Safety is always Number One
! SPRING IS FINALLY HERE !
I don't know about you, but for us, it felt like forever until March 19th rolled around.
The outside temperatures are gradually climbing, the days are getting longer, and we are slowly thinking of outdoor activities again. If you found me, you might even have considered an underwater portrait session for yourself or your family and friends.
Underwater photography is amazing, and creating portraits below the surface of any body of water is nothing short of magical. BUT - it comes with the immense responsibility of keeping everyone safe.
Now, you might ask yourself, what can you do to pick the right photographer who will take those beautiful portraits while making safety a priority? There are a few things you can do to make sure you choose an experienced and well-trained specialist; first and foremost - Ask questions, and here are three to start with:
1. Is there a safety briefing at the beginning of the session?
A few things to discuss during a safety briefing are:
what is everyone's role in and around the pool? Who does what in case of an emergency?
What is the agreed-upon signal of distress?
Where are the flotation devices, and how are they used?
How deep will you get into the water while taking the photographs?
Everyone needs to be on the same page when working in and around a body of water.
2. How many safety swimmers will be present?
The photographer should have one safety swimmer for each person in the water.
I like to have two dedicated safety people during maternity sessions because, hey, there are technically two people being photographed ;-)
Multiple family members will probably have to get in the water one at a time. After all, it is a simple task to combine everyone into the same image in post-production.
3. What is the level of training the safety swimmers have gone through?
A safety person should absolutely be CPR/First Aid trained and ideally have lifeguard experience.
Let's face it; we are working in and underwater. Training on how to behave in a worst-case scenario is not optional but mandatory. We read about swimming accidents every year when summer rolls around. Swimming, playing, diving into the water is lots of fun and shouldn't be overshadowed by accidents. We can all significantly influence the number of such accidents by being aware that they can happen, being ready to spring into action, and having the knowledge to change their outcome.
If you'd like to know more about how we conduct our Underwater Portrait sessions, give us a call or send us a message.
If you'd like to hire us for your next Underwater Portrait Session or if you're a photographer and want to learn more about Underwater Portrait dos and don'ts, give us a call or send us a message. We'd love to hear from you.
Stay safe, ask questions, don't try anything crazy, and keep swimming friends
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