to Carol and the whole family.

Life is a fragile thing.

We don’t get to know when a moment will be the last…
and maybe it’s a good thing we don’t.

Because if we did… I don’t think life would feel the same.

What I do know is this…

I’m grateful we said yes that day.

Jaya, you’re growing into a beautiful young lady,
and we always love seeing you walk through that door.

And Jaycee…

She’s still part of this place. Every year.

Happy Sunday, everyone.

03/29/2026

They often don't sleep the night before!

That's how excited they get!

This time they raced in before mom and dad and immediately called out my name...John John, where are you? lol

Everly and Henley.....Loved it.

They are comfortable here.

It's home.

This is the ninth time they have been here.

Amazing!

It's a big thing for them every year.

Us too!

We love them!

This is was the best yet!

And can't wait for next year!!!

If I am not mistaken nine times may be the record!

Nostolgic

Part of the their childhood.

They even brought their little Mya for the experience! She loved it too!

Happy Weekend Everyone!!!

03/29/2026

Mom is waiting for this one!

Jace was here for bunnies a total of 5 times now and is a gentle and funny little guy who laughed so hard during this session there was fluid coming from his eyes, nose and mouth!

Why do you ask?!

Well see the little innocent baby next to him?

That's Joseph.

Don't let his look fool you.

He did everything but eat the bunnies.

Poor little guy had no sense of his strength!!

We had to save poor Therese numerous times from his Bam Bam like clutches!

Jace was losing it giggling at him!

I am so happy all the kids have been enjoying themselves this year!

Happy Saturday everyone!

03/27/2026

Another Bunny Year of Nostalgia for

Ember
Mari
and Adalyn

The lovliest kids

Look forward to them coming every year

Adalyn steals the show

Totally invested
Completely joyous

Her little "I see something" will tickle me all year!

Proud mom loves it too, she asked me, "You won't be doing this for another 10 years will you?"

For her I will! And everyone else who appreciates this!

03/27/2026

There’s something I see quite often when young people come in for grad photos.

And it usually has very little to do with vanity.

It’s nerves.

Real nerves.

Not because they’re “full of themselves.”
Not because they think too much about how they look.

Usually it’s the opposite.

They’re worried they won’t like the photos.
Worried they won’t look like themselves.
Worried the camera is going to find every little thing they already pick apart in the mirror.

And when Sophia first came in…yikes , she looked like she was headed for chemotherapy treatment or a root canal.

That tense.

That unsure.

You could just feel it.

And honestly, I get it.

A lot of young people have had school photos they didn’t love.
(nothing against school photos, it's hard to work magic in just a few minutes!)

Or maybe they’ve never had a professional photo experience where somebody actually took the time to bring out the best in them.

So they come in guarded.

That’s part of my job.

To slow things down.
To reassure them gently through the day.
To let them know this is not going to be one of those experiences where they leave feeling worse than when they came in.

And it sure helps that I’ve got Wren Fraser here.

Wren has a gift.

She doesn’t make you look like somebody else.
She doesn’t paint over who you are.
She just brings forward the best version of you.

That’s a big difference.

And once Sophia settled in, got her makeup done, and stepped under that soft studio light…

You could really see her.

And what a face to photograph.

Her eyes are just enchanting.
A beautiful green-hazel kind of colour, and the shape of them is striking.

The kind of eyes that make you stop a second longer than you meant to.

But what stood out to me even more than that was her personality.

Because even though Sophia was quiet, almost shy in a way…

She had no trouble speaking her mind.

Not in an in-your-face way.
Not in a look-at-me way.

Just honest.
Grounded.
Comfortable enough to say what she thinks.

And I got a real kick out of that.

She’s the kind of honest that catches you off guard and makes you laugh.

She told me she’s not a big fan of school.

Now that, I could relate to.

I was much the same way.
I always felt more drawn to the world outside the classroom.
I wanted to get moving.
Get working.
Get doing something real.

And I get the sense Sophia may be a little like that too.

Not lost.
Not lazy.
Just somebody who may not be lit up by the usual path.

But here’s the thing…

When someone like that finds the right thing?
The thing that genuinely interests them?

They can double down in a big way.

That’s the feeling I got from her.

She’s toyed with the idea of becoming a paramedic, which I found interesting.

A lot of people would shy away from that in a second.
But she said blood and all that side of things doesn’t really bother her.

That tells you something.

It tells you there’s a toughness there.
A steadiness.
Maybe even a calling she hasn’t fully stepped into yet.

And I wouldn’t be shocked at all if, once she finds the lane that fits her, she goes at it full tilt.

Her little brother Anthony came in for a photo too.

Maybe not exactly first on his list of dream activities for the day, but he did just fine. Handsome young fella, confident, well-spoken, and a good sport about the whole thing.

All in all, a really nice session.

And one more reminder that sometimes the kids who walk in looking the most unsure…

End up revealing the most once they feel safe enough to be seen.

Sophia, thanks for trusting us with it.

You did great.

03/27/2026

Gillian Walker

Some sessions feel like work.

And some feel like home.

This one… was home.

I’ve known Gillian’s family just about my whole life. Her grandfather, her mother … all tied into the standardbred world. My own father and uncle drove their horses, so the track was where you saw everyone. Familiar faces. Good people.

Horses like
Swedish Maiden
Sassy Ace
Fly Fly Dale
Jolly Piper
Kartlane Kid

and later Silver Hill Diamond, he still lives with Paula!!!

That kind of history stays with you.

I first photographed Gillian back in 2016 for our Cutest Little Caper.

Then came First Communion…

Then Ratchford Next Top Model, where she wore her grandmother’s fur coat in the winter… still one of my favourite images from that year.

And now?

She’s graduating.

Hard to believe.

She’s always been the same when I see her… pleasant, easygoing, just quietly herself.

This session was simple.

Her, her boyfriend, and their dog Rip… like a little family portrait tucked into a grad shoot.

And Wren?

She said Gillian has the thickest hair she’s ever worked with 😄

We’ve got more coming on her Ultimate Prom session… and I’ll be ready with the deep-dive questions then.

But for now…

Just a really nice afternoon with a genuinely kind young woman…

From a family that’s always felt like part of my own.

Ratchford Studio

04/03/2026

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Monday	10am - 5pm
Tuesday	10am - 5pm
Wednesday	10am - 5pm
Thursday	10am - 5pm
Friday	10am - 5pm