Nokia Press Release

Kellie Hill, 16 from Leicester took one step nearer to fulfilling her dream of becoming a top fashion photographer when she was crowned Young Fashion Photographer of the Year 2006 at Clothes Show Live, in association with Nokia. The competition, in association with Nikon, is a new addition to the show’s renowned 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. Kellie, from South Croxton, studies at Loughborough High School and was one of twelve finalists whose work was exhibited at the show. 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 design was chosen from over 300 entries and she will now have an amazing head start to her career with £2000 prize money, £1000 worth of Nikon photographic equipment and a one-week internship with top Fashion Photographer, Will Whipple.

Will Whipple says “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”.

The judging panel was made up of Will Whipple (Fashion Photographer), Jeremy Gilbert (Group Marketing Manager, Nikon) and Gavin Brown (Head of Haymarket Exhibitions).

Kellie Wise 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 Young Fashion Photographer of the Year is part of a wider Clothes Show Live Education Bursary project. Open to talent aged 13 upwards, the bursary supports young fashion photography and design talent, with the objective of turning this talent into broad based ability and knowledge that delivers well-rounded proficiency at all levels.

Clothes Show Live 2006 runs from the 1st to the 6th December, 2006.
http://www.clotheshowlive.com/