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WORKFLOW
For me a normal pool shoot
takes two and a half days: one
day to set up, one full day to
shoot and about half a day to
break down.
Day before shoot (5-6 hours):
Set
up any required backdrops
that will hang in the pool. Set
up, check, test and position all
underwater and studio lights,
batteries, camera and strobe
connections. Place backup
strobes, weights, tools and
anything that might be needed
during the shoot at the pool
edge so no one has to get out of
the water during the shoot.
Day of shoot (6-8 hours):
The
models, designer, makeup
artist and other crew arrive
and prepare. If it’s a deep-end
shoot, ask the safety diver and
camera assistant to arrive an
hour early to help with final
set up. Confirm waterproof
makeup will be used, advise
that makeup needs to be extra
colorful for underwater work,
check wardrobe, check all
photo and safety gear, make
sure the water temperature
is 86°F-90°F, recheck model
buoyancy, and add weights as
necessary. I often use a small
pocket weight belt that can
be easily hidden beneath any
fabric or have a designer sew a
small pocket in the rear of a garment to place a soft weight. Always
use soft weights to avoid pool damage.
After shoot (2-3 hours):
Break down the set, clean and wash all gear,
clean up, download and backup images, and fall into bed.
While a dedicated underwater photo studio is nice to have, it is
not necessary for getting great images of models. Start out simple,
shoot shallow, use what equipment you have or can borrow and be
inspired by other photographers’ work. Just give it a try, and see
what happens!
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A koi pond aerator below the model generated the
bubble storm in this image.
Opposite, top:
Rod Klein reviews images with
model Taylor Carr between setups.
Opposite, bottom left:
Shot through the lower-level
viewing window, Klein photographs model Natllely
Dominguez, while safety diver Jeff Sisil stands by.
Note the studio strobe in the pool and the wall-
and tripod-mounted underwater strobes.
Opposite, bottom right:
Model Vartuhi gets makeup
and a dress adjustment from designer Mojan Hos.