Breast cancer photos celebrate female bodies

A photographer is inviting women who have had breast cancer to be part of an exhibition celebrating female bodies.

Laura Slater from Lumiere Photographic in Ilkley is looking to share women's stories and pictures during Breast Cancer Awareness month this October.

Slater, who specialises in boudoir photography, said the goal was to help other people feel less alone.

"It's quite emotional for people. When they see their gallery of pictures at the end of the day, I often have tears and relief – a weight lifted off people's shoulders of 'finally I can accept myself'," she said.

The exhibition will be held at the of Tinker Gallery in Ilkley, which is run by Joanne Tinker, who has had breast cancer herself.

The idea for the project came about when Slater and Tinker met artist Roberta Heslop, from Ingleton in North Yorkshire, who paints nudes "celebrating the female form".

"Jo had breast cancer in 2023. She had a mastectomy followed by radiotherapy and this idea between the three of us of this month-long exhibition was born," said Slater.

"Some women will have chest-focused images that show scars and other are having classic portraits."

Slater will also create a magazine of the women's images combined with an interview telling their stories.

"As ironic as it sounds for a photographer to say, it's the story that matters more than the picture to me," she added.

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