KATE COOPER, the York photographer, has clicked with the rarefied ranks in her profession.

Commercial photographs taken by her impressed judges at a top-flight assessment exhibition in Tunisia so much that they gave her a unanimous vote of approval.

That accolade has now earned her a licentiate qualification by both the British Institute of Professional Photography (BIPP) and the Master Photographers Association (MPA).

Kate, who with her award-winning photographer husband, Paul, is a partner in Bailey-Cooper Photography in Geldof Road, Huntington, was in Tunisia, accompanying Paul who was a speaker at the Photo Training Overseas seminar.

The seminar was sponsored by the BIPP and MPA as well as Fuji Films, and was followed up by a judging panel which assessed entrants' works and unanimously concluded that Kate was ready even for the next level, to qualify as an associate of both organisations.

Kate, 36, said: "It's really thrilling to have my work recognised by the two main professional photographic bodies in the UK.

"Working in a male-dominated profession, my success may encourage other females to pick up a camera."

Paul, whom she joined as a partner in the business last May, has won more than 100 awards, including UK Master Photographer of the Year.

Updated: 09:11 Tuesday, March 11, 2003