A paw-fect shot!

A former HND Photography student has taken home one of the country's most coveted titles in pet photography - and she says it all started with two dogs and a camera.

Alison Flanigan was named Pet Photographer of the Year at the National Pet Awards, a moment she describes as 'surreal'.

"I heard my name and thought, is that actually me?" she said. "Being recognised for something I'm so passionate about meant a lot."

Alison's journey into photography wasn't a straightforward one. It was her dogs, Rolo and Freya, that sparked her passion - and led her to study HND Photography.

"My dad had always been into photography and tried to get me interested when I was younger, but I wasn't interested then," she said. "It wasn't until I had my dogs that I picked up a camera and everything just clicked."

Now she runs her own dog photography business, and Alison has built a following on the strength of her ability to capture something many pet owners find elusive, genuine personality. Her technique centres on sharp subjects, shallow depth of field, and the catchlights in a dog's eyes that, as she puts it, "really bring the image to life."

Alison is now set on becoming the go-to pet photographer across central Scotland.

But, for now, her message to anyone hesitating to pick up a camera is simple: "You don't need to have it all figured out straight away - I didn't."