You probably know that everything is different and difficult under the water. But if it’s your first underwater pole shoot, there are still lots of tricks and hacks you may not be not aware of (yet). It’s like doing your first upside down pole move, not knowing where is your left leg is or what your right hand is doing. Sound familiar? It’s like this, but even more disorienting!

26 valuable tips before you take your first underwater pole dance photoshoot

Although the right photographer will give you all the instructions, taking the plunge and staying under the water is not as easy as you might think. So that’s why we want you to prepare yourself very well, and these tips ARE the best because we prepared them with help from a pole dancer who already has experience with underwater pole dance photoshoot.

Meet Rae Marii! She took her photos with photographer Brett Stanley and the results were amazing, as you can see from the photos below! So together with Rae, we’ll guide you through the process.

As you’ll see, there’s much more stress on your preparation than on the actual photo shooting. But that’s the key! So read on…

PREPARING YOURSELF BEFORE THE PHOTOSHOOT

1. Safty first! Underwater photo shooting is not easy; it takes a lot of energy and confidence. So the preparation is the most important thing. Do have that in mind!
2. Choosing the right photographer. Choosing the right photographer. It takes a lot of effort to do great modeling and great photos, so stick to a professional who has lots of experience with shooting. He or she will guide you through the process and give you all the instructions you’ll need. Plus, it will be safer for you!
3. Breath-hold techniques. Practice breathing techniques. There’s a lot of exercises on the web and YT. There are generally two “schools” of thought regarding breath holds. One of them encourages you to exhale, relax, and simply sink to the bottom. The other prefers you to hold your breath and create a relaxed face before you dive down. Both can be effective, so try out both! Stanley prefers the second option. (Just a little health warning: Some videos encourage hyperventilating, but be aware that if you hyperventilate before you dive, you can experience a dangerous phenomenon known as shallow water blackout. This isn’t our recommended method!)
4. Training in the pool. If you have a pool available, rehearse everything beforehand. Learn how to sink. Learn how your body floats and sinks, how it moves with your half empty lungs… Swim in the clothes you’ll wear. Swim with your hair styled as you’ll have it. Hair can get in your face, eyes, and mouth, and be a real pain! Practice, practice, practice. And by all means, always have someone that watches over you.
5. Invisible nose plugs. These can really help you down there. The photographer sometimes provides these, so make sure to ask before the shoot.
6. Face expression. Drowning facial expressions are really something you should def avoid because it’s… well, ugly. So do practice enough diving so that you’ll feel comfortable and your face will be relaxed and calm.
7. Plan the moves. You’re practically in a zero gravity environment, so many poses don’t do well in the weightlessness of the pool. Especially moves or tricks that use your body weight to complete the pose. Pole elements such as pole sits and simple holds are very efficient and photogenic under the water. Remember, the pole will likely be moving, so the less you have to rely on the pole, the better! Moves that require a push-pull, such as Cupid, may be more tricky.
8. Test the outfit. Check if the fabric or decoration will be damaged or fall apart when in water, or if dye will bleed. Practice movements with your chosen outfit in the water to be safe and comfortable. If necessary, use safety pins to keep sleeves or other parts of the outfit from flapping around.
9. Get a good night rest. Well-rested and well-fed the night before is crucial. Although a Friday night party is tempting, it’s not very wise if the photoshoot is on Saturday morning. Bottom line — partying all night long won’t help you out.

CHOOSING YOUR OUTFIT

10. Makeup. Obviously, it has to be waterproof. But do test it beforehand, as the same waterproof makeup does not work for every skin type. It depends on your skin’s pH factor, etc. If you hire the right photographer, you will be at ease — he or she will take care for that. But if you’re in charge of makeup, then you have to know that makeup for underwater modeling should be stronger and have more contouring.
11. Hairstyle. Hairpins will come in handy to move fringes off your face. Avoid hair sprays because of the film they leave on the water. Wigs are great underwater, especially bright colors, but make sure they are pinned on tightly. Again, testing out your hair beforehand is a great way to see how your chosen style works underwater.
12. Wardrobe. You can wear anything you want, but it will help for you to get some inspiration before the final decision. Often the best results are when the outfit resonates with your personality.
13. Fabric. Best is light transparent cloth. And everything that floats will look great, such as tassels or fringing. Bright colors, as well as black and white, look amazing under the water. Lighter fabrics (organza, chiffon, mesh, etc.) will take longer to sink, giving you more time to pose with them. The longer the fabric, the better. Brett Stanley suggests at least 5 yards/meters as a start. These kind of photos will be beautiful, but it’s good to practice enough because the length of the fabric can hinder you when moving around.

WHILE UNDER THE WATER

14. Visualize the moves and poses. Just before going under the water, check all the poses you have chosen and visualize them.
15. Calm your mind. Calm your mind, close your eyes. When the mind is calm and relaxed, the body is not using up all your oxygen. This is very important! Nerves will kill your ability to hold your breath. Use your own relaxation techniques, and remember to follow instructions. If you hired a professional photographer, just follow his/her instructions and trust him/her, and you will be at ease.
16. Focus, focus, focus. Whether you choose the method of letting air out or taking a deep breath, remember to focus. Really let your air out if that’s your chosen method. You must be comfortable with whichever route you choose, but envision your goal in your head and either sink or dive down.
17. Point your toes! When you sink into the water, begin your mental checklist: toes pointed, face relaxed… Keep the focus on your limbs, fingers, and toes, and elongate your limbs.
18. Don’t move fast! Fast moves will only tire you; plus, you’ll look tightened in the photos. So slow, calm moves are the way to go. When you feel yourself needing a breath, slowly swim to the surface, keeping your graceful facial expression. You can get even more shots this way!
19. Be patient with yourself. On land, a photoshoot takes about 30 minutes or so, but underwater you’ll have about an hour or two. Rae Marii recommends two-hour shoots for extra time adjusting to the water because it is a very unusual feeling. Maybe you’ll nail the move in the first few minutes, or maybe not. It doesn’t matter. Just be calm and patient with yourself.
20. Be mindful of the time. Looking at your photos takes time, looking at your poses takes time, drinking water takes time, putting in eyedrops takes time. If you aren’t nailing a pose, you may need to sacrifice it and move on. You may get some poses the very first time! Once you nail a move and get a photo you like, move on quickly to the next move to get more shots!

AFTER THE SHOOTING

21. Recovery. After being in the water for a long time, your body needs time to recover, so take some equipment with you.
22. Large towels. If you’re not in a heated pool, you’ll definitely be a little cold, so take off all your wet clothes and wrap yourself in large towels. If you’re in a heated pool, you may not be as cold, but it’s nice to have towels to wrap up in regardless.
23. Eye drops. They could be your best friend so do take them with you, regardless of whether or not you’re wearing contact lenses. Be sure to get moisturizing eye drops and not allergy eye drops. Your eyes will need to re-hydrate! You can also buy an eye wash kit to wash your eyes out before you put eye drops in.
24. Ringing ears. Maybe you’ll have them, maybe not. But try to get all the excess water out of the ears if possible. You can also purchase eardrops that will dry the water out!
25. Snack. Comfort food makes a lot of difference! To me, this is always a chocolate, haha! Or something warm, gooey, fatty and sweet, lol. But feel free to snack what you like and adore.
26. Relax and enjoy… and feel good about yourself because the photos that you took will be amazing!

Do you have any question? Just comment below or better still – read Rae’s underwater experience with Brett Stanley. She will help you a lot!

Cecilia De Bucourt was a model in the 90’s: she worked with Naomi and Claudia by her side for elite names of the fashion industry.
A fashion designer: designed collections for Barney’s and Guess and now she has her own clothing line.
A photographer: her photos of dancers are true pieces of art that transcendents anything known so far in pole dance photography.
And of course: she’s a pole dancer. AND she recently won “Dramatic level 4 Master” at PSO Boston.
And these are just a few steps of her career.

Meet Cecilia

This beautiful woman – with her life résumé much larger than my probably 5 next incarnation will be – has really captured my heart. We had only virtual rendezvous (unfortunately we’re miles away), but I loved her energy, her creativity, her passion and the way she’s always ready for action.

And that’s why I began with a set of questions, that interested me most.

On the left: “Pin up calendar shoot in Argentina wearing a REAL snake around my neck. It felt cold and wet and super heavy.”
On the right: “ELLE Cover. I was about 25 years old.”

With a body of a goddess that you have I suppose you did some sport before?

Thank you for the compliment… No… I actually never exercised before I started pole dancing. I was really lazy and claimed most of my life that I would never get into sports or exercise. I remember saying when I was in my 20’s: “I wished I was more athletic”, I knew that it was more than just looking fit, it was a lifestyle. I tried yoga, the gym… but would quit after 3 weeks or so. I always got bored quickly.

“Natasha Wang, she is a classic in the pole world. And Icon. Pure elegance, talent and such a nice person.”

So why pole dance?

I was 41 years old, and after having 2 kids, I felt the need to do some kind of exercise. I knew very well that going to the gym was out of the question. I didn’t care only about looking fit, but I wanted to find a way of moving, expressing myself and finding a fun activity. I heard from someone that pole dancing was a great complete workout. So, I went online, googled pole dance and Michelle Stanek’s video came up (USPDF 2012 champion). I was blown away… So much elegance, strength, and beauty!

I decided to give it a try. It was April 5th, 2013 (a date I will never forget, almost as important as my birthday), and I signed up for my first intro to pole class at Body & Pole in NYC. I knew my life changed forever the moment I left class that day, I wanted more… much more. I was certain I would never quit pole dancing, but I had no idea at the time that pole dancing would affect and transform my entire life.

“Pink Puma. This was one my first shoots with an International pole Star that I have not met until my shoot day. I contacted her by FB message and asked her if I could take her photos. When the day she walked into my studio, I was blown away. Her beauty and presence are out of this world. She said she would give me 3 hours max. She stayed 8 hours. We connected and we loved the images we were doing together. I took about 2.000 images, which I can assure you 1.950 are perfect. It has never happened to me before. Choosing the very best ones, was incredibly challenging, A moment I will never forget.” 

Can you share us in what way did pole dancing affect your life?

Yes, pole dancing has transformed my life, big time.

My body had been my work tool for 14 years during my modeling years. And I was constantly judged by the way I looked and that made it difficult to feel confident or love my body.

After I started to pole dance, I felt more connected to my body, started feeling it in new ways. Amazed by the thing it can do, the way it can move, the way it can become a medium to express feelings. I now feel stronger, healthier and more confident than ever before.

And most important, when I started pole dancing, I was recently divorced. I felt so heartbroken, scared, sad, disappointed and hopeless. My divorce was the most stressful an difficult thing I went through in my entire life. I can say with certainty, pole dancing saved me. It gave me back the confidence, strength, and self-love I needed to understand that I didn’t need anyone next to me. That I AM ENOUGH. I became my best friend. And now I know that the day I choose to be with someone again, will not be from a place of ‘need’ but from a place of growth and pure love. Pole dancing “as a lifestyle” affects people more than words can explain. It is pure magic.

“Ahhhhhh Magnus, the “MagnusFICENT”! I love this guy. Currently, he teaches at Body and Pole in NYC, where I train. And I try to take all his classes. Just watching him demonstrate the moves we are learning, is a treat for me. That is where the “emoji eyes” come from… LOL. I feel that hearts come out of my eyes when I watch him dance. He is pure perfection. Also, a really nice human being. Shooting with him was one of my dreams. And, I can’t wait to shoot with him again sometime.”

It’s true. Pole dancers have a special bondage among themselves because of that magic and the experience the pole gave to them.

Yes, so true! I have met amazing friends in the pole community and there is a sense of companionship with them that is really valuable to me. I was only 14 years old when I left home in Argentina to go model in Japan, Spain, Italy, France and lastly the U.S.A. So friends are real treasures to me. I love them as a family. Today, I can say that most of my friends and people I connect with are from the pole/aerial world.

“Aggie Ng. This shoot was beyond crazy. I got an inflatable swimming pool in my studio. My idea was to fill it with water and paint (which I did) but the water in my studio was cold and this was shot in winter during the night. The heater was turned off in the whole building and it was freezing. She suffered through this. I literally took only 5-7 clicks and this came out. She was so cold and I just couldn’t make her stay longer in that silver freezing water. Aggie is incredibly talented and unique.”

You said that dance entered a bit late in your life when your creativity was already in expand. So in what way pole dance influenced your art? How would you describe the connection between the pole dance and art? The way you see it?

I started taking photos when I was twelve years old. I went through different phases of photography styles. Street photography, fashion, musicians… and when I started pole dancing, I decided that photography would be my way of giving back to this community. I wanted to create artistic photos of pole dancers in an elegant, strong and dynamic way and show to the world through photos how beautiful, elegant and classy pole dancing is. Every session is a very intense and beautiful experience for me. My goal is always to capture the essence of my subject in a new way.

I also started a pole dance clothing line which consists of a fun, handcrafted items. I sell through my website (www.ceciliadebucourt.com) and also at Boy & Pole in NYC.

“Kelly McLaughlin and her boyfriend Ryan Daniel Beck. I shot this for Body Art. Painted bodies in Copper and Silver. It is one of my favorite images I have ever done.”

Your pole photography is so different from the rest of pole photographers. It’s expressive, we can clearly see your own different vision of seeing things… how do you achieve that even the great pole stars like Marion, Natasha and the rest step out of the conventional movement and poses?

When I take photos, I stay true to my vision. It is not an effort, these images are all somehow part of me.

Working with pole starts is truly a blessing because their experience and talent are very inspiring. I always say it is teamwork. It is not only me who creates the image. We do it together. When I prepare for a shoot, I do a lot of planning. I even sketch the frames I have in mind, as a storyboard as if it was a movie. I get props, make the clothes myself, I think of the lighting, poses, hairstyle, make up, etc. And the more I plan the better it turns out.
I also like very much shooting dancers off the pole. Only in that way, I get to discover something different about the dancer and how creative they are without having a pole as an apparatus. My favorite photos of pole dancers are actually not on the pole.

On the left: “Crystal Belcher. This shoot was everything! I painted her in Gold, I made a dress out of grass, and we did some timeless images with her.”
On the right: “Marion Crampe. Ahhhh… she is a fairy, a magic soul. We have become close friends after this shoot. I adore her.”

Can an ordinary pole dancer hire you or do you pick a person who you’ll be taking pictures of? Your photography is art – I imagine it’s difficult working on demand…

For a long time, I only took photos of who I wanted to. Mostly pole stars, or people that simply inspired me. However, photography has turned into a big part of my life, and this past year, I started offering photoshoots to anyone who wanted to work with me. And it has been a wonderful experience. Every shoot becomes an unforgettable experience. We have fun while creating art. Yes, It is not easy to be an artist on demand. That is why I don’t shoot too often. I need time to recharge, and feel inspired each time.

“Steven Retchless. I call him the GOD OF BEAUTY. I believe he is the most beautiful human on the planet. On top of that, he is talented and super sweet. We have done 2 photo shoots and each time has been pure magic.”

I read somewhere that you were turned down by some designer but you kept calling him and contact him every single day till he accepted your line and together you had a very fruitful cooperation for years! Can you give us some advice, a wisdom from this anecdote?

Ohhh the story with Barney’s department store. Oh, dear… that was quite something. So when I was 29 years old I started getting tired of the modeling world and I was being turned down for castings for being ‘already too old’ so I decided to move on. I enrolled in F.I.T (Fashion Institute of technology) to become a fashion designer. At school, the teachers prepared us to be good at working for someone else. They would tell us: the day you work for someone like Donna Karan…. or Ralph Lauren… etc… and I was thinking … “why would I want to work for anybody else when I can have my own brand?”. I remember even saying that thought out loud in class and got a few cold looks from some students as if I had said something out of place. Truth is, I never even had the remote idea or wish to work for anybody.

So only one month into design school, I created my logo, my label and started hand knitting shawls and scarves. They were funky, colorful and one of a kind. I had a dream, to sell at Barneys New York. I got their number from the yellow pages (yes, we used yellow pages at the time) and called for 3 months over and over leaving messages. Until one day, they returned my call and I told them I really believed that my product was perfect for them. They set up a meeting, and they were my clients for 10 years.

My advice is to just try. Go for it… insist and don’t be scared of rejection. Keep doing what you love, and what feels right.

“Patricia Yndigoyen. I remember the first time I saw her. It was a rehearsal at Body and pole for a competition. I was still on my first baby steps in my pole journey. And she was competing and showing us her routine. I was amazed by her talent and fierceness. And started asking around: Who is that girl? I learned she was from Peru and searched her up on Facebook. After some time, we became super close friends. She also loves photography and helps me in many of my photoshoots. Patricia is the current Iceland Pole Theater Professional Champion among other International and national titles. And, my friend and soul sister!”

I want to thank you for this interview, for sharing your intimate feelings, for inspiring us and for making this world much more pleasant with your visual art. Your passionate energy is so contagious and I hope our readers had a chance to felt you as I did. I’m hardly waiting to see your next project! Wishing you all the best … and I’m so happy that this time I can say that to YOU: “emoji eyes, emoji eyes” (laugh)

Thank you, Masa! It has been really nice talking with you and really hope we meet in person someday soon!
I create these images hoping I can make people feel things so I truly appreciate your kind words about my work.
Emoji eyes… back at you!

“The End – I always take a selfie with my models after a shoot. It is a great memory and reminds both me and them of a good time we had.”

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This is for sure the most aesthetically and creative Halloween Pole Dance project I have seen in a while! Every photo, every pole trick is made to the utmost perfection. It makes my heart jump when I see such a dedication! That’s why I simply had to share this with you.

The project was made by the Pole dance studio M Kranj – the owner Maja Pirc and her pole sister Teja Burgar. Maybe you had a chance to get to know Maja? Her video reached over 1,3 Mio views on YouTube and it’s really beautiful. A true celebration of pole dance – feminine yet sporty enough to capture our hearts.

Anyhow… back to the Halloween photoshooting. Maja said it wasn’t an easy one, especially with the mask and makeup. But it was worthwhile. So enjoy the post and spookiness of the photos.

MUA: Sara Lavtar I Photo: Foto Rosko

I hope this post of Maja & Teja’s project gave you enough boost to try something similar and creative by yourself the next Halloween.

Do you want some more Halloween ideas? Here’s a list of spooky rock music to listen and to pole dance.

Alyona Amber is an awarded exotic pole dance star with some incredible playlists. We got the chance to see her dance in Slovenia at Exotic Retreat in Bled this August and we were fascinated by her style and choice of music. We were privileged enough to make an interview with her (you can read it here) and this is the playlist she shared with us. Thank you, dear Alyona! 

BOOMKATS Alyona Amber Pole Dance Playlist

Put on your Pleaser shoes and dance like Alyona does!

Do you follow Alyona?  Are you fascinated by her playlists as we are? Comment below and share your music tips with us

Summer is coming to an end here in Europe and when we look back we have some lovely memories to share! One of them for sure is underwater pole dance.

Get to know pole dancer Rae Marii! She took her underwater photos with photographer Brett Stanley, and the results were amazing, as you can see from the photos below! I’m sure you’re tempted to try for yourself!

So together with Rae we wrote all the best tips and tricks you need to know when preparing for underwater pole modeling. But before guiding you through the process read all about her experience. It’s a rare occasion to hear about this kind of experience from the first hand.

So, Rae, the spotlight is on you!

My underwater experience with Brett Stanley

My photo shoot was in Atlanta, GA in May of 2017 at a Diver’s Supply Shop. When I arrived at the shoot, I was greeted warmly by Brett Stanley’s assistant. She made sure I signed all the consent forms before the shoot began and showed me to the dressing room, where I was able to change into my costume (which was made by Karina Doig Couture Costume Dancewear; if you’re curious, my train was approximately 180cm). I recommend getting to the shoot early, so you will be relaxed and have enough time to get used to your surroundings.

Stanley hired makeup artist Jessica Vaugn, who arrived shortly thereafter. She set up and asked what kind of style I wanted. After I showed her a few pictures, she told me what she thought might look best with my outfit and face. Of course, all the makeup was waterproof, and she layered it on well. Once my makeup was in place, I had to shower before I entered the pool to (1) rinse off and (2) set the makeup. After I was rinsed off, I put all the items I’d need (eyedrops, eardrops, etc.) on a plate that I set by the pool.

Stanley’s assistant took my phone so that she could pull up the poses I needed when I requested them. I recommend bringing a friend for this, as they can assist you with things like this in case the assistant is busy or signing other people in. Stanley’s assistant was great with this, though.

Stanley then explained his technique for breath holding and let me try the underwater nose plugs — I wasn’t a fan. I’m quite used to swimming without them, as I actually used to swim for exercise fairly often. I highly recommend swimming a few laps with your mouth open and face relaxed if you have access to a pool before the shoot. This practice definitely aided me during the shoot. Once Stanley explained everything to me, I was ready. I did one quick practice dive, and then we were off!

Within the first 30 seconds, I realized underwater modeling is… well, difficult! It’s much trickier than I’d anticipated, and I am thankful Stanley was so patient with me throughout the shoot.

When modeling underwater, you only hold one pose at a time. If you can hold your breath for 30 seconds above water (this was my average), cut that in half for underwater. Aside from that, poses are nothing like they are on land. I figured simple poses would work best, but that is definitely not always true. For me, some of the most difficult poses were carousel and chairspin. Pole sits are pretty easy, but I wanted to challenge myself to think of moves that wouldn’t normally be possible on land. Crazy as it sounds, some moves that are very difficult on land are actually easier underwater! Nothing works the same, it seems, so playing with moves beforehand is a great way to test everything out and get your sea legs…er…mermaid tail…

I found the absolute hardest thing to deal with during the shoot was my hair. I wanted my hair down, and I hadn’t practiced underwater with it down prior to the shoot. It was difficult to keep it out of my eyes and face. Stanley’s technique for hair is throwing your head back to clear your face. Keep in mind that both hair and fabric can be tricky if you’re not used to them. I recommend practicing in your costume.

The last thing that I have to say about the shoot is that time moves SO quickly when you are shooting. My hour-long shoot passed by in what seemed like ten minutes. I highly, highly, highly recommend booking at least a two-hour shoot. I thought it would be a waste of money, but TRUST ME — it’s worth every penny. If you want to redo a pose, that eats up your time. If you want to put in eye drops, that eats up your time. If you want to blow water out of your nose, that eats up your time. Of course, I only booked a one-hour shoot and was able to get some pretty good shots, so it’s definitely possible. I just recommend two hours so you are less pressed for time and less anxious about getting good shots.

Overall, my underwater pole photo shoot was a great experience. Definitely look up some pretty poses before you go or get some recommendations from friends on which poses might look good under the water. And last but not least, relax. The key to the whole underwater thing is just… well, remember you’re a mermaid.

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Stay tuned for next post “26 best tips you need to know (when preparing) for great underwater pole modeling”. It will come in handy!