Top Tips for Great Underwater Portraits

I was totally amazed by the creative talents of Tim Tadder, the LA based photographer who has been working his magic on a series of underwater portraits called Fish Heads. Now, these photos are pretty spectacular not to mention hugely inspirational, and there is no reason why you can't emulate the idea with your own equipment to add an extra splash of creativity to your 365 Project.

Top Tips

• Choose a pool for your first shots, so you don't have to worry about tides - or sharks!


• Shoot on a sunny afternoon for amazing backlighting


• Use an underwater flash or strobe to light your subject


• To avoid illuminating the particles in the water angle the flash towards the lens


• Get close up - familiar textures have an uncanny appearance under the water... Make the most of it!


• The light refracting at the surface creates some excellent effects, experiment with the unique lighting opportunities

Why Not Try...

• Taking props underwater - objects take on an ephemeral quality when placed in an unusual environment


• Dressing up - flowing fabrics look fabulous underwater. Be aware that it is much more difficult to swim! Maybe try it out in the shallow end of a pool first.


• Shooting the world from just under the water’s surface - it gives a ‘fish eye’ view of something usually familiar.


• Get gravity defying shots - ask your subject to somersault under water for unusual angles and amazing suspended shots.

We will be chatting with Tim Tadder in the very near future – if there is anything you would really like us to ask, let us know and we will see if we can slip it in to the interview.

A big thanks to Ontiveros and Heidi for sharing their images.

**Photos Updated December 29 2018**