I'm very excited every time I get asked about underwater photo shoot for clients. This time my beautiful bride found me by seeing my photos displayed in one of the dessert restaurants in Key West.
She told her boyfriend if they were ever going to get engaged she will have their underwater "Save The Date Cards" done by me.

The time has come and when Regan's boyfriend Dan proposed, she contacted me immediately and we set up a date to make Regan's dream come true. 

To create these images we had a make up and hair stylist on set and also a safety person who helped out through the whole day with lots preparation and changing backgrounds while the light changed throughout the day. 
Regan had a couple of pretty, light fabric dresses that she found on amazon and the fun began.
This time I used tule fabric to create a dreamy underwater background to hide the pool in some way. 

Everything is different under the water. Light needs to be stronger and clients need to adapt to shooting in a zero-gravity environment while wearing clothes. All props and wardrobes will act differently. A gorgeous, flowing dress on land could be a tangled, transparent mess underwater, and some colors just don't work under the water either.  Props that you thought would be a great idea might be downright dangerous after it gets wet or they would look way too small and silly. 

Lots of thought and email exchange goes into preparation. The most important thing for a client is to learn how to sink. Instead of holding your breath you actually have to let the air out. The less air in the lungs, the less buoyant you are, and easier it is to maneuver under water.
When the photo shoot is done lots of work goes into post processing the images. Water is a medium, and anytime you shoot through a medium, you're going to run into some issues and lots of in between shots. All of those brilliant underwater photos you see on the internet, are not entirely straight out of the camera.
Shooting through water takes away image clarity and sharpness, adds lot of background stuff to clean up.

I'm very humbled by the fact that I have my clients from all over the world and they travel to our little pretty island for such a unique experience.

I look forward for Regan's and Dan's wedding in November!!! Thank you for letting me create these images for you!!!

Underwater photography is big passion of mine.  I get asked many times,  "Why underwater? What inspired you to shoot this way?" 

I know the answers very well.  A few years ago I saw photograph online that was taken underwater, the model was submerged in her bathing suit, and the image was so pretty and magical.   I wondered many things like,  how the model would look  with her cloths on?  With beautiful flowing dresses?  How different fabrics would look?  And how long she would be able to stay underwater?

I had borrowed a underwater video camera which was older model, still with the glass that you have to look into, so you are not seeing much at all.  My boyfriend held the camera while I was diving into the pool.  It didn't go really well at all.  I realized I'm not the best at opening my eyes, nor getting air out of my lungs in order to stay stay under.  Still, we ended up with couple of shots that I knew could be mastered if I just knew a little more. 

I then borrowed a different camera from a friend, and had another acquaintance model for me. She was very comfortable in the water, and basically did everything I asked her to do. We had some great shots quickly and I wanted keep going.  After a few more test shoots,  I bought a bigger proffessional case for my Canon camera and from then on - we were going  to be making magic! 

My mother made great flowing dresses for me that I already used many times in other shoots,  and I learned what works and what doesn't underwater simply by trying many times over.  Models look weightless and graceful and dresses look fluid and magical.  I love the fact that water is unknown and uncontrollable element.  After this point, its safe to tell you all, I fell in love with underwater photography.

I was preparing for my first big underwater exhibition at The Studios of Key West last year and this provided a great push to complete a whole collection of underwater images.  Living in tropical Key West with access to two private pools and many others that people were so kind to let me use, made for interesting and changing underwater backdrops.  I am fortunate to have great weather almost all year long as well.  I spent a lot of time in the pool with friends and models and the beauty of sun light viewed from underwater provided the ability to see the world from a different perspective, even if for a few moments. 

I'm happy I can offer my clients something different for their Engagement, Save the Date, or Trash the Dress photography session.  Underwater shooting requires only one thing:  to feel creative.  People usually get very comfortable after a couple of submerged attempts.  I will provide you with all of the necessary items and information before the shoot, and after a couple of test shots we can easily communicate any changes or modifications we need to make.  Together we will master your underwater session into a fun and unique experience that you will never forget.