The Editor says: Underwater photography is a highly specialized skill. Yet many consumers are misled by questionable practices in the market — you'll often see group bookings advertised online with "free photos" included, only to find that after paying for the trip, the images fall far short of expectations, leading to no small number of disputes. We need to understand that underwater photography is never as simple as pressing a shutter button. Just as you would hire a professional photographer to capture precious moments at a wedding or other major event on land, why would you settle for a recreational diver behind the camera once you're underwater? This article is adapted from a sharing by Audrey, a freediving and mermaid instructor at Mermaid Ocean.
Having taught and organized activities in freediving, mermaiding, and water dancing for nearly eight years, Fishman Freediving and Mermaid Ocean have worked with countless underwater photographers — from the beginner phase when land photographers first transition to the water, through casual documentary-style shooting, to fully shoot-oriented productions. Subject matter has evolved from stills to video and short-form clips. Setting aside a purely technical photographic analysis (that isn't our area of expertise), we serve as the bridge between photographers and students (clients) — handling planning, movement direction, instruction, and safety supervision. Here we want to share how to choose an underwater photographer who is right for you, safe, and truly professional.
1. Do They Respect the Client and the Team?
Give priority to underwater photographers who confirm details before, during, and after a shoot — not only after everything is done (which risks out-of-focus shots, incorrect settings that make post-processing harder, compositions or editing styles the client doesn't like, and so on).
Before publishing any work, they should do a final check with the client, respect all co-creators, and credit the team members and clients involved.
After all, without a trained support team, skilled performers (subjects), and safety supervision, no worthwhile work can be produced.
In underwater portrait photography, subjects typically care more about their posture and expression than about lighting or scenery. In our experience, some photographers consider the final images entirely their own work and do not allow clients to apply any post-processing; others view the images as a collaborative creation and are happy for clients to edit; and still others will handle portrait retouching themselves.
Whether or not a photographer will — or needs to — retouch portraits, or whether clients almost never need adjustments because they already love the results, are all things that should be confirmed and factored in beforehand.
2. Success Rate and How They Direct Subjects
When shooting with marine life or with beginners (in a pool or the ocean), it is generally impossible to guarantee a certain number of shots or a specific success rate. Yet very few people ask what happens if the success rate is extremely low — or if no usable images are obtained at all — due to the photographer's own shortcomings, such as a lack of underwater proficiency or weak shooting and editing skills. How should clients seek compensation in those cases?
Before a shoot, an experienced underwater photographer will proactively ask for details about the shoot requirements. Based on the client's ability, needs, and preferred style, they will prioritize safety throughout the session and will "communicate effectively with the instructor and the subject, guide and adjust, accept professional advice, and offer positive encouragement and praise to the client."
There are many group bookings online, and photos alone do not necessarily reveal a photographer's true skill level — impressive-looking results can be achieved through heavy editing. We recommend asking dive shops, instructors, and past clients about their experience with a photographer before joining any trip.
Model: Audrey. Photographer: 大俠. Photo courtesy of: Mermaid Ocean
3. On-Time Delivery and How Files Are Provided
Key considerations include: file format (photo or video), the number of fully retouched images or length of edited footage, delivery deadline, output quality, whether raw/unedited files are provided in full, partially, or not at all, the number of revisions offered, and a reasonable turnaround time.
For dive trips, being able to review footage and photos on the same day is useful for making adjustments the following day. For beginners, providing raw files (at minimum a pre-selected batch) increases the chance of a satisfying outcome. It is also advisable to choose a photographer who lets the client select their preferred images before final retouching, since the photographer's favorite shots are not always the client's favorites.
Finally, choose an underwater photographer who delivers on time — one who will not withhold or delay delivering images simply because you are not an influencer or not female, and who will not ignore their commitment or refuse to communicate. This point is especially important. "No matter how professional a photographer is, if the images are never delivered, the client never receives their work, or the final results are wildly different from what was shown, none of it means anything."
There is generally an unspoken give-and-take between clients and underwater photographers. Even in cases of delays or additional revisions, mutual respect and open communication are essential.
4. The Photographer's Freediving Skills and Safety Awareness
If an underwater photographer shoots while freediving, do they hold a professional certification? Do they have solid freediving skills and buoyancy control? Do they have ocean safety awareness, open-water experience, and a rescue and safety supervision team? "Underwater photography combines underwater expertise with photographic expertise — it is not enough to simply be a great photographer."
5. Respect for Professional Dive Guides and Safety Supervisors
An underwater photographer who, depending on the location, scale, and plan of the shoot, also arranges and compensates appropriate professional movement coaches and underwater safety supervisors (covering the right number of personnel, scope, and whether scuba diving or freediving is involved) is well worth prioritizing. Just as we would hire a professional underwater photographer when we need to be photographed, different disciplines call for different experts.
Model: Audrey. Photographer: 哲豪. Photo courtesy of: Mermaid Ocean
6. Understanding Client Ability, Screening, and Leveling
Reputable group organizers online will proactively ask about each client's ability and assign them accordingly — knowing how to screen and turn down clients when appropriate, rather than accepting everyone in pursuit of profit. Regardless of who is involved in an incident, if someone in the group goes missing or gets injured, everyone in that group shares a moral responsibility, and the entire trip is affected.
7. Shooting Style, Portrait Photography Expertise, and Post-Processing Skills
Underwater portrait photography is genuinely difficult. Consider what type of shoot you want: video or stills? Mermaiding or water dancing? Freediving? Does the photographer work across water, land, and aerial settings? Try to choose a photographer with a clear specialty in the relevant area, or one with broad, multi-faceted professional experience.
We recommend choosing a photographer who continually learns and adapts. You can ask what camera equipment and editing software they use, and observe the style and presentation of their published work to see whether it matches your taste — "because after the fact, you can only try to adjust things rather than demand what you originally wanted."
For experience sharing on swimming with cetaceans, please refer to the previous article. We hope everyone finds a quality group, professional training instructor, and underwater photography team that suits them well. Mermaid Ocean instructor Audrey.
- Cover photo model: Audrey
- Photographer: bolin
- Photo courtesy of: Fishman Freediving
Related Links
- Author: Fishman Freediving Instructor Audrey
- Swimming with Whales and Dolphins — 6 Rules You Should Know, by Audrey Lee
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