Highlight of my aquatic portrait sessions in the Riviera Maya
Make your wildest ideas a reality
If you’re staying near Cancun, Playa del Carmen or Tulum, take the opportunity to leave with artistic water portraits in your accommodation’s pool.
1 - unleash your imagination
to get creative underwater portraits
I’ll personalize your portrait session by finding ideas that suit you: We’ll meet before the session so you can tell me about yourself: Together, we’ll create images that are fun, surprising and playful.
We can create an underwater scene and add accessories that reflect your personality.
2 - I offer you dream dresses
I’ll offer with you dresses and/or mermaid costumes to turn you into a real underwater princess.
I have all the outfits you see and many more.
3- Make artwork of your portraits
you get the images in very high resolution for printing in very large format
Pierre Violle, your photographer
Graduate from EMI
Ecole des métiers de l’information
Paris, France
Pierre developed an ambitious portrait project in Mexico by combining my two passions: portrait photography and his love of underwater exploration.
He transforms aquatic locations into extraordinary photographic studios.
F.A.Q.
Do I need to be a good swimmer to take part in an underwater photo session?
You don’t have to be necessarily a good swimmer
We can take photos in a shallow area (pool, cenote, or on the sea shore). That way, after every immersion, all you have to do is stand up to take a breath. Even at a depth of only 1.5 m (5 ft), we can take amazing photos.
Of course, if you are a good swimmer, we can recommend deeper locations and create other types of image.
Be calm and relaxed
This is the KEY to achieving the best underwater portraits. Only when you’re in that state will your face and body reflect your inner self. Some people panic when they are underwater and this is immediately visible in their expressions. If that’s the case, then you need to practice putting your face in the water before our session so that you learn to relax, and we are able to produce photos that reveal your true personality.
The following photos were taken in areas no deeper than 1.5 m. The models have their heads just below the surface of the water.
For how long will I be holding my breath underwater?
15-20 seconds under the water in a relaxed state are enough for each immersion.
Naturally, the longer you are able to last, the more possibilities there are.
Anyone can hold their breath for 20 seconds. If you try to hold your breath right now, without giving it any more thought, you’ll most likely last longer than 20 seconds. Being underwater can seem unnatural and make some people anxious, causing them to quickly feel out of breath, with the result that they only last a few seconds. To be able to hold your breath for at least 20 seconds, it’s simply a matter of learning to be calm and relaxed under the water.
What clothing best suits an underwater session?
We can advise you on the most appropriate clothes to bring according to your session type, based on our wide experience. Here are some things to start considering for a successful shoot:
Clothes type
For maximum agility in the water, bring clothes that adjust to your body’s movements. Full, loose-fitting clothes, such as long, wide skirts, and even slips or half-slips are recommended for creating effects and movement underwater.
Bring various items of clothing that suit the location and your swimming ability. When we take photos of movement in deep waters, the right garments will accentuate the contours of your body. If we take still photos, a loose, flowing outfit will nonetheless produce spectacular effects.
Think about design and color when selecting the different clothing items you bring to the photo shoot.
Color
Light and vibrant colors work very well underwater (orange, red, white, pink). It’s best to stick to one color and avoid patterned fabrics or garments with more than two colors, as they can cause unclear images under the water. We also recommend avoiding nude colors so that the body is easily distinguishable from the clothes.
Underwear
It’s best not to bring underwear for the shoot as it will probably be visible under wet clothes. However, if you wish to wear it, we recommend nude colors and very fine fabrics (without obvious seams).
We have huge, brightly colored sheets (5 m long – 15 ft long) that we can wrap around you, to give the appearance of a mermaid with a long tail fluttering in the water (see the photos below).
What about hair styling and make-up?
We can recommend hair stylists and make-up artists with whom we have worked before, and who use waterproof make-up.
You can also bring your own stylists. Some clients even choose to style their own hair and make-up.
Can I bring accessories and props to use underwater?
Yes! Of course!
Think about objects that represent something about your past or your life, generally. Let your imagination go wild; there are no limits. Size doesn’t matter – little or large, we can include it in the scene.
We can create fun or romantic settings, or set up an interesting scene that contrasts with the aquatic environment. Share your ideas with us and we’ll help you find the right props and accessories.
If it’s too heavy to carry it, tell me and I will find it here!
How long does an underwater photo shoot last?
To achieve the best underwater shots, several takes are necessary. The models and the photographers need to adapt to each other and it takes time and patience to reach a point of synchronicity.
A session can last from one to six/seven hours (with breaks). Each session is different and the duration will depend on the effects we want to achieve.
In any case, aquatic photo shoots do require significant physical and mental effort. Therefore, it’s essential to arrive well rested, and feeling fit and ready to cooperate with the team. For this reason, we don’t schedule couples shoots the day after the wedding. It’s always best to wait one more day to ensure that you are in good shape.
Do you also do open-air sessions, out of the water?
Yes!
If the location allows for it and provides attractive enough backgrounds, we also take open-air photos
