↓ Skip to main content
Amer Khalid Photography
Underwater portrait in a black lace masquerade mask, arms raised like a dancer above sunlit ripples on the pool floor
Dakota with his head just above the surface of a blue pool, his reflection below, in a private pool in Frisco
Model kneeling on the pool floor in a long dark dress, hands on her cheeks, looking up through the water
Head tipped back as water flies off his hair, shoulders just above a dark pool
Underwater portrait suspended mid-water, knees bent and hands crossed at the chest
60-minute session, from $750

Underwater Portraits

Underwater portraits in a private backyard pool. Lots of planning up front, and safe the whole way through.

Get in touch

Underwater is the newest thing I shoot, and the one I most want to do more of. I’m still building this side of my portfolio. So far that’s a session with a college grad, a workshop with a professional underwater model, and a lot of pool days with my own kids.

Who it’s for
#

  • Seniors, juniors, and college grads who want photos that don’t look like anyone else’s (pair it with a full senior session and the combo is $1,000)
  • Athletes who want motion and intensity in a way you can’t get on land
  • Creatives building a personal brand (see brand portraits)
  • Expecting parents (more on that below)
  • Couples looking for an editorial set
  • Artists and influencers who want something with actual weight to it
  • Kids and families who’d rather do cannonballs than stand in a field (this is what a pool day with my own kids looks like)
Underwater portrait with deep red fabric drifting through turquoise pool water

That’s Marie’s session, and it’s the clearest example I have of what fabric does once it’s under the surface. Nothing about that shape is possible on land.

Maternity underwater
#

Water is the one place a pregnant body gets to be weightless, and that’s most of why these work. No holding still while your back gives out, no propping yourself against a tree. You float, the fabric does its own thing, and the session is easier on you than an hour on land.

The tradeoff is breath. You get about one good frame per breath down there, and pregnancy cuts that shorter. So we plan fewer setups, rest between each one, and you set the pace the whole way.

Underwater maternity portrait in profile, hands cradling the belly, hair sweeping back

That one’s from a workshop hosted by Beth Graeme, the same pool as Marie’s session. It’s the only underwater maternity set I’ve shot so far.

What to expect
#

Planning call We’ll go over your concept, wardrobe, and the look you want before we ever get in the water. Nothing about it gets improvised.

Safety first Clear coaching and a controlled environment. You set the pace and you can stop anytime.

Reaching toward the camera through churning, sunlit water in a private Frisco pool

Daylight I shoot these in natural light, so we go around midday, when the sun is high enough to reach down into the pool.

Private gallery Your edited images delivered via private online gallery in 7-14 days.

The process
#

  1. Reach out: Tell me what you have in mind and we’ll set up a planning call
  2. Plan: We’ll discuss wardrobe, comfort level, and the look you want
  3. Schedule: We’ll lock in a date with a $100 booking fee that comes off your session price. More than 24 hours’ notice gets it back if plans change, and cold water or storms are my call, in which case you pick a new date or a refund (full terms)
  4. Shoot: Show up ready and we’ll work through the shot list together
  5. Delivery: Your edited photos land in a private gallery within 7-14 days

The underwater guide covers prep, wardrobe, poses, and safety in a lot more detail.

Featured session

Dakota underwater

Dakota's underwater portraits in a private Frisco pool.

Man with his head just above the surface of a blue pool, staring straight into the camera, his reflection below Underwater portrait of a man floating on his back in dark water, arms spread, light falling across his chest Pressing his cupped hands to his mouth, eyes closed, water beading on his skin
See Dakota's session
All ages

Underwater sessions

A college grad, a professional underwater model, and my own kids on the Fourth of July.

Underwater portrait of a man suspended in deep blue water, one hand reaching toward the camera Dakota, college grad Kid in blue goggles and star-print swim trunks swimming toward the camera through a cloud of bubbles July 4th with my kids Marie diving forward through clear turquoise water, arms reaching ahead, her shadow on the pool floor Marie, underwater model
Reach out

Tell me what you're picturing.

Underwater takes more planning than land sessions. The more you share up front, the better the shoot.

I'll text or email you back, usually within a few days.
Real questions

Things people ask

Do I need to be a strong swimmer?
No. You need to be okay putting your face underwater for a few seconds at a time, and that’s about it. You can stand up in the pool, and we go at your pace.
What should I wear?
Something long and flowy in a bold solid color. We’ll sort it out on the planning call, and the underwater guide has a whole wardrobe section.
Can I do an underwater session while pregnant?
Yes. The water takes the weight off, so it tends to be easier than standing through a land session. Clear it with your doctor first. Timing we work out on the planning call, since how far along you are changes how long a breath hold feels and how many setups make sense. Either way, plan on a slower session with real rest between takes.
Where do you shoot?
In a private backyard pool, either mine or yours if you’ve got one that works. I shoot in daylight, so we plan for the middle of the day, when the sun is high enough to light the water.
Is it safe?
Yes. Everyone gets a safety briefing before they get in, the pool is shallow enough to stand in, and you decide when to go under and when to come up.
Do you shoot scuba, snorkeling, or open water?
No. Every session happens in a private pool where you can stand up and the edge is a few feet away. No tanks, no snorkels, no lakes or oceans. That’s partly how I keep these safe and partly because my insurance excludes scuba and open water. If you were picturing a lake, that’s not one I can take.
Can I combine this with a senior or brand session?
Yes. Pair underwater with a full land session and the combo is $1,000, which saves you $150 over booking them separately. We plan both together.
If the subject is under 18, does a parent need to be there?
Yes. For any underwater session with a minor, a parent or guardian needs to be right there for the entire session: poolside, or in the water beside them if you’re in the shot for family frames. Water shoots are safety-first and I’m strict about it.
What if we don't want underwater photos of our kid online?
Totally fair. I share work I like, so if you want this one kept private, say so and nothing goes on my site or my socials. If something’s already up and you want it gone, ask and it’s gone, even with a release signed.

Ready to get in the water?

Send me a message and we'll start planning. Underwater needs more lead time than a land session, so earlier is better.

Get in touch
or fill out a form