Sam Tesluk (New Canaan High School class of 2012) at a Brooks and Falotico project in Darien, Connecticut.

Sam was Jane’s first intern in 2012. After high school she stuck with her creative roots and attended Rhode Island School of Design where she studied industrial design. While working with Jane, Sam talked about how much she loved being in a professional environment, and that this internship taught her the importance of being engaged in your work, being friendly and respectful, and most importantly being on time. She also noted that one of the best parts of being in this environment was building a relationship with Jane. Sam said that her opinion was always valued, and claimed “She really made it a point to engage my creative thinking during shoots”. Jane’s inspiration had a lasting impact on Sam, and says that “she is living proof that as a woman, you don't have to give any part of your life up to have a successful creative career”. Sam has been very busy since graduation. Right out of school she worked as a design assistant at Luana, a handbag brand, for five months. She then moved to San Francisco for another five months pursuing a career in tech as a UX researcher. After realizing that was not for her, she came back to New York to pursue her interest in brand identities. She is now taking a graphic desigher portfolio class at Pratt Institute so she can eventually work at SYP or a similar consulting firm. In her free time she has been doing freelance work for a UX researcher as well as assisting on photo shoot sets.

Abbie Stone assisting on set a shoot for Oxygen Fitness in New Canaan, CT.

Abbie worked as Jane’s intern in 2013, and she later went on to study at Bucknell University from which she just recently graduated in May. Abbie studied Psychology and Political Science, and is now starting the post-college job search. Abbie, like all of Jane’s interns, learned a variety of skills and is often looking back on her experience here. Abbie said that Jane taught her the importance of paying attention to detail, and that being exposed to the operations of a small business was very beneficial. She said she “learned how to be a more proactive and forward worker”. Abbie said that her experience with Jane gave her a sense of empowerment and importance in the professional world. Last summer Abbie worked for Ralph Lauren in New York City as a Marketing intern for both the Home Decor department and the Restaurant & Hospitality department. After graduation, Abbie is planning on diving into the job search. She has no definite plans, but is very eager to find a job that she is as passionate about as her former mentor.

Lydia Melland at a Greenwich, Connecticut pool house designed by Laura Tutun and featured in athome magazine.

Lydia Melland, now a junior studying History and English at Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, worked with Jane in 2014. Although Lydia isn’t currently planning on becoming a photographer, she has expressed an interest in continuing with a job that appreciates creativity as much as this internship does. Despite the fact that she has yet to find the right time to use her perfect alignment skills since the internship, she will always remember learning what it’s like to be a small business owner and living the life of a professional photographer for four unforgettable weeks. After just finishing her junior year in college, she will be working at the university archives and working more in depth with the Tolkien manuscripts.

Kayleigh Pace at Jane's office in May 2015.

Kayleigh Pace was thrilled to intern with Jane in 2015 to gain experience in the world of photography. This prepared her for her time at Brooks Institute in California where she majored in professional photography. Unfortunately, the school has recently closed, but she isn’t letting that stop her. Although Kayleigh is currently on a mission in Brazil, when she returns she will be graciously accepting an internship with a studio photographer in Florida while trying to get into another photography program with an end goal to be a fashion photographer. While with Jane, Kayleigh learned to appreciate the various types of photography as well as appreciate the business behind photography, which is key to understand and succeed. Kayleigh absolutely loved being able to get a glimpse into what it would be like pursue her dream career and will never forget this experience.

Gwen Davidson and Hailey Wheeler stacking wood at a house desinged by Brooks and Falotico Architects with interior design by Stirling Mills. The images from this shoot were included in a feature published by Architectural Digest.

Hailey Wheeler and Gwen Davidson, May 2016 on set in New Canaan, Connecticut for a home shoot which appeared in the April 2017 HGTV magazine.

Hailey Wheeler, above left, worked as the designated photography intern for Jane in 2016 alongside Gwen. She then went on to study at Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah and is undecided in what she wants to study. Hailey said that one of the most beneficial parts of this internship and working in the photography business was building up her people skills. She also worked with the press for a bit during the internship and claimed that all of the skills she developed have now helped guide her to possibly pursuing a business degree. Hailey emphasized her love for photo shoots and the fun of visiting and photographing such beautiful and unique homes. One of Hailey’s favorite memories was stacking a huge pile of wood next to a fireplace for a shoot, as seen in the picture above. As grueling as it was, she said that doing it with Jane made it fun and they were able to laugh about it after. Hailey has now finished her first year at BYU and is studying her Norwegian as she is about to leave on an 18 month mission trip for her church to Norway!

Gwen Davidson, above right, is a freshman at Bowdoin College in Brunswick, Maine and despite her intent to major in physics and math, she is equally considering a minor in visual arts. At college, Gwen has already signed up to take more artistic courses such as drawing and hopes to take courses in painting and photography. Gwen was Jane’s first marketing intern in the Spring of 2016, but she also found a love for the photography portion of the internship. After assisting several photo shoots, she began to develop an artistic eye which she uses while working as a page designer for Bowdoin’s weekly newspaper, The Bowdoin Orient. During her internship, she helped with Jane’s social media and is grateful for this experience because she is becoming a social media editor for her college newspaper. According to Gwen, “Jane is so good at mixing fun with hard work and professionalism”, and she wants to create this same type of atmosphere in her life. This summer, she will be working at a lab in Pepsico, but she did consider graphic design and journalism as other potential internships as well. Next year she will possibly work on poster design with Bowdoin Student Activities and is also going to be a social media editor on Bowdoin’s newspaper.

Sammy Hoey helping out Jane on a New York Times shoot in Salisbury, CT.

Sammy Hoey first approaced Jane in the summer of 2016 after she had finished her sophomore year at New Canaan High School. She came to Jane with an interest in photography, expressing her desire to gain experience through an internship. Although Sammy is now only a junior in high school, her passion for photography is evident as she sought out Jane on her own and expressed her curiosity early on in order to learn as much about photography as she possibly could. Sammy continues to assist Jane on shoots, and is definitely interested in pursuing photography in the future.

Jane Beiles, Annalee Greenspon, and Abigail Deery having fun at a New York Times shoot in South Salem. Photo taken by Avery Salomon.

Avery Salomon helping at home designed by Susan Glick Interiors

Avery Salomon, Annalee Greenspon, and Abigail Deery are all seniors at New Canaan High School and will be graduating this June together. Avery will be attending Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, Annalee will be going to Dickinson College in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, and Abigail is headed to Colgate University in Hamilton, New York in the fall. All three are very excited for what is to come, and know that their experience working with Jane is not just a way to get out of the last quarter of senior year but an opporunity to work in a professional environment. They are all taking advantage of getting as much out of this as they can, and they look forward to using these skill sets for everything they do in the future.