Summers in Texas are hot which means most of our summer is spent in a pool. When I first thought of shooting underwater with my Canon Mark iii of course I was a little scared. I purchased the EWA Marine Underwater Housing Cover. I couldn’t believe this cover would save my camera and allow me to shoot underwater but it did. Kids love these sessions! Here are some tips and ideas on shooting an underwater session.
Test your Underwater Housing
Remember this is your very expensive camera so take all precautions to make sure everything is tight and ready to be put in a pool. I first run mine under a faucet to check for major leaks and then submerge it in a bathtub or sink full of water. Turn it upside down, right side up to make sure all parts have been submerged.
Wear goggles
Have you ever opened your eyes underwater? Remember how blurry it was? I wear clear goggles so I can check the colors on the back of my LCD screen. Wearing goggles also helps you follow your subject better underwater.
Check the light at the pool
Shooting underwater, the times actually matter depending on how the sun shines into the pool. If you go too late, the pool will be dark and you won’t see the reflection at the bottom. If you go too early, it will be really bright and the pool will look light blue with very little detail. The sun had set behind two of the pools that I used this summer, so I shot around 4pm.
Capture the child’s personality
Remember, this is fun! Crazy goggles, funny faces, silly poses are what make these sessions fun for kids. Have the kids do tons of cannon balls (the bubbles are awesome!), dive, jump, and flip! It is endless with kids, and the more bubbles the better.
Shoot in AI-Servo
The reason I shoot in this mode is so I can use the BBF (Back Button Focus) to lock focus and then follow the subject as they jump into the pool. This way they are in focus as they jump and you are able to capture their face and all the bubbles as they enter.
Jenny Miller is a natural light and on location photographer for San Antonio, TX and Houston, TX. Jenny lives in San Antonio with her 3 kids and 2 dogs. She specializes in children, newborns, maternity and family photography. Having added underwater photography to her portfolio as well has really brought out her passion for photography.
Find Jenny Miller Photography on the Web: WEBSITE| FACEBOOK
Email: admin@jennymillerphoto.com
San Antonio & Houston TX
