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ABOUT THE PROJECT
ABOUT THE PROJECT
ABOUT THE PROJECT
SEE THE PORTRAITS
SEE THE PORTRAITS
SEE THE PORTRAITS

Please Support Out Kickstarter for LGBTQ+ History Month Exhibition

Queer portraits & personal stories in an exhibition on Brighton seafront and a limited edition zine for LGBTQ+ History Month Feb 2026
Project Uncut brings together portraits and stories from LGBTQIA+ people who speak openly about queer joy. The exhibition will run throughout February on Brighton seafront next to the i360 for LGBTQ+ History Month.

Your backing supports the exhibition production and a printed zine that records every portrait and personal story. >>LINK HERE

This is UNCUT — a raw, striking portrait series by award-winning photographer Chris Jepson capturing the power and pride of Queer Joy, shot in a barber’s chair. No filters, no retouching, no compromise. Just bold, beautiful people taking up space exactly as they are.

The Concept – Why A Barber’s Chair?

Barbershops have long been places of transformation — places where identities are shaped, confidence is built and stories are shared. But they haven’t always been welcoming for everyone. UNCUT reclaims that space for queer bodies, queer styles and queer joy. It’s about authenticity, visibility and saying this is me without hesitation.

Each subject will sit in the chair, lit with precision, styled with edge and captured in their purest form. Every scar, freckle, line and expression stays in. No softening, no smoothing, no erasing. This is a celebration, not a sanitisation.

Why It Matters

Mainstream media still sanitises queerness — polishing it down, making it more ‘palatable’, airbrushing out the edges. Fuck that. Representation isn’t just about being seen, it’s about being seen truthfully. UNCUT challenges the idea that queer beauty needs to fit a mould. It’s about self-expression on our own terms, without compromise.

For marginalised communities, visibility is power. It affirms existence. It creates connection. It tells the next generation: You belong. You are enough. You are art.

The Style

Think classic portraiture meets high-fashion editorial — strong lighting, deep contrasts, and a cinematic feel. Rich blacks, sharp whites, bold shadows. Just you, the chair and light. Every portrait should feel like a statement piece, a frame-worthy moment of defiance and pride.

The Shoot

  • Studio-based – clean, controlled, dramatic lighting.
  • Barber’s chair as the focal point – a throne for self-expression and transformation.
  • Subjects from across the LGBTQIA+ spectrum – real people, real stories.
  • Bold styling choices encouraged – whether sharp suits, bare skin, killer accessories, or a shaved head mid-shoot, it’s all about owning your look.
  • No retouching – skin stays real, bodies stay real, emotions stay raw.

The Photographer

Chris Jepson has spent 3 decades documenting the depth and diversity of queer lives through portraiture. UNCUT builds on his previous projects, The Identity Project – A Portrait of a Community, which captured the breadth of LGBTQIA+ experiences, and Beyond The Binary – A Celebration of Trans Joy, which spotlighted the beauty and resilience of trans identities. This latest series continues that legacy — bold, unfiltered, and unapologetically queer.

UNCUT. No edits. No apologies. Just us.

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