Underwater Senior Portraits: The Complete Guide (2026)

Underwater senior portraits are one of the most unique things you can do for your senior year. Instead of standing in a field at golden hour (which is great too), you’re submerged in a private pool with flowing fabric, dramatic lighting, and images that look like nothing else in your grad portfolio. If you’ve been thinking about booking an underwater portrait session in DFW, this guide covers everything from start to finish: cost, prep, wardrobe, poses, safety, and what the day actually looks like.

What Are Underwater Senior Portraits?

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Underwater senior portraits are exactly what they sound like: professional portrait photography shot beneath the surface in a pool. You wear flowing outfits, move through the water, and the result is something between fine art and editorial photography. The weightlessness creates natural movement in your hair, fabric, and body that you literally cannot replicate on land.

This type of session has been gaining traction for a while, but it’s really picked up with high school seniors who want something bold and different. It’s not just about looking cool (though you will). It’s about creating images that feel like a statement. Graduation marks a huge transition, and underwater portraits capture that energy in a way that a standard session can’t.

It’s also not limited to seniors. Athletes, creatives, couples, and influencers book underwater sessions too. But for seniors specifically, it’s become a signature way to stand out.

What an Underwater Session Looks Like

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If you’ve never done anything like this, here’s how the whole thing works from booking to delivery.

The Planning Call

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Every underwater session starts with a conversation. We’ll talk through the look you want, your comfort level in water, and wardrobe ideas. This isn’t the kind of session you show up to cold. Everything gets planned out so we’re not burning your pool time figuring it out.

Safety Briefing

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Before anyone gets in the pool, we do a full safety walkthrough. This covers hand signals for communicating underwater, breathing basics (when to inhale, how to exhale through your nose), what each set will look like, and your personal limits. You decide how deep you go and how long you stay under. No pressure, ever.

This is the foundation of every session, not a formality. Your comfort and safety come first. Always.

The Session

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Sessions happen in a private backyard pool here in the Frisco and DFW area. The water is shallow enough to stand in. I use professional underwater lighting for clean, vibrant results you won’t get with natural light alone.

We shoot in short intervals, usually 5-10 seconds underwater at a time, with breaks between each set. You go under, we capture the shot, you come up. Most seniors are surprised by how comfortable and fun it actually is. The whole session runs about 60 minutes in the water.

Delivery

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Your edited gallery is delivered within 7-14 days via a private online gallery. Five professionally edited photos are included in the base package, with the option to add more.

How to Prepare for Your Underwater Session

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A little prep goes a long way. You don’t need to be a competitive swimmer, but there are a few things that make a real difference.

Get Comfortable in Water First

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You need to be comfortable putting your face underwater and holding your breath for a few seconds at a time. That’s the whole bar.

If you’re not super confident, spend some time in a pool before your session. Practice going under, opening your eyes, and relaxing your face. The more natural it feels beforehand, the better your expressions will look on camera. Even 15 to 20 minutes of practice helps.

This is what practice looks like. My kids do the exact same thing, minus the posing.

Practice Holding Your Breath

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We shoot in short intervals. You’ll go under for a few seconds, we capture the shot, and you come up. Most sets last 5-10 seconds underwater, so you don’t need to hold your breath for a crazy amount of time.

A few things that help:

• Take a slow, deep breath before going under
• Exhale a tiny bit through your nose right as you submerge, which keeps water out of your nose
• Stay relaxed. Tension burns through your air faster
• Don’t push yourself. We take as many breaks as you need

Skin and Makeup Prep

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Sunscreen: skip it. Sunscreen clouds the water almost immediately and creates a hazy film that shows up in photos. Since we shoot in a private pool with controlled conditions, you won’t need it.

Lotion and oils: same deal. Anything on your skin transfers into the water. Come with clean, product-free skin.

Makeup: waterproof makeup is fine and actually holds up well. Waterproof mascara, setting spray, and lip stain are your best friends. Skip powder-based products, which dissolve on contact.

What to Bring

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• Your outfit or outfits, steamed and ready
• A towel, or two
• A dry change of clothes for after
• Waterproof makeup for touch-ups
• Hair ties and clips

What Happens Day Of

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1. Arrive and settle in. We go over the plan and do the safety briefing
2. Get in the water. Start slow, get comfortable, warm up with easy movements
3. Shoot in sets. Short bursts underwater with breaks between. We review shots together as we go
4. Wrap up. Dry off, change, done

The whole session is about 60 minutes in the water. Most people are surprised by how quickly it goes.

Mental Prep

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The biggest thing: trust the process. It’s normal to feel a little nervous your first time. That goes away fast once you’re in the water and see the first few frames.

Don’t worry about looking perfect on every take. We shoot a lot of frames, and the best shots usually come once you stop overthinking and start having fun.

What to Wear for Underwater Portraits

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Your outfit can make or break an underwater portrait. The right choice creates incredible movement and drama. The wrong one just looks heavy and awkward.

Flowing fabric in a deep red is about as close to ideal as this gets. The water catches the fabric, and the color sits about as far from blue-green as you can get. That’s from Marie’s session.

Fabrics

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Water gives fabric a life of its own. Lightweight, flowing materials billow and float naturally, creating shapes you can’t replicate on land.

Go with: chiffon, tulle, silk or silk-like blends, lightweight cotton, organza.

Skip: denim or heavy cotton, structured blazers and stiff fabrics, leather or faux leather, anything with real weight when wet.

The goal is movement. If it flows when you spin on land, it’ll look even better underwater.

Colors

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Water has a natural blue-green tint. Your outfit needs to stand out against it, not blend in.

Best underwater: deep red, bright white, gold and warm yellows, rich emerald green, hot pink or magenta, and black for contrast.

Avoid: light blue or teal (disappears into the water), pastels (wash out), neon (reflects weird color onto your skin).

One thing worth knowing: red tones fade with depth, so in deeper water a red dress can shift toward purple. We shoot in shallow pools with professional lighting, so your colors stay true. But it matters if you’re planning around a specific shade.

Dresses and Skirts Are the Move

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Long, flowing pieces create the most dramatic shots. The more fabric, the more flow. Think prom dresses, ballgowns, or a simple maxi skirt paired with a fitted top.

A long skirt does something on the pool floor that it can’t do standing up. All that extra fabric settles around you instead of hanging off you.

You don’t have to go formal. A flowy sundress or an oversized button-down over a swimsuit can look incredible too.

Swim trunks and nothing else, and it still holds up. Not every underwater portrait needs yards of fabric.

Hair Dye and Products

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This one matters. If you’ve had your hair dyed within the last two weeks, the color can bleed into the water and cloud everything up. Plan color appointments at least two weeks before your session.

Also skip heavy hair products like gel, mousse, or hairspray on session day. They cloud the water and leave residue in photos. Clean, product-free hair moves better underwater anyway.

Jewelry and Accessories

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Keep it simple. A statement necklace or earrings can add a nice touch, but anything loose or delicate risks falling off and sinking. Skip rings and bracelets unless they’re tight-fitting.

Crowns, floral headpieces, and hair accessories work surprisingly well when they’re secured properly. We’ll talk through options during your planning call.

For Kids, There Are No Rules

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Everything above is for styled sessions. If we’re shooting your kids, forget all of it. Regular swim trunks, goggles, whatever they already live in all summer. Those photos are about play, not wardrobe.

My kids wore flag trunks for a July 4th pool day and it’s some of my favorite underwater stuff I’ve shot. Pick whatever’s bold and comfortable, then let them play.

Quick Wardrobe Checklist

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• 1-2 flowy outfits (long dress, skirt, or loose top)
• Bold, solid colors
• No fresh hair dye, 2+ weeks before the session
• No heavy hair products day-of
• Simple, secure jewelry only
• Towel and a change of clothes for after

Poses That Work Underwater

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Posing underwater is nothing like posing on land. Gravity works differently, your body moves differently, and what looks good on the ground can look awkward below the surface. The key is working with the water instead of fighting it.

The Float. Arms gently extended, body relaxed, fabric fanning out around you. This is the classic underwater pose and it works because you let the water do the work.

The Reach. One or both arms extending upward toward the surface. It creates a sense of reaching for the light and naturally elongates your body. Pair it with a flowing dress and it’s an instant standout.

The Hair Flip. Going from face-down to looking up sends your hair fanning out in every direction. Dramatic, and it photographs incredibly well, especially with longer hair.

The Backfloat. Lying on your back just below the surface with arms out to the sides. Beautiful symmetry with light coming through the water above you.

Stay shallow enough and the sun breaks across you through the surface. Free light, and it moves every second, so no two frames match.

The biggest tip: move slowly. Think ballet, not basketball. Fast movements photograph as blur and bubbles, slow ones come out graceful and editorial. And don’t worry if you’ve never posed underwater before. I coach you through every single pose during the session.

For the full list of poses and what to avoid, read underwater portrait poses that actually work.

Is Underwater Photography Safe?

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Short answer: yes. Underwater portrait sessions are safe when they’re done with proper preparation, communication, and a controlled environment. Here’s how safety works in my sessions, and what you should expect from any underwater photographer.

The Environment

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All sessions take place in a private backyard pool. The water is shallow enough to stand in, and you’re never more than a few feet from the edge. This isn’t open water diving. It’s a calm, controlled setting where you’re fully in charge of how deep you go and how long you stay under.

That’s my own kid in that photo, feet flat on the pool floor. I run client sessions the same way I run pool days with my own family, and for any session with a minor, a parent stays poolside the entire time.

You Control the Pace

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You choose when you go under and when you come up, every single time. We shoot in short bursts with breaks between each set. If you need more time between takes, you take it. If something doesn’t feel right, we stop. There’s no rushing and no pressure.

You Don’t Need to Be a Strong Swimmer

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This is the most common concern I hear, and it’s a fair one. You don’t need to be a strong swimmer. You need to be comfortable putting your face underwater and holding your breath for a few seconds. That’s the bar. The pool is shallow, you can stand up at any time, and I’m right there with you the whole session.

Water in Your Nose and Eyes

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Exhaling gently through your nose as you go under keeps water out. It becomes second nature after the first couple of takes. For your eyes, keeping them relaxed and softly open, or closed for certain poses, works perfectly. No goggles needed.

If any of this feels uncomfortable during the session, we adjust. Always.

Buoyancy and Body Comfort

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Water makes you feel lighter. That’s buoyancy working in your favor. You’ll float naturally, and we use that to create weightless-looking poses. Some people find it surprisingly relaxing once they settle in.

What Your Photographer Should Always Do

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If you’re researching underwater photographers, here’s what to look for:

• A safety briefing before every session. No exceptions
• A shallow, controlled environment. Pools, not open water, unless they’re specifically trained for it
• Clear communication. You should know exactly what’s happening at every step
• CPR and First Aid knowledge. Anyone working in water should have basic emergency training
• No pressure. A good photographer will never push you past your comfort level

Underwater photography is safe when it’s treated with respect. The environment is controlled, the water is shallow, and you’re always in charge. Most clients walk away saying it was way more fun and way less scary than they expected.

How Much Do Underwater Senior Portraits Cost?

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Underwater sessions are $750 flat and include:

• 60-minute session in a private pool
• Professional underwater lighting
• Safety briefing and creative direction
• 5 professionally edited photos
• 1-2 outfit options
• Private online gallery delivered in 7-14 days

Many seniors also book a standard outdoor session alongside their underwater session for a complete portfolio of looks. Booked together, the combo is $900 instead of $1,000, and you get both the golden hour set and the bold underwater editorial from one round of planning.

FAQ

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How much do underwater senior portraits cost? Sessions are $750 and include a 60-minute private pool session, professional lighting, safety briefing, creative direction, and 5 professionally edited photos delivered in 7-14 days. Pairing underwater with a standard land session is a $900 combo.

Do I need to be a strong swimmer? No. You need to be comfortable putting your face underwater and holding your breath for a few seconds. The pool is shallow enough to stand in, and we go at your pace with breaks between every set.

How long do I hold my breath? Most sets last 5-10 seconds underwater. We shoot in short bursts with breaks between each set, and you come up whenever you need to.

What should I wear? Flowy fabrics like chiffon, tulle, and silk in bold solid colors create the most dramatic underwater photos. Long dresses and skirts billow beautifully. Avoid denim, structured clothing, and anything heavy when wet. For kids, swim trunks and goggles are perfect.

Should I wear sunscreen? No. Sunscreen clouds the water and creates a hazy film in photos. Skip lotions and oils too, and come with clean skin.

Can I dye my hair before the session? Get it done at least two weeks ahead. Fresh dye bleeds into the water and clouds everything. Also skip gel, mousse, and hairspray on session day.

Are underwater portrait sessions safe? Yes. Sessions take place in a shallow private pool with a full safety briefing before anyone gets in the water. You control the pace, we shoot in short 5-10 second intervals, and you can take breaks whenever you need them. For any session with a minor, a parent stays poolside the entire time.

Can I combine underwater with a regular senior session? Yes. Many seniors book an outdoor session alongside their underwater session for a complete portfolio of looks.

Where do sessions take place? In a private backyard pool in the Frisco and DFW area with professional underwater lighting.

See how these turn out in Dakota’s underwater session gallery, and find the full details on the underwater portraits page. If you’re looking for a photographer in the area more generally, the Frisco photographer page covers everything I shoot. I only book a few sessions a month, so check the pricing and reach out if you want one.