Teenage Photographer with Cancer Collaborates with Photography Icon

Liz Hatton, a 17-year-old photographer from Harrogate, who previously met the Princess of Wales following her diagnosis with an aggressive form of cancer, has now achieved another goal from her photography bucket list: collaborating with professional models. Hatton created this list after learning she had the rare desmoplastic small round cell tumour. Her aspiration for a photoshoot was realized by Rankin, one of the UK’s leading photographers. Rankin commented, “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.” He extended an invitation to Liz and her family to his London studio, where he requested her to direct a fashion photoshoot. Liz stated, “It has always been my happy place, photography. When I get behind a camera, it is a lot easier to ignore what is going on with the rest of my body.” Previously, her bucket list accomplishments included photographing events such as London Fashion Week, various film premieres, and an investiture ceremony at Windsor Castle, during which she encountered the Prince and Princess of Wales. During the photoshoot alongside Rankin, Liz was responsible for selecting the attire and instructing the models. She described her creative approach as aiming to “think big” through the use of distinct shapes and vibrant colours, a method Rankin noted resulted in “really sophisticated images.” Following the session, model Fifi Anicah expressed her delight with the photographs Liz captured, calling them some of her “favourite pictures of all time.” Liz also made a strong impression on Rankin, who remarked that it had been a “real privilege watching her.” He further commented, “She did exactly what an experienced photographer would do, got involved, and gave direction.” Liz’s mother, Vicky Robayna, stated that the generosity of various individuals had provided Liz with a “wonderful couple of months” to accomplish as much as possible, which Robayna described as “more than most people do in a lifetime.”