A photography exhibition capturing women in the waves is debuting in Exmouth this summer. 

Local photographer and journalist Fran McElhone started taking photos of her friends during cold water swims in Budleigh Salterton. These pictures are the basis of her Salt & Sass Project, which aims to inspire female strength and self-confidence.

“I want to help women forget their inhibitions, feel awesome and feel beautiful,” says Fran.

“In turn, I hope this feeling of empowerment extends to everyday life, for example, encouraging women to focus only on their unique beauty when they look in the mirror, and to feel strong feminine energy flowing through them.”

For many, being photographed, especially in nothing or next to nothing could be daunting, no?

“I just tell them what is true,” says Fran, “that they are beautiful and unique and I never take an unflattering photo! I emphasise that (if they’ve agreed for their photos to be shared publicly) they’re helping empower other women who will hopefully be inspired by their fortitude, while reaffirming the notion that beauty shines from within, and physical beauty is not constrained to narrow, shallow, ideals, as portrayed in western culture. 

“You may look at the images and think, wow they’re so confident. But this is a classic ‘don’t judge a book by its cover’ scenario; the majority of women have had body hang ups and self-confidence issues and have done the shoots as part of their journey to overcoming any negative sentiments towards themselves. The majority of them agreed because, like me, they wanted to empower other women too.”

The project will be celebrated on the walls of coffee house and venue space, Cabin Coffee House, on 7 Parade, Exmouth from 1- 31 July. The project is ongoing for those interested in being photographed by Fran.

The shoots are free, but a suggested voluntary donation of £20 is encouraged for women’s mental health charity Women at Wish.

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