I’ll never forget the surreal experience of standing in front of my first underwater photography exhibition. As I watched people gather around my images, lingering on them as if they held a secret, I felt humbled. It wasn’t about the pictures—it was about the stories they told. The vibrant hues of soft corals, the quirky character of a cuttlefish, the delicate shimmer of a nudibranch—all those moments mattered.
That experience reminded me that creating truly captivating underwater photos isn’t about luck. It’s about intention, skill, and storytelling. If you are hoping to make people stop, stare, and connect with your underwater images, here’s how to do it.
Start with a Story
A beautiful image is good, but a story-driven image is unforgettable. What makes a photo stop someone in their tracks is its ability to convey an emotion or moment. Think about what your subject is doing. Is the octopus camouflaging against the rocks? Is it a pod of dolphins playing together? Capturing behaviour adds layers of meaning beyond the visual.
Tip: Before you dive, plan your story. Are you capturing the textures of macro critters or the scale of large marine life? Aim to tell a narrative with each shot.
Light is Your Best Friend—Use It Wisely
Light is everything underwater. Without it, colours fade to green or blue, and even the most interesting subject can appear lifeless. Using strobes effectively can make or break your image. For dramatic effects, experiment with snooting or backlighting, which can create halo effects or bring out translucent textures in marine life.
Tip: When working with natural light, shoot with the sun either behind you to light your subject, or, if you’re photographing a kelp forest, shoot into the sun, with the sunlight adding a glow to the kelp fronds. For macro, ensure your strobes are angled properly to avoid uneven lighting and backscatter.
Composition Creates Impact
A well-composed underwater photo is like a well-told story: it draws you in and guides your eye. Instead of centring the subject, try using the rule of thirds or creating diagonal lines to add flow and energy to the shot. Negative space can help highlight the subject and create a clean, minimalist aesthetic.
Tip: Avoid what I call “butt shots”—when your subject is swimming away from you. Wait patiently for the subject to face you, especially in fish portraits where eye contact is key. Watch the direction in which your shark / dolphin / turtle / fish is swimming and try to position yourself in front of, or to the side of it and wait for it to swim close enough to you to light it with your strobes.
Colour and Contrast Matter
The ocean is full of colours that can pop when lit correctly. Vibrant soft corals, crazy-coloured nudibranchs, or the sharp details of a tiny crab —all these elements depend on lighting and contrast to shine. Pay attention to how your subject stands out against its background. If the background is too cluttered, reposition, use a snoot, or adjust the depth of field for separation.
Tip: Experiment with bokeh backgrounds for macro shots by using a shallow depth of field, or aim for clean black backgrounds by isolating your subject with a snoot or inward lighting.
Don’t Just “Take” a Photo—Make One
I know how easy it is to rely on “basic” jump settings. Many underwater photographers do. But the difference between a good photo and a great one often lies in deliberate choices—knowing your camera inside out, adjusting settings based on the shot, and not playing it safe.
Tip: Open up your aperture or play with slow shutter speeds for artistic blur. Try shooting macro with a blue background instead of black. Try back lighting. Get outside of your comfort zone!
Patience is Everything
Underwater photography rewards patience. It’s not just about finding the perfect subject but waiting for the right moment. Whether it’s waiting for a fish to perch perfectly on a piece of coral, or for a nudibranch to crawl to the top of a rock, patience often leads to those magical, scroll-stopping images.
Tip: Spend time with your subject. Marine life can be curious—allow them to become comfortable with your presence before taking the shot.
Practice, Reflect, Improve
Every dive is a new opportunity to learn. Review your shots after each session and assess what worked and what didn’t. Did you achieve the lighting balance you wanted? Were your subjects sharp and in focus? Self-critique helps you fine-tune your craft and turn those “lucky” shots into consistent results.
Tip: Have a “catalogue” of images in your mind. Know how to recreate them if the situation or subject arises. Be prepared so that when a particular subject shows itself, you can draw on that catalogue of images and know exactly how you want to photograph it.
Underwater photography isn’t just a technical pursuit—it’s a deeply creative and emotional one. The ocean offers us fleeting moments of wonder, and as photographers, we have the privilege of preserving them. With every photo you make, remember that you’re not just documenting the underwater world—you’re sharing its magic.
Just like that exhibition reminded me of the power of visual storytelling, I hope you find joy and fulfillment in creating images that leave a lasting impact. After all, the best underwater photos don’t just show—they make people feel.