![\"Caitlyn](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/0_CAITLYN_PHOTOGRAPHER_09JPG.jpg\")
Caitlyn McDonald says photography has changed her life. (Image: Supplied)<\/p>\nCaitlyn McDonald says photography has helped her to overcome challanges.Caitlyn McDonald says photography has changed her life. (Image: Supplied)<\/p>\n
A Scots teen with autism<\/a> says taking up photography has changed her life and helped her to build confidence.<\/p>\n Caitlyn McDonald, from Ayrshire, struggled with busy environments and talking to strangers due to autism and auditory<\/a> processing disorder.<\/p>\n However, she recently completed more than 15 wildlife photography workshops and said this helped her to overcome challenges linked to the condition.<\/a><\/p>\n The 18-year-old came second in the Young Photographer Awards with a photo of her dogs, and decided to continue to pursue her new hobby.<\/a><\/p>\n She signed up for the workshops run by wildlife photographer Paul McDougall, who specialises<\/a> in helping photographers learn to read animal behaviour and capture difficult-to-get images, while keeping outings calm, safe and supportive.<\/p>\n Caitlyn said: \u201cBefore I met Paul I didn\u2019t have much confidence at all, but he understood me straight away. He taught me how to focus on the animals, the behaviour and the moment \u2013 and that helped me focus in life too.<\/p>\n “Photography makes me feel like I can actually do things I never thought I could.\u201d<\/p>\n Since joining her first workshop in February 2024, Caitlyn<\/a> has photographed an incredible list of species, including ospreys diving for fish, puffins with bills full of sand eels, mountain hares in deep snowfall, red squirrels, otters, beavers and even a lynx.<\/p>\n She now keeps detailed notes on animal behaviour <\/a>\u2013 something Paul teaches all his students to look for when anticipating the perfect shot.<\/p>\n Paul said: \u201cCaitlyn has a fantastic eye and a natural gift for wildlife photography. Her progress has been extraordinary \u2013 shots that take years for some people, she\u2019ll nail in one try. Watching her confidence grow has been incredible.\u201d<\/p>\n Caitlyn’s mum Paula <\/a>says her daughter bonded with Paul within minutes, describing his supportive style as transformative.<\/p>\n Paula added: \u201cPeople see her wonderful photos, but they don\u2019t see the sensory overload afterwards \u2013 the noise, the anxiety, the exhaustion. But photography gives her purpose, and because she loves it so much, she pushes through.<\/p>\n \u201cShe uses her photography to show that disabilities don\u2019t stop you achieving amazing things. She\u2019s proving that every day.\u201d<\/p>\n The teen’s skills have improved so quickly that she has now been invited to shadow professional photographers<\/a>, volunteers at local events, and has even been booked for her first wedding photography job next year.<\/p>\n She also runs a craft stall selling mugs, slates, notebooks, calendars and prints featuring her wildlife images, and hands out a business card explaining her autism and APD<\/a> \u2013 something she says helps her feel understood and helps others feel represented.<\/p>\n Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community!<\/p>\n Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today.<\/p>\n You’ll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland.<\/p>\n No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team.<\/p>\n All you have to do is click here<\/a>, select ‘Join Community’ and you’re in!<\/p>\n We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don\u2019t like our community, you can check out any time you like.<\/p>\n To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose ‘exit group’.<\/p>\n If you\u2019re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.<\/a><\/p>\n![\"Caitlyn](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/0_CAITLYN_PHOTOGRAPHER_10.jpg\")
Caitlyn said she had no confidence before taking up photography. (Image: Supplied)<\/p>\n![\"Taking](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/0_CAITLYN_PHOTOGRAPHER_18.jpg\")
Taking pictures helps the teen focus. (Image: Supplied)<\/p>\n