A BUDDING schoolgirl photographer from Hitchin is the picture of success, after winning a national photography competition.

Stephanie Smith, 14, a year 10 student at Hitchin Girls’ School, won the Specialist Schools and Academies Trust national photography competition after producing five images around the theme ‘My School: Celebrating our Specialism in Action’.

Focussing on Science themes, she initially won the east region heat, snapping up an Olympus digital camera and the opportunity to work with a Ward-Hendry professional photographer.

From this, Stephanie made the finals and was announced one of the winners out of eight finalists at the end of November, winning �5,000 worth of photographic equipment for her school.

She was presented with her award by Mike Ward from Ward-Hendry photography last week, who congratulated her on her win.

“We are thrilled at Stephanie’s achievement,” said headteacher at Hitchin Girls’ School Frances Manning.

“The photographic equipment that she won for the school will be put to great use.”