Nicolette Vahala

ELKHART, INDIANA

My Story:

Wake up with a smile on your face, conquer the day & revive for the next. It’s the little things that inspire my energy. Everyone has a position in this world and mine is definitely helping others. The passion I have for being optimistic and adventurous is what makes me tick. Along with that, I believe happiness is contagious, so don’t sweat the little things and smile.

Favorite part of working with PAT+CASSIE:

My favorite part about working with this company is the relationship that continues to grow. I love working with my photographer and all the other ambassadors because everyone continues to be themselves.

Instagram: @_nicolettevahala_

Kaelyn Comer

ELKHART, INDIANA

“Make art, Not war”

My Story:

If I had to describe myself with three words it would be dedicated, patient and loving. I could use these three words to describe two of the most important things to me. The first would be dancing. I have been dancing for 10 years this June. Dance is something I became super passionate about and has changed my life. These three words can be used to describe dancing to me because I am dedicated to what I do. I am dedicated to my team and my coach. I am dedicated to possibly progressing my dancing career to a professional level. I am patient with dance because it is genuinely not easy. It is extremely, extremely difficult. I must be patient with myself while learning new skills or practicing a new style. I am loving because I love what I do and what it does for me. I am loving because of all the amazing experiences I’ve had because of my drive for this sport. The second thing i could those three words to describe would be my job. I currently do kennel care for dogs out in Bristol. I love everything about the job. I had worked two retail jobs previous to this and now I don’t think I could ever work in customer service like environment. At my job at the dog kennel, I take care of any dogs that are there for boarding or dogs that are their for behavioral training. Getting this job was one of the best things that has happened to me. This job showed me how much room dogs can take up in your heart. Dedicated can be used to describe my job because I am dedicated to taking care of something. I am dedicated knowing I am doing some good for people while being around my favorite creatures. I am dedicated on giving dogs the best care. I am patient because with dogs not speaking English, they’re not the easiest to handle. Handling dogs can be extremely extremely frustrating due to them trying to do whatever they want. I am patient because while training dogs, all you can be is patient if you want to get anywhere with the dogs. Screaming and yelling does nothing. Being patient with them does something. I am loving because I want dedicate my entire life to helping dogs all around me. I want to run my own foster care survice and train the foster dogs so they will be best fit for their “furever” homes. These are two things that have shaped me and is now shaping my career. Dancing and saving animals is a passion. And I wouldn’t be whole without either things.

Instagram: @kaelyncomer

Jennifer Larkin

KALAMAZOO, MICHIGAN

My Story:

I love to laugh, I think nobody should ever go a day without laughter. I aspire to make sure everyone I interact with has a good laugh sometime during their day. I love to create, weather it be drawings painting or photographs I love to do things with my hands. I may not be the best artist, but who says I have to be good at it to do it? Nobody made a rule saying that everything you do you must be good at. Do what makes YOU happy at the end of the day, and if something turns out so horribly, that’s just another opportunity to laugh. I am an athlete, I am a very competitive at most things thag i do, but I know it’s okay to lose. I want to help people, I’ve dealt with a lot of injuries in my athletic past and I know how frustrating the healing process can be. I am going to school to be a physical therapist so I can help people that are just like me.

Favorite part of working with PAT+CASSIE:

My favorite part about working with Pat + Cassie was having my own opinion and being able to express myself through the photos that were taken. I got to be completely myself and was never judged for it and I think that’s a great concept and I love it!

Instagram: @jenniferlarkin_

Alana Nicholas

MIDDLEBURY, INDIANA

“Let all you do be done in love”

My Story:

ADVENTURER | LOYAL FRIEND | COFFEE JUNKIE | COMPASSIONATE

Of course my bio had to include coffee because who doesn’t love a good Carmel iced coffee? In life I feel like you need to risk it to get the biscuit, as cheesy as that sounds, but it’s true. Taking lives little opportunities & taking them for the best that they can be. Whether it is a success, failure or a blessing in disguise, some of the best memories in life come from the chances we take. I am a sole believer that the best memories in life come experienced with others. Moving to a new school my junior year was not an easy task but through showing compassion & genuine love to others, I have molded into finding the perfect friend group, a new sport that I love, and a whole new life than I would have expected as a freshman.

I believe that I am called to do something great in this world, even if I might not know what it is yet. The world is such an abundant place with so many bursting occasions to grow as a person, meet new people & experience life. I am so excited for this next chapter after high school because it really is all just getting started.

Favorite part of working with PAT+CASSIE:

PAT+CASSIE makes you feel beautiful. They find the little unique traits that make you YOU & fully express those through photography. PAT+CASSIE are full of energy and always make their models feel like a star, from hair and makeup to sitting in the studio looking over proofs. Working with them is an amazing experience that I was glad I got the opportunity to be apart of.

Instagram: @alananicholas_

Natalie Nelson

GRANGER, INDIANA

“Be kind to one another” - Ellen Degeneres”

My Story:

Positive | Sentimental | Trustworthy

I wanna make this world a happier place. I am most passionate about making a better life for myself and the people around me. Today we are caught up in so many different things that we forget what is important to us. My priority to be satisfied with whatever I decide to do and that should be everyone else's as well. I wonder why people don't take control of their lives more often because you might be wasting your time on something for the wrong reasons.

I find myself to be someone who looks at the bright side of things and I try my very best to find the good in everything. You can truly learn something from anyone and anything that life throws at you and I believe in using our experiences to better ourselves. This world needs more good in it and I hope as an individual I can help make that happen.

People who give up make me tick. I know that everyone struggles at different things, but I do not believe in starting something just to stop when things get harder. The things that make life harder, are just making you a stronger person. I personally take my difficulties to help me grow and build my future. My point is, no matter what, do not give up because you were meant to go through it and it is always a learning experience so take advantage of that.

Favorite part of working with PAT+CASSIE:

Working with Pat + Cassie has given me so much opportunity. With everything I have done with the company, I have met so many great people. My favorite part about working with them is the chance I have to know all these new girls and work with them on new stuff. I never want to miss events or projects and I am always willing to try something new and I love that I get to be apart of that.

Instagram: @natalie_nelsonn

Cheyenne O'Keefe

GRANGER, INDIANA

“If you think as rain as confetti from the sky, it makes rain seem happy. If you think of rain as the sky crying, rain seems sad. Everything is how you look at it and your state of mind.”

My Story:

I live a world of imagination. My story started with a broken home. It breaks more and more as I grew older. My story is messy, twisty and scary. It has driven me to who I am. I want to create. My dream is to create people’s dream home. I want to sculpt homes, places where it all you can imagine and more. Not just some house to live in. I want to make extraordinary dream homes where everything is perfect for a family. I love to create and push myself past my limits. I want to create homes by pushing architecture to its limits. I love making people happy and seeing people smile. I want to explore and learn new things while doing what I love and making people happy.

Favorite part of working with PAT+CASSIE:

I work with Amy J. from PAT+CASSIE. The best thing about working with Amy is her compassion for everyone she works with. She is so passionate about her work.

Instagram: @cheyenneokeefee

Cassidy Stose

ELKHART, INDIANA

“If you ever feel like giving up... just remember there’s a little girl watching who wants to be just life you... don’t disappoint her.”

My Story:

There are many things that have shaped me to be the person I am today. One of those things consist of a hobby that I am very passionate about. Competitive Cheerleading is something that has been part of my life since I was a very little girl. It has taught me many things in life and shaped me into the person I am now. I have had my most memorable times during cheerleading and have gained many lifelong friends. I have always considered myself very competitive and have wanted to be the best in all I do. This sport has brought out the competitiveness in me and has taught me how to be determined, dedicated, and very self motivated. The past 10 years of my life have definitely changed me as an individual and has made me a happier person. Cheering and winning with my best friends is one of the things that I value in life and I believe I would be a completely different person without it.

Favorite part of working with PAT+CASSIE:

My favorite part about working with Pat and Cassie was how they always encouraged everyone to be unique and be themselves.

Instagram: @cassidystose

Maya Schuhnecht

BUCHANAN, MICHIGAN

“Be known for your kindness and grace.”

My Story:

BE THE EXAMPLE

My plans for the future are simple. I want to help influence the next generation and the following to be well rounded human beings - to live life to the fullest. Life is too short to not spread anything but love. I learned this at a young age when my mom was diagnosed with breast cancer. Instead of loving and helping her I turned cold. I didn’t know how to react. So all I did was push away all of my problems. Thankfully my mom recovered and is now 100% cancer free. I was sent to a leadership camp that changed my life forever. We talked about our biggest regrets in life and how they shaped us into who we are today. I didn’t give my mom the support she needed when she was sick. Ever since that day I have treated everyone I came across with a smiling, kind face. You don’t know anyone’s situations or what they are going through, so treat everyone with kindness. It’s as simple as that! I love my mom and tell her atleast 6 times a day. Our time is limited so why not spend it loving? I want to inspire kids the way I was at that camp. I want to be the example for them to follow.

Favorite part of working with PAT+CASSIE:

PAT+CASSIE let me create the perfect senior pictures! I am an artist and wanted to show it in my photos, so you know what we did? I painted and entire wall in their Granger studio!

Instagram: @Schuhknecht

Kaelyn Franks

ELKHART, INDIANA

My Story:

I am simple caring passionate and I love to travel and learn. Learning and understanding new cultures is something I strive to end up doing in the future. I love to help those who need it and understand and feel how people feel. Understanding a new culture and it’s people inspires me to make the world a better place in any way possible I can. I want to help people who need a better life or even people who just need a smile on a bad day. I am passionate about caring for others. I wear my heart on my sleeve and give my heart to anyone who comes into my life and needs some happiness and love. Love and kindness is a huge part of life. Something the world we live in has very little of and I want to bring love and kindness to the world in any way I can, big or small.

Ellie Davis

ELKHART, INDIANA

“Where there is kindness there is goodness, and where there is goodness, there is magic.”

My Story:

For several years I’ve struggled with one of the simplest things in the world. Eating. Everyone has their inner demons and mine chose to manifest in my head as me being disgusting and fat and ugly. I didn’t understand why I was this way. I didn’t know how to deal with it. I was constantly ashamed of how I looked and how I thought. I want to be thin. I want to be pretty. Everyone I told tried to “cure” me. Like I was sick, like I was a disease that they could catch from just being by me. It took me years to realise that’s I was not sick or diseased. I was human. I made a decision to not be afraid of a disorder. To not be afraid of myself. I didn’t chose fear which made me appreciate my family and our travels. It enspired my love of exploration every time we go to a new place like China or Scotland. I wasn’t just happy every time I’d go to Disney. I was happy at home, with my family, with my friends.

My struggles have made me who I am today. Although those struggles have been horrible and more than the average person, I genuinely don’t think I’d trade them for anything. They help me to help more people who have struggles with the same types of things that I have. I am still a dancer. I am still a performer. I am still a Disney nerd. I am still world explorer. This is me. I’m quirky and gullible. I’ve been broken down and beaten but, I am alive.

Favorite part of working with PAT+CASSIE:

The individual freedom I was able to experience during the session. It was tailored to me and what I could do.

Instagram: @Ellie_bean101

Essynce Isabell

ELKHART, INDIANA

“You can’t always wait for the perfect time. Sometimes, you have to dare to do it because life is too short to wonder what could have been.”

My Story:

BOLD | COURAGEOUS | KIND | FUNNY

I am myself and one thing that I dislike is when I see someone who is beautiful inside and out and they don't express their true selves. I think that everyone should just be themselves even if it makes you look stupid or goofy. I would like to believe that I am unique by expressing my love towards anyone I meet. I see everyone equally and want to spread kindness even if we don't share the same styles, beliefs, music tastes, or attitudes. This uniqueness has become progressively stronger ever since the influence in marching band, choir, and cheer. The differences in those specific groups has made me accept and acknowledge that I am no better than the weakest link, so I have learned to achieve my goals as a group with not only physical attributes but with love that makes them know that they belong. My passions in life are to become the best person I can be and not settle for less. Once I reach one goal, I want to keep making more goals for myself in order to challenge my mind and body. Without the drive of myself, I wouldn't have done half of the things in my life. I just look fear in the eye and just know I can do anything I set my mind to. Anyone can do anything, but it all has to do with how bad you really want it.

Favorite part of working with PAT+CASSIE:

My favorite part about working with PAT+CASSIE is that they make my feel confident in front of the camera and most importantly, they make me feel like myself. They have captured my genuine smiles, my fierce eyes and my natural features seamlessly. PAT+CASSIE definitely focused on the real ME and I couldn't be more thankful.

instagram: @essynceisabell

Lauren Fenech

ELKHART, INDIANA

“Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It’s not. -Dr. Seuss”

My Story:

I am the kind of person that loves to travel. If i could, i would travel to different countries and learn their language. I also love music. If there’s a concert near me and someone i like is playing i will most likely be there. I’m very family oriented, i would go out of my way for any of them and support them with whatever. When it comes to it i can be very down to earth and supportive but i can also be brutally honest when needed. With all of that i think i am goofy and insecure. I sometimes feel as though i don’t fit in with certain groups or even with my closest friends. But with the love of my family and friends i can achieve and be anything.

Favorite part of working with PAT+CASSIE:

My favorite part about working with PAT+CASSIE is that i get to meet different girls from other schools and make new friendships. I also like how it gives me the opportunity to do things i never thought i would do.

Instagram: @lauren.fenech

Hannah Schraw

ELKHART, INDIANA

My Story:

Easy going, adventurous, silly, competitive, caring, love to challenge myself.

I am a very chill, easy going person. I just go with the flow; i can lay down and watch movies all day or i could go shopping, to the beach, skating, tubing, bowling. I laugh ALL THE TIME!!! I love jokes.. because they make me laugh, lol.

One of my favorite parts of highschool is the football games! Cheering with all of my friends was a great time.

I have played soccer since I was 5 and it has been one of my passions ever since. Soccer is one of the things I take very seriously because I worked so hard to become where I am. I also play tennis! I started playing tennis my freshman year and it has been a relaxing game for me. I met a lot of friends through tennis, and it was just a way for me to have fun. I was also a part of Concord Singers. I love to sing; it is one of my favorite things to do. Performing, although it is the scariest thing that I have ever done, it also gives me the biggest rush.

I am a very caring person. I think of others before I think of myself. Sometimes it doesn’t work out for me, but i still think it’s the right thing to do because that’s how I’ve been raised.

I have never been confident in myself. The only time I am confident in myself is when I am playing soccer. When i step in front of a camera i tense up and I don’t know what to do.

My grades are another thing that is very important to me. I am attending IUPUI in the fall and plan to major in pre-dental, with hopes to be a Dentist. When people ask me why i am interested in teeth, all I can say is “i have no idea.” I have found an interest in dentistry since I was little and have been interested ever since. My teeth were always a part of my insecurities and after I got braces I realized what dental professions are all about. The reason I want to go into dental is because I want to change people’s lives by making them feel comfortable with their smile. That is my goal in life!

Favorite part of working with PAT+CASSIE:

Working with Pat & Cassie has helped me become more confident in myself. I’ve never been comfortable in front of a camera, but Pat & Cassie have helped me overcome that just a little. Also, it is just overall suck a fun experience! I have met great people that I never would have, if not for Pat & Cassie! I am beyond grateful for this opportunity!

Instagram: @Schraw.hannah

Landry Odiorne

Nappanee, Indiana

“Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It’s not.”

— Dr. Seuss

My Story:

I am unconventional. I think outside of the box. I do “weird” things and love old music and movies. I dress more like I was meant for the 90’s than today. I blare music in the car and always sing over it. One passion is music that moves to dance or cry or laugh or just feel something even if I can’t quite put my finger on what it is. I love just being with people, but I also love being alone. Another passion of mine is that I love to read have an amazing relationship with my mom, she’s my best friend. She’s really helped me come out of my shell and “adult” as we call it. Amy and all the ambassadors have done wonders for my social life. I love every minute I spend with all of them. I plan to attend the University of Charleston in West Virginia and major in nursing. This is another passion of mine, the medical field has always amazed me. I will also be minoring in Art Education because of the huge impact art and my former teachers have had on my life in and outside of school.

Favorite part about working with PAT+CASSIE:

I love how they make me feel free to interpret everything how I see it. They’re all about being unapologetically you all the time.

Instagram: landry_odie03