Underwater photography: what to know

What the job involves, what changes the price, and what to ask a pro.

What underwater photography is

A photographer captures images beneath the surface in pools, oceans or tanks, using waterproof housings and strobe lighting, with diving or breath-hold skills. Clients book underwater photography for portraits, events, marine subjects, product shots and promotional work where the water itself is part of the image.

Signs you need it

  • You want portraits or family photos taken underwater in a pool or a tank
  • You are planning an event, a swim team or a promotional shoot in water
  • You want images of marine life or a dive site for a record or a project
  • You want a photographer who knows water safety and the venue's rules
  • You want images that use strobe lighting and waterproof gear to show clear detail
  • You want a photographer who can work with models or subjects in the water

What the pro does

  • Asks about the location, the depth, the water conditions and the subjects you want
  • Checks the water, the depth, the entry and exit points and the safety plan
  • Sets up the waterproof housing, the lights and the backdrop for the shoot
  • Works with the subjects in the water using clear signals and breaks
  • Edits the images for color, which water changes a lot, and delivers the final files
  • Packs up the gear and dries and cleans the equipment after the shoot

What changes the price

Every job is different, so we do not publish prices. These are the things that move the quote up or down.

  • Length of the shoot and the time needed in the water
  • Depth of the water and the type of location, such as a pool, a tank or open water
  • Number of subjects or models and any safety staff needed
  • Strobe lighting, housings and other gear the shoot needs
  • Travel distance and any boat or dive support needed
  • Number of edited images and the editing level for water color
  • Whether the photographer needs a second diver or a safety person

What a written quote should spell out

  • Location, depth, water type and the time planned in the water
  • Safety plan, including the number of safety staff and rescue equipment
  • Gear included, such as housings and lighting
  • Number of subjects and the number of images delivered
  • Delivery format and editing level for underwater color
  • What happens if water or weather conditions are not safe

Questions to ask before you hire

  • What is your diving or breath-hold training, and can I see your certification?
  • What is your safety plan, and who is on site to watch the water?
  • How deep will we go, and what happens if the conditions change?
  • Can I see underwater photos from a location like mine?
  • Do you bring the housing and lights, and how do you protect the gear?
  • How do you handle subjects who are nervous in the water?
  • Do you carry liability insurance that covers you, the subjects and the location?

Red flags

  • They cannot show training records or a safety plan for the location
  • They put a subject in the water without a trained spotter or safety person
  • They ignore the venue's rules on depth, safety or equipment
  • They promise shots in water that is not safe or clear
  • They will not confirm the safety plan or insurance in writing

What you can do yourself

Do not try underwater photography with a housing or lights in a pool or open water without the right training and a trained safety person. You can prepare by choosing a location the venue allows, checking the rules and setting a clear plan for the subject's comfort. Hire a trained underwater photographer for the water work, the safety plan and the lighting, since water and depth can cause serious harm without experience.

Licenses and permits

No state license is usually required for underwater photography, but diving, pool and open-water activities can require training records, venue approval or a permit. Check the venue, the local authority and your state or local licensing agency before any water work, and ask the photographer for training and safety documents.

Underwater photography questions

Does an underwater photographer need a license?

Usually not a state license for photography alone. Dive training, venue approval and safety documents are often required, so ask for them.

Can a child or a non-swimmer be photographed underwater?

Only with a trained safety person in the water and a clear plan. Ask the photographer for its safety rules for each subject before booking.

Who owns the underwater photos?

Agree on this in writing before the shoot. The contract should say who owns the images and how the subject may use them.

About this guide

This national guide is written and checked by infinibell. Rules and conditions differ by place, so local pros are credited on guides for the cities they serve, not on national ones.

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