Locally based photographer Claire Elliott had cause to celebrate last weekend at The Guild of Professional Photographers Awards, held at the magnificent Crewe Hall in Cheshire.
The 37 year-old, who lives in Regent Street, Shildon, runs Forever Memories photographic studio in Crook and has been a professional photographer for 12 years. She submitted several pieces of her beautiful work to the Guild, which has been in existence since 1988. It is a highly respected photographic body dedicated to enhancing skills in the art, craft and profession of photography. It organises what is potentially the most demanding of annual photographic competitions. Photographers must submit several images a month for assessment over the course of a year, and only those with the highest combined scores at the end of the year would be in contention for one of their top 10 award places.
Over the year, Claire has won 50 bar awards for her images entered into the monthly competition and, at its recent awards night, the Guild announced that Claire was awarded the overall runner-up portrait photographer in the international competition.
Claire was also awarded the lifetime membership of the coveted Bar, which is a unique distinction awarded to very few photographers.
Guild Director Steve Thirsk said, “This is an incredible achievement! Claire should be very proud.”
Shildon & District's local community newspaper.
