A schoolgirl from Leicester has taken one step nearer to fulfilling her dream of becoming a top fashion photographer by being crowned Young Fashion Photographer of the Year 2006 at Clothes Show Live.

Sixteen-year-old Kellie Hill was one of twelve finalists whose work was exhibited at the show, chosen from over 300 hundred entries. Entrants were set the task of creating a picture that encapsulated the world of fashion photography through using their imagination and photographic skills to create and shoot an image that sums up exotic locations, foreign travel and glamorous people. Kellie’s prize includes £2000 cash, £1000 worth of Nikon photographic equipment and a one-week internship with fashion photographer, Will Whipple.
Kellie says: “I am honoured to win this award and feel very privileged for my work to be recognised. This is the first time I’ve entered such a competition and now can’t to wait to upgrade my photographic equipment and follow my passion of photography.”

The competition, in association with Nikon, is a new addition to the show’s Educational Bursary scheme. The award is the first of its kind in the UK and aims to celebrate up and coming British talent within the world of fashion photography. The judging panel was made up of Will Whipple (Fashion Photographer), Jeremy Gilbert (Group Marketing Manager, Nikon) and Gavin Brown (Head of Haymarket Exhibitions).

Will Whipple said, “I was extremely impressed with the range of ideas and how all entrants interpreted the brief. The standard was very high and I think it’s great that this competition – the first of its kind in the UK – gives young talent the opportunity to showcase their work in front of key industry figures as well as hundreds of thousands of British fashion lovers”.

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