underwater experience
The
BYRON BAY REGION, NSW
NORTHERN BEACHES, SYDNEY
Next travel dates: 26th - 30th December 2024
Crafting fine art images with meticulous attention to detail, a truly one-of-a-kind experience, tailored for those who value quality, artistry and choose self-love
all about
UNDERWATER
photography
Tailored to your vision, at the heart of each piece is a celebration of the feminine beauty. Undertaken from a private pool location, you will be expertly guided every step of the way; from creating a vision through to posing and image selection. Whether you are celebrating a special occasion or simply embracing your own beauty, get ready to walk away with gallery worthy images you will cherish for always.
Celebrating femininity, strength and grace on an underwater canvas.
THIS EXPERIENCE IS PERFECT FOR YOU If you are seeking
WHO THIS IS FOR
1.
To Celebrate. You are looking to embrace self-love and unapologetically celebrate YOU.
2.
To Reclaim. You have given your energy to everyone and everything - except yourself - and now you're ready to embark on a journey of reclamation.
3.
To Cherish. You are here to celebrate a special occasion - and here to give it the recognition it deserves.
4.
The Exceptional. You are sensitive to art and beauty, you are discerning, and seek what is unique and one-of-a-kind.
A GIRL SHOULD BE
who & what
— COCO CHANEL
SHE WANTS
TWO THINGS,
capturing the art of you
on an underwater canvas
If a picture is worth a thousand words, underwater ones are worth a million.
self-love
A self-love session is all about YOU! Whether you are here because of a milestone, a new experience, reclamation, or just because .. I am here to hold space for you so you may fully embrace and immerse yourself in this experience.
An underwater self-love session is more than a photoshoot; it is a journey where you will be transformed into art.
When was the last time you were the one in front of the camera?
When were you last given the space to just be?
More than a pretty picture, I invite you to tap into something more – whether that’s your femininity, sensuality, confidence or tenderness.
This experience is an invitation to celebrate every part of you. It is a chance to reconnect with your inner self, to rediscover the beauty that lies within, and to emerge with a renewed sense of confidence and self-worth.
Tailored to your vision, themes, concepts and styling are all key areas that we will explore as part of the planning process.
Get ready to be seen. It's time to celebrate you.
just add water...
just add water...
maternity
If there’s ever a special occasion that calls for an underwater portrait session, it would have to be when you are expecting …
Amidst the preparations for your little one’s arrival, it can be easy to forget that there may just be the one time in our lives where our bodies transform into this beautiful, yet fleeting, form.
A transformation which soon will become just a distant memory.
While it may feel insignificant at the time, deep within you recognise the importance to create a tangible reminder of your growing body.
Something more than the intermittent bathroom mirror selfie. Something special, unique, that represents YOU!
An underwater maternity session offers you this unique opportunity to showcase the beauty of your pregnancy in a truly artistic way.
A chance to step away from the norm. And create something one-of-a-kind.
Get ready to walk away with showstopping underwater maternity photos. Heirloom art to be treasured for generations.
A poetic synergy ...
A poetic synergy ...
mermaids
You have unapologetically embraced your inner mer, curated a unique mersona, stayed vigilant for limited releases of mermaid apparel and invested thousands in a custom silicone tail. Countless months you waited for your tail's creation, measuring every mm and curve of your body to ensure the perfect fit.
With time you have brought your mersona to life, you have done it! With each swim and breath-hold you feel a sense of calm and connectedness that is missing on land.
But what about the days when it's not possible to take a dive? What about those colder months when you have no choice but to keep your beautiful tail tucked away?
You have invested too much and come too far on your journey to now just be hidden away. And you deserve more than a few frame grabs from a GoPro to show for it!
Fine art mermaid portraits are curated with the same love and care that goes into your tail creation. Just as unique and one-of-a-kind, your fine art mermaid portraits will bring a piece of beauty into your everyday space.
A tangible reminder of that special part of you.
be anchored to the sea, no matter the season ...
be anchored to the sea, no matter the season ...
I WILL NEVER HAVE THIS VERSION OF ME AGAIN.
Let me slow down and be with her.
— rupi kaur
HOW IT WORKS
THE PLANNING
THE EXPERIENCE
THE ARTWORK
Focus is on preparing for your session, finding your style and creating your vision. We will discuss your experience and comfort level, wardrobe and styling, and concept and creativity.
It's time to create! Your session unfolds at your pace, you will never feel rushed. I will guide you through different poses and looks until we have the imagery we want.
Following your session I will lightly edit a selection of images for you to choose your favourites from. These will then be fully edited and retouched. The editing process is where the art truly starts to unfold.
HOLLY MADE ME FEEL
confident and comfortable
— JACQUELINE
THROUGHOUT THE EXPERIENCE
Your session unfolds at your pace, everything will be tailored to your experience and comfort level. We have already discussed styling and done all the prep work before you arrive so this is the time to just be present and see where the water takes us.
What to expect on your session day
Before entering the water we will take our time to breathe, stretch and go over underwater posing and buoyancy control.
We begin the session, often starting out in waist deep water. We will explore different poses and wardrobe items inline with your vision. We will capture, review and capture again, until we have something truly special.
It may feel challenging and less-than-graceful at times, but rest assured you are doing great! We will take as many breaks as needed along the way and the session will just fly by!
INVESTMENT
Custom underwater art starts from $890 with tailored collections or custom package options available.
Choose from pre-tailored collections or curate your own. Only purchase what you love. Digital images, print collections, handmade wall art and bespoke heirloom albums are all available. For a full price list with all image and product offerings please contact me.
Frequently asked questions
WHere are you based?
Pool based sessions are arranged in the Byron Bay region of NSW. If you live in the area and have a pool that is suitable I am also happy to travel to you. Sessions are additionally periodically arranged in Sydney's Northern Beaches. Join the waitlist for the next availability.
DO I HAVE TO OPEN MY EYES UNDERWATER
Having your eyes open or closed is entirely up to you and depends on your level of comfort and the look you’re wanting to achieve. When reviewing photos it is often the ones where the client has their eyes closed that are the most loved. Closing your eyes can create a sense of relaxation as you bring your focus inward and immerse yourself in the sensation of being underwater. It can also be easier to maintain a relaxed facial expression and avoid squinting and other facial distortions.
what do i wear? do you shoot nudes?
You can wear as much or as little as you’re comfortable in. I shoot nudes, implied nudes and boudoir / lingerie. Your boundaries will always be respected and we will discuss styling and wardrobe in detail at time of your visions meeting.
HOW LONG WILL I HAVE TO HOLD MY BREATH?
We will submerge for only a few seconds at a time. You set the pace and we will take as much rest as needed. It is also not essential to fully submerge if you are not comfortable with this; anonymity can be an interesting feature of a piece.
WHEN DO YOU DO UNDERWATER SESSIONS?
I generally run sessions in the warmer months between November and April. If you are wanting to explore an underwater session outside of these times get in touch and we can discuss further.
HOW LONG UNTIL I RECEIVE MY IMAGES?
After you have selected your favourite images it will take up to 4 weeks to receive the final edited digital images, a little longer for Northern Beaches sessions owing to travel. I put a lot of love and care into crafting each image with special attention given to colour correction and touch-ups, which is why it’ll take a little more time to deliver your final images. Wall art and prints may take approximately 4 weeks to arrive once the order is placed.
HOW LONG IS A SESSION?
I don’t put a time limit on the session as everyone is different, we go at your own pace. As a guide you can expect to be in the water for up to 1.5 hours taking breaks as needed. It depends largely on your comfort in the water, the number of looks, and outfit changes.
what if it rains?
One of the things about an underwater photoshoot is that it doesn’t matter too much if it rains – we’re underwater and wet anyway. In saying that, too much rain just prior to and during the shoot can impact water clarity and make visibility difficult. I want the experience to be positive so will speak with you about rescheduling if it looks like conditions would be less than ideal.
© Holly McLean 2024
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Underwater Portrait and Maternity Photographer for Byron Bay's Northern Rivers and Sydney's Northern Beaches
Underwater + Materntiy Photography for Byron Bay's Northern Rivers and Sydney's Northern Beaches
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