A CHALFORD based photographer who specialises in portraiture and weddings has scooped up a prestigious award for her work.

Rebecca Northway won the overall award of BIPP South West Photographer of the Year 2015 at a presentation held at Padbrook Park Hotel in Cullompton, Devon.

Photographers from across the region attended the awards, which also saw Rebecca win the Under Five Portrait category for her image ‘Bliss & Osian’ – an image of a young brother and sister taken at Haresfield Beacon.

Rebecca said: “I’m absolutely delighted to have won this award especially as I know how high the BIPP’s standards are.

“Having my work recognised by the best people in British photography is both flattering and humbling. It’s my fifteenth year in business and this is a terrific way to celebrate!”

The British Institute of Professional Photography is an internationally recognised qualifying organisation which has over 3,000 members worldwide.

Entries were judged by the institute’s chief executive Chris Harper and BIPP board member Bella West.

After presenting the award to Rebecca, Bella said: “BIPP members are among the best photographers in the country and this year’s entries were of a very high standard. Chris and I were pretty tough judges too so Rebecca should be delighted with her achievement which marks her out as an outstanding photographer.”

Rebecca set up her photography business in Gloucestershire in 1999 and moved to her Chalford based studio, between Stroud and Cirencester, in 2011.

During her career she has photographed over 700 weddings and taken thousands of portraits of families and children.

She achieved her Licentiateship with the BIPP in August 2012, quickly followed by her Associateship in October in the same year and is currently working towards Fellowship status.

To see more of her work visit rebeccanorthway.com