Women of Basic Blue: behind the lens with Melissa Hoareau

We caught up for a chat with the incredibly talented Noosa-based surf photographer, Melissa Hoareau, founder and one-half of Down The Line Productions and our go-to creative for Basic Blue's campaign photography. We met Melissa in June 2023, before the launch of Basic Blue and knew from the moment we met her that she was the perfect fit to capture the essence of our brand, Melissa has played a pivotal role in bringing the vision of Basic Blue to life through her photography.

Tell us a little bit about yourself, how has living in Australia shaped your career direction?

My name is Melissa Hoareau. I’m 26 years old and originally from the French Riviera. Six years ago, my partner and I came to Australia to explore the country in a van. After three incredible years on the road, we decided to sell our van and settle in Noosa Heads.

Photography has always been my passion. What started as a hobby, capturing moments with friends and documenting our travels, eventually grew into something more. My journey travelling across Australia taught me the value of taking risks, inspiring me to leave behind traditional jobs and wholeheartedly commit to my career as a photographer.

When did your journey into surf photography begin and how has it evolved since then?

My journey into surf photography began in 2021 right here in Noosa. Living in Noosa finally gave me the chance to learn to surf, something I had always wanted to do. I saved up to buy my first water housing, and within a few months, I was heading to the national park every sunny morning and afternoon to practice and photograph local surfers. I enjoyed it so much that I decided to start reaching out to brands, offering to create content for them in the hope of turning my passion into a career.

Since December 2023, I have been working as a full-time freelance photographer, and it’s been an amazing journey! I am incredibly proud of myself, to be pursuing my passion and extremely grateful for everything I’ve learnt along the way.

What does the ocean mean to you?

For as long as I can remember, I’ve always felt a special connection to the water and a deep need to be near it. No matter what emotions I’m experiencing, the ocean is where I go to heal, feel better, and find calm. The water is my safe place, where I feel at peace.

When I’m surfing, my mindset shifts as I concentrate on catching waves among other surfers. On days when I’m not in the mood to compete for waves, I take my camera into the water and focus on capturing photos instead. Photography has no competition, allowing me to simply enjoy watching others have fun. Capturing their expressions and excitement as they ride amazing waves often makes me feel as if I’ve experienced the ride myself.

What makes you feel confident and comfortable whilst shooting in the surf?

When I head out to shoot in the water, I usually wear a wetsuit or a combination of a bikini bottom/shorty with a wetsuit top. I find that this helps me stay afloat and keeps my upper body warm, as it can get quite chilly in the surf after a while. Since many surf spots are crowded, I often wear a helmet to prevent potential head injuries from surfers, their boards, or reefs.

I’ve had many close calls while trying to get the perfect shot, so wearing a helmet now gives me peace of mind, knowing I’m doing my best to avoid any accidents.

What has been your favourite memory or personal highlight in your photography career?

One of the recent highlights of my photography career was in March 2024, when I had the opportunity to be the main surf photographer for the Noosa Festival of Surfing. During the nine-day event, I pushed myself physically, constantly swimming against the current and through powerful waves to capture epic surfing moments!

The physical challenge was significant, as I swam for approximately 48 hours over those nine days. At the end of the day, I ran to the beach bar to photograph the events and then returned home each night to cull and edit the content I had captured. By the end of the festival, I had lots of blisters but also felt incredibly fit!

You are a huge advocate for photographing women in surfing, what excites you most about elevating the representation of females in and out of the water?

I love seeing more women in the water, both as surfers and photographers. The lineup is increasingly filled with feminine energy, making the whole vibe more fun and dynamic, as there is not as much ego and competition compared to men.

You will now find so many incredibly talented female surf photographers and surfers, highlighting the rapid growth of this community. It's wonderful to meet with other creatives and surfers to share knowledge and collaborate, as there is room for everyone in this industry, and supporting one another is essential! So I’d say, knowing that I can inspire more women to start surf photography brings me immense joy!

Photos captured by the talented Samuel Fairbank in Tea Tree Bay, Noosa - @samuel.fairbank