DESPITE a much quieter year than usual, one Prestatyn-based photographer has recently celebrated a trio of awards.

Like many others across North Wales and beyond, Sally Smart's work has been affected by the Covid-19 pandemic.

The wedding photographer, who runs Blue Bug Photography, says her whole industry has been 'decimated' by the ongoing situation with Coronavirus.

She has only shot one of the 36 weddings she has booked in for this year, with the rest having to be arranged for next year and 2022.

But despite a, as Sally puts it, 'terrible' year, she says she it was an 'incredible surprise' to recently be awarded three top prizes for her previous work.

Sally won the 'Best Wedding Photographer' at the North Wales Wedding Guide awards, as well as Welsh Enterprise Awards' 'Wedding Photographer of the Year' (North Wales) and was also the regional winner at the Wedding Business Awards, meaning she then made the national finals of the event.

Sally said: "During a horrendous year for my industry, this has been a small glimmer of light for me after ten years as a full time processional photographer.

"It was an incredible surprise during such a terrible year which has seen the wedding industry decimated by the virus. To win the first one was a shocker which took me through to the national finals.

"My friend held a socially-distanced party for me where we dressed up in evening wear as the announcements were made online rather than at the gala dinner which had to be cancelled. What a year!”

As weddings are currently not taking place, Sally is using her time to make a charity calendar called 'Prestatyn Unveils For Whale Tails' with all proceeds going to the delayed Whale Tail Project.

Organised by the Prestatyn Business Forum, which Sally is a part of, the project was set up with the aim of installing six whale tail sculptures along Prestatyn Promenade.

Once it goes ahead, the 2.4 metre high sculptures will be created by Jacha Potgieter, a South African Environmentalist living in Betws y Coed.

Talking about the charity calendar to raise funds for the project, Sally said: "We have been inundated with local businesses wishing to get naked all in aid of a great local cause.

"The calendar should be on sale before Christmas and we will keep people posted on it's progress. It's going to be amazing!"