Hawaii Adventure Session: Underwater Photography
Shooting an adventure session, elopement, or engagement session in Hawaii is always epic. Being a photographer in Hawaii allows for so many fun experiences for both myself and my couples!
Have you heard about “land to sea” sessions? These photo shoots are an adventurous way of incorporating the ocean into your photo shoot! I shoot with special underwater housing for my camera that allows me to capture those Pacific Ocean scenes in a unique way. Having a part of your photo shoot in Hawaii take place in the ocean is exhilarating and totally different! If you’ve ever wondered what its like to have an underwater land to sea adventure session, stick around for some of my tips.
Underwater Photo Shoot in Hawaii
Jenna and Peter live in Truckee, California, which is close to Lake Tahoe. Because this adventurous couple lives so close to a place with so many outdoor recreation activities, it only makes sense that they love to partake in skiing, wakeboarding, and surfing.
Jenna and Peter got engaged after a lovely afternoon of surfing. They explored a ridge that looked over where they had just surfed, when Peter popped the question! These two lovebirds are getting married at a family friend’s home in Hawaii, where Jenna learned to surf. Jenna grew up on Oahu, so having their adventure session and intimate wedding in Hawaii is important to the two of them.
Both Peter and Jenna wanted to incorporate the outdoors in their Hawaiian boho photo shoot. They requested wanting to end their session in the water – hence, “land to sea”!
6 Tips For Your Underwater Photo Shoot in Hawaii
- Now that you have decided that you want to get in the water for your adventure session, figure out how far underwater you’ll be getting. Maybe you’ll be just on the surface of the ocean? If you want to float on your surfboard or just stand in the waves, we can do over/under shots or shots where the camera is partially under the water! If you’re fully submerging, you’ll need a mask or to be able to open your eyes. How deep into the water you’ll go will determine where your photographer will be shooting.
- Know your limits. We can customize the land to sea session to fit your comfort level. We will be able to still get amazing photos and make sure that you’re comfortable! Are you able to open your eyes? Do you not have a lot of water experience? We can adapt! You should be aware of your ocean experience, because swimming can be tiring! Some options for ensuring you don’t tire yourself out during your underwater photo shoot is picking shallow location where you can stand every once in a while, or bringing along a bodyboard that you can float on.
- Bring a change of clothes! If you want to trash the dress, we don’t want you to be uncomfortable. And don’t forget about towels! Think about what, if any, accessories you would like to include: diving gear, surfboards, masks if needed.
- It can always be helpful to have inspiration photos so we are all on the same page. That way, there isn’t anything lost in the language! I want to do this to ensure you get the photos you want and that we are set up for success in this adventure session!
- Be prepared to wake up early, because morning is best for water photos! Here is a fun example timeline for a “land to sea” adventure photo shoot: we can begin exploring around Hawaii at sunrise, then make our way to the water for that gorgeous mid-morning light.
- Wear something lightweight because water can weigh down attire. The most important thing to wear is something you feel comfortable and confident in! Cover ups, bathing suits…websites such as Sunshine 79 or Asos are great places to start looking.
There you have it! My top tips for having an adventurous underwater photo shoot in Hawaii, as well as some inspiration photos. Now let’s get to planning your “land to sea” session!
