“From birth, man carries the weight of gravity on his shoulders. He is bolted to earth. But man has only to sink beneath the surface and he is free.” – Jacques Cousteau
There’s just something magical about pausing to see underwater. A photograph can capture the most beautiful details that you never noticed – the way the light bends, the way the rays break through the surface and form dappled light across the bottom of the pool, the way a subject is weightless and free. Fine Art Underwater photo sessions are so unique and special and just, well..magical.
A little about me…
You can get all the details here but to keep it short and sweet, I’m a mom of 3 little fish and an award-winning underwater photographer in Metro Atl. I was named NAPCP’s (National Association of Professional Child Photographers) 2019 Photographer of the Year – read all about the time my underwater image was displayed in Times Square. I use professional underwater equipment – no GoPro here – and love to turn our images into works of art!
What does ‘Fine Art’ mean?
Fine Art photography isn’t simply documenting a subject, or capturing what the camera sees. It’s going beyond a snapshot and using the camera as a tool to create a work of art that the artist, the photographer, envisions. Underwater images are notoriously difficult to edit. All that pretty blue water makes everything else blue too – which isn’t so pretty on skin, hair, and clothing! I often spend 2 hours (or more!) editing a single image to turn it into a piece of art.
Who’s an ideal candidate for an underwater session?
If your child lights up when it’s time to go to the pool, and is a capable, eager, and joyful swimmer, then they’d love an underwater portrait session. Competitive swimmers are naturals as are little dancers. Moms-to-be love the cool water, finally feeling comfortable and weightless for an hour or two and receiving a stunning maternity portrait to hang in their home after the session. Energetic children who never seem to slow down are great at underwater sessions too as it can take many iterations of jumping in to capture the perfect splash!
Anyone requesting an underwater session needs to be a confident swimmer and in decent physical shape. I typically require that any child who is photographed underwater is AT LEAST 3 years old, and a confident swimmer with no fear of the water.
How does an Underwater Session Work?
My Fine Art Underwater Portrait sessions are 100% custom. After you’ve submitted your retainer fee, we’ll schedule a chat to discuss the specifics of what you’re hoping to capture and what you would like to do with your images when we’re done. Do you have a little one who dreams of being a mermaid? Or a competitive swimmer who has spent hours upon hours training in the pool? Or possibly mama-to-be wants to capture her pregnancy in a special way and have a large art piece to show for it? I like to collaborate with you to make it perfect and special. I also use this time to review outfit options and talk about which fabrics and colors work best in the pool.
One week before your session, your collection payment is due. The session itself is all about enjoying the water and having fun! I’ll have the pool heated up to a comfortable temperature and we’ll shoot and take plenty of breaks to catch our breath.
What is the average session cost?
My session retainer is $250 and it reserves your session date and my time. Then, one week before your session, your collection choice and payment are due. Collections start at $595 minus retainer fee. My smallest collection includes 5 high resolution images for download as well as a professional 8×10 print. The majority of my clients spend over $700 total for their custom session, digital file selections, and artwork. I encourage clients to think of how they want to use their final images after the session is over – prints, albums, and artwork are important and can change the way we shoot your session!
Where are sessions held?
The majority of my sessions are held at the pool at my home in north Metro Atlanta. I shoot on location as well, and have a few simple questions to go over before scheduling a session at your pool of choice. Additional travel fees may apply.
Are Underwater Sessions safe?
Safety is the MOST important thing and is always taken into account. Little children need lots of breaks and check-ins to make sure their energy levels are good.
Our pool is cleaned by professionals on a regular schedule for everyone’s safety – and to keep my water nice and clear!
Underwater sessions are done at your own risk, and a lifeguards can be available by request for an additional fee. For young children, I recommend that mom or dad bring a swimsuit along for themselves as well in case they need to be in the water helping. Cell phones are not allowed on the pool deck for children’s sessions as all the eyes should be on the child for water safety. Only the person or persons being photographed and a parent or parents can attend the session, no other guests please.
Ready to book? Email me at ashley@ashleymcbroomphotography or call me at 415.439.3216 and I’m happy to go over my full collections and send over everything to get our session scheduled! Let’s make magic together!
Check out more of my underwater work here!