A swimming pool is the ultimate place for fun and making memories so it’s only natural that you want to take photos of those you care about most enjoying it. Here are some fantastic tips to help you capture those perfect moments to ensure you have them to look back on down the track.
Have a good quality camera
You don’t need much to take beautiful photos, just a good quality camera and once armed with our tips, you’ll be taking phenomenal photos in no time. Using a poor quality camera will result in grainy snaps. You won’t be able to enlarge them and they don’t make very good keepsakes. There are many smartphones out there today that have exceptional cameras on them, so if you have one of these, you don’t have to invest in a separate camera.
Take extra precautions around the water
Your camera or phone can get damaged easily from splashing or accidentally dropping it into the pool. Before taking it anywhere near the water, it’s a good idea to add some protection to it if you can. If you have a camera that you want to use near the pool, consider purchasing a neck strap to attach your camera to, that way if it slips out of your hands, you don’t have to worry about it sinking to the bottom of the pool. If you’re using your phone to take photos around the pool, a waterproof camera case is an effective way to protect it, you can even take it in the water with you which can enhance your photos further.
Gather equipment
If you have a tripod, drone or an additional piece of equipment you’d like to use to take your photos, get it all together before you start taking photos.
Lighting is everything
Any professional photographer will tell you that the quality of light can significantly affect how good or bad your photos are. Outside, there is ample light from the sun, however direct sunlight can be harsh and looking up can cause the eyes to squint and water which you don’t want in your photos. Avoid taking pool photos in the middle of the day when the sun is glary and intense. If you want to take photos in the middle of the day and the sun is bearing down, look at ways you can diffuse the light. You can do this by finding shade or using something such as an umbrella to shield some of the sunlight from the photo. If you can, it’s better to wait until later in the afternoon, the light is warm and not as strong at this time of the day and you’ll produce more professional-looking photos. If the pool is excessively dark and surrounded by shadows, get your subjects to move where there is more light. Believe it or not, cloudy days are perfect for taking photos outside, the light is diffused which softens the brightness of the sun and makes for stunning photographs.
The direction of the light
When the light is not intense, its best to get the people you are taking a photo of to look towards the light or position them so it’s coming from the side of them. Taking a photo with the light behind the subject will result in them looking dark and shadowy. There are many Lighting Options For Your Fibreglass Pool, find out what they are!
Keep your handy steady
Try to keep your hand as still as possible when taking your photos as a shaky hand can lead to blurry pictures that are not print-worthy. Additionally, try to direct the people you are photographing to stay still.
Learn about photography
If you are serious about taking high-quality photos, it’s a good idea to learn how to take photos properly. You can do a photography course where you’ll learn a combination of theoretical and practical skills or for a cheaper alternative, you can look up photography videos online. There are thousands of tutorial photography videos on the internet and the best part is, they are entirely free.
Make sure your pool area is clean
Nothing will ruin your photos more than an unkempt pool area or backyard. If you’re planning on taking photos, ensure the pool is clean and free from debris, put away your pool cleaner, cover, pool toys, floaties or anything else you don’t want in your photos. If there are particular props you would like in your snaps like loungers, umbrellas etc, make sure you get them set up and ready to go.
Head underwater
Most of us take pictures from the edge of the pool rather than under the water, but if your family members are confident swimmers, why not try something different from the norm and photograph them while they are underwater? Before doing this, it’s smart to run through what you are going to do so they are relaxed when under the water. Make sure their eyes are open and remember to use a waterproof camera or case. It’s best to do this when there is plenty of sunlight, if your pool is dark you may not get vibrant photos. If you have children, you can make the photo session more fun by getting them to dress up in their favourite costumes. You can even add some weighted props to the bottom of the pool to match the theme of their costume.
Keep it light-hearted and fun
For some people, posing doesn’t come naturally and their rigid posture and uncomfortableness will translate through the shots. This makes the photographs look forced and not natural, so when taking photos around the pool, try to keep it fun and not too serious. Candid photos are authentic and capture emotion, they can take you back to the day when looking back on them years later.
Send us your photos
If you’re taking photos in your Barrier Reef Pools fibreglass pool, we’d love it if you sent them to us on our social media. Nothing makes our day more than seeing our pools in their homes being enjoyed by their owners.
We do not doubt that plenty of photos will be taken in and around your swimming pool over the years and we hope our simple tips can help you to capture those precious moments that you will be proud to show off to friends and family.