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Harrogate teen with cancer fulfils dream to meet photography hero
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Teenager with cancer works with photography hero

Family handout Six people taking part in a fashion shoot. Man on the far right is holding a camera. Woman stood next to him is wearing a grey patterned jumpsuit with long blonde hair. Kneeling on the floor is Liz wearing a cream top. Sitting at the computer to the left of the picture is Rankin wearing a black top and has a grey beard and hair talking to Liz's little brother who is standing on a white box and wearing black top and trousers. In the middle of the picture is a man in a black top holding a long-handled lamp and in the background is a woman wearing a cream coat. Family handout
World renowned photographer Rankin invited Liz (kneeling, centre) and her family to his London studio

A teenage photographer, who embraced the Princess of Wales after being diagnosed with an aggressive form of cancer, has now fulfilled another of her wishes by working with professional models.

Liz Hatton, 17, from Harrogate, compiled a photography bucket list after finding out she had the rare cancer desmoplastic small round cell tumour.

The list included a photoshoot and one of the UK's top photographers, Rankin, has made her wish come true.

"When you hear a story about somebody that has not got long to live and they have a bucket list, you can't help but be immediately drawn to want to help," Rankin said.

Kensington Palace/Andrew Parsons Liz on the left is wearing a pale green jumper seen embracing the Princess of Wales who is wearing a purple dress, long brown hair and a gold earring shownKensington Palace/Andrew Parsons
The Princess of Wales hugged Liz when she attended an investiture at Windsor Castle

He invited Liz and her family to his London studio and asked her to oversee a fashion shoot.

"It has always been my happy place, photography," Liz said.

"When I get behind a camera, it is a lot easier to ignore what is going on with the rest of my body."

Already ticked off her bucket list has been taking photographs at London Fashion Week, film premieres and an investiture at Windsor Castle, where she met the Prince and Princess of Wales.

At the photo shoot with Rankin, Liz had to choose the outfits and brief the models.

She said her vision was to "think big" using shapes and big colours, which Rankin said had produced "really sophisticated images".

Family handout Liz looking at a computer screen with Ranking and five other people. There is a model in the background wearing a black long flowing skirt and a black bandeau topFamily handout
The 17-year-old (foreground in cream top) was given the opportunity by Rankin to work and oversee one of his fashion shoots

After the shoot model Fifi Anicah was thrilled with the photographs Liz took.

She said they were some of her "favourite pictures of all time".

Liz also impressed Rankin, who said it had been a "real privilege watching her".

"She did exactly what an experienced photographer would do, got involved, and gave direction," he added.

Mum Vicky Robayna said the kindness of strangers had given Liz a "wonderful couple of months" to get as much done as possible, which she said was "more than most people do in a lifetime".

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