AN accountant who quit her job two years ago to be a professional photographer has won two prestigious awards for one of her images.

Just over a year after setting up her new venture in April 2012, Janet Broughton won her first award — a coveted Gold Bar award from the Guild of Photographers for her photo of nine-year-old model Lydia Robinson.

But her intense black and white image of Lydia and her dog’s mirrored expressions impressed both judges and members alike for the Guild of Photographers Image of the Year Awards.

The mother-of-one, from Harwood, beat 10,000 other entries to the to the top spot.

Mrs Broughton, aged 47, said: “I was really pleased with it when I took the photo but it’s hard to judge your own work objectively.

“I am both shocked and honoured that they both chose my photograph.

“I never thought when I took it that it would be such an important one for my career.

“I was aiming for the intense inter-action but I didn’t know that the dog would mimic Lydia’s expression so well. The combination of the two made the photo.

“The guild runs a monthly competition throughout the year and awards at the end of each year.

“The image that I won last time was shortlisted from 10,000 other entries and the judges and the members of the guild chose their favourite image. It just so happened that they both chose mine.

“Judges usually go on the technical aspect whereas the members generally go for what they like, so it’s amazing that they both picked my image out of so many other entries.”

Guild director Steve Thirsk said: “With nearly 10,000 images assessed from throughout the UK, Europe and further afield, for Janet to receive both the Image of The Year Awards is clear evidence of her high standard of photo-graphic skills.

“Janet should be very proud of her outstanding achievement — I am not surprised her services are sought after as I can only applaud her.”