I don’t usually like to follow trends, but back in 2020 I was one of the thousands of people that fell into outdoor swimming. The benefits to my wellbeing are huge – not only is it great exercise, but the feeling of the cold water gently lapping against my skin is otherworldly. No one recognises these benefits more than Rachel Ash at Mental Health Swims.
Speedo released an outdoor swimming line and wanted to celebrate those who swam over the 2022 New Year. They teamed up with all the Mental Health Swims communities around the country and used a local photographer to document a cold water dip in each location.
The brief was simple, to capture the essence and camaraderie within the group and include the Speedo brand. I love a good outdoor shoot like this and I think I was the only photographer to get in the water with the swimmers (although I didn’t swim… maybe a waterproof housing is on the cards..)