SHE’S photographed every subject from babies to celebrities – and has just turned down a chance to work with model Jordan this week as she’s too busy!

Now the work of local photographer Collette Parker is in the frame at her very first exhibition.

The collection on display at Platform One Art Gallery in Todmorden features around 40 photographs including landscapes, babies and children, dogs dressed up, celebrities and high-fashion images.

The former Fartown High School pupil has established herself as one of the area’s most in demand photographers.

She is regularly commissioned by London agencies to photograph celebrities – including model Jordan and controversial rock star Pete Doherty – and recently was busy snapping artists at this year’s Leeds festival.

Just over a year ago Collette opened a studio at the Piece Hall in Halifax and her portrait work is now flourishing.

Her glamorous lifestyle is a far cry from the one she was leading just five years ago.

“I used to work for Kirklees social services as a home care assistant, but when my son was born I decided I wanted a career change,’’ said Collette.

“I started photography because I wanted to take pictures of my children as they grew up and it just went from there.

“I’m very busy at the moment – I actually had to turn down a photoshoot with Jordan this week because I’m already booked for a wedding!

“I really love what I do. I’m always trying to so something different with my pictures because I want them to be a thing of beauty that you can put on your wall – something that doesn’t age.”

It wasn’t long after she started work as a full-time photographer that the mum-of-four’s work was spotted by card manufacturers Hallmark.

Her designs – which include dreamy images of children portrayed as fairies against magical backgrounds – were soon being used for their range of greetings cards.

She now hopes to develop a new range of greetings cards, possibly with a motorbike theme.

When she’s not busy with her photography, another interest of Collette’s is organising the Miss Huddersfield and Halifax contest and she is hoping to become more involved with the Yorkshire and Humberside finals of the Miss Earth competition.

The response to her exhibition so far has been fantastic and she hopes to hold further exhibits in the future.

Collette said: “It’s good to do something different from time-to-time and I’ve really enjoyed putting together this exhibition as, because it’s very artistic, it’s given me the chance to get really creative.

“I would love to do more exhibitions in the future, hopefully in Huddersfield.”

Collette’s exhibition runs until September 28 at Platform One Art Gallery, Todmorden railway station, with many photos available for sale.

For more information on Collette’s work visit her website at www.colletteparker.co.uk