Kristina Mendonca Underwater Shoot
Kristina Mendonca Underwater Shoot
I ran into Kristina Mendonca in Manly, and a few days later we were shooting underwater at Shelly Beach.
Perfect timing — she’s been a Manly local for 10 years and is about to move over to the east side next week. It felt like the right moment to capture something to remember her time here.
She hadn’t done an underwater shoot with a specialist before, so we started with a proper briefing. I sent her a shot list beforehand, along with a few simple visualisation exercises. I’m big on prep — it makes a huge difference on the day.
Briefing with Kristina
Everyone’s different in the water. Some people are like fish and can stay under comfortably for long periods. Others only have a few seconds at a time. I work with all levels, so I always over-prepare. It’s not just about getting the shot — it’s about making sure people feel comfortable, relaxed, and actually enjoy the experience.
Kristina… was like a crocodile.
She had this natural side-floating ability I haven’t seen before, which led to some really unique images. I didn’t need to direct much — as a model, she understands how to move and find positions with excellent form, which gave me a lot to work with. The only thing I wanted a bit more of was her face in certain shots, but we still captured plenty.
We shot across both pool and ocean, and the conditions lined up perfectly. We also did some work on shore, then moved around to the headland for a mix of long exposure drone frames and swimwear-style images.
The light was incredible. A bit too much wind for the long exposures I had in mind from the drone — but that’s photography. You adapt. We still came away with some serious images.
What I love about shooting underwater is how quickly everything changes. One moment it’s golden and cinematic, the next it’s soft and pastel, then suddenly it’s something almost ethereal. All of that came out of a single afternoon. It looks like different days or setups — but it’s just the ocean and light coming together and doing their thing.
It’s raw, unpredictable, authentic, and impossible to fake. You can’t AI this.
More than anything, it was just a great afternoon. Open conversations about life, time in and out of the water, and a genuinely fun shoot.
Kristina’s a real gem. She’s a pleasure to work with, confident, and completely in her element.
And yeah… she moves like a crocodile. (My term for someone who’s seriously good in the water… and a little bit dangerous.)
This is exactly why I do it — being in the ocean, meeting good people, and creating something real that they can keep.
If you’ve been thinking about doing a shoot like this, get in touch. Sessions are available in the ocean or in heated pools as the seasons change.
