Underwater Maternity Photoshoot in Barcelona

Water holds a pregnant body the way nothing else does. A long silk dress that just sits flat on land moves in slow folds underwater. The light bends. The frame goes quiet. That is what an underwater maternity photoshoot is — not a special effect, a different physics.

I'm Brad James Elliott. Originally from Cape Town, I've lived in Barcelona for seven years and worked as a photographer for twenty-four — fourteen of those alongside fourteen years as a swimming instructor and ten years as a beach lifeguard before that. Photography started under experienced studio photographers in Cape Town and London; underwater work has been my specialty since 2012. I shoot on Nikon in an SPL housing, in English on set and Spanish with the venue and crew.

If you're 28 to 34 weeks along and want one beautiful set of frames before the baby arrives, this page tells you everything: what the day looks like, when to book, what to wear, what it costs.

What the shoot actually looks like

• Where (picked per booking): a saltwater partner pool in the Barcelona area hired through Cocopool (gentler on skin and eyes than chlorine, not heated, ideal May–Oct); your own heated pool; or a hotel/gym pool we book together. Outdoor pool and sea locations along the Catalan coast are also possible May–Oct.
• How long: half day is roughly three hours of water time, single look, just you. Full day is two looks, partner and older siblings included, more frames.
• What you wear: long flowing gowns in silk or organza. Dark colours read best against pool blue — deep green, navy, plum, oxblood. I send a wardrobe brief with photos once you book.
• Hair and makeup: waterproof, low-fuss, weighted at the hairline so it moves slowly when you turn. I'll connect you with a Barcelona MUA who does this regularly. Optional.
• Breath-holding: you don't need to be a swimmer. Most frames are eyes-open near the surface, head and shoulders just under. Short holds, lots of breaks.

When to book — the 28-to-34 week window

The sweet spot is late second to early third trimester. The bump reads clearly in profile, you still move easily in water, and you're not yet in the heavy weeks where standing for two hours feels long.

• Before week 26 — the bump rarely reads as a bump on camera.
• Weeks 28–34 — best mobility, clearest silhouette, most flattering light angles.
• After week 36 — possible but tiring, and most pools want a doctor's note past 36 weeks.

Booking lead time: four to six weeks. Indoor pool work is available year-round; outdoor sessions on the Costa Brava run May to October.

How I shoot, and why the water part isn't a gimmick

• Camera: Nikon, SPL underwater housing.
• Light: Elinchrom strobes for indoor pool work; natural light outdoors.
• Edit: Capture One Pro and Photoshop. Colour-graded for skin tone in the water, not just exposed.
• Experience: 24 years as a photographer — training in Cape Town and London, the last seven in Barcelona. Underwater specialist since 2012.
• In the water: 14 years as a swimming instructor, 10 years as a beach lifeguard. The reason underwater photoshoots feel calm with me in the water with you is that water is where I have always worked.

I keep my own printed coffee-table sets — Light, Colour and Passion and The Beauty of Spain — for clients who want to see the work in print. Ask if you'd like to flip through them.

English-speaking, expat-friendly

Barcelona has good photographers. The actual problem most expat clients describe is finding one who answers a WhatsApp in English the same day, sends a clear contract in English, and delivers files without a translation step. That's the default here.

• Contracts, invoices and delivery in English.
• Bilingual on set — English with you, Spanish with the pool, the MUA and the assistant.
• Family flying in for the shoot? I'll send them the address, parking, and timing in English the week before.

I work with families from Sitges, Castelldefels, Sant Cugat, Barceloneta and the Gòtic regularly, and I travel for shoots.

What you get, and when

• Half day: 20–30 fully edited high-resolution images.
• Full day: 40–60 fully edited high-resolution images, two looks, partner included.
• Delivery: 14 days. Private online gallery, print-ready and mobile-ready files.

Pricing

Package	Time in water	Included	Price
Half day	~3 hours	Single look, mum only, 20–30 edits	€600
Full day	~6 hours	Two looks, partner & siblings, 40–60 edits	€900

Pool venue is separate, billed at cost with no markup. Your own heated pool = no venue cost. Cocopool saltwater partner pools run €29–€35/hr with a five-hour minimum (€145–€175), which the full day uses in full; on a half day the default venue is your own or a co-arranged heated pool, and a Cocopool half-day carries the five-hour minimum, told to you up front. Travel outside Catalonia quoted separately.

Booking a babies' first-water session in the first six months too? Book them together and the second session is −15%.

Frequently asked questions

Is it safe to do an underwater photoshoot while pregnant?

For most uncomplicated pregnancies, yes — the same way prenatal swimming is safe and often recommended. Most clinicians describe water immersion as low-impact and joint-friendly in the second and third trimester. Always check with your obstetrician or midwife first (RCOG guidance on physical activity in pregnancy). I'm a former beach lifeguard and swimming instructor, so the person in the water with you has spent two careers reading bodies in water.

What trimester is best?

Weeks 28 to 34. Visible bump, easy mobility, comfortable session length.

What should I wear?

Long flowing gowns in silk or organza. Dark colours — deep green, navy, plum, oxblood — read best in pool blue. I send a wardrobe brief with example photos once you book, and studio wardrobe is available in late-pregnancy sizes.

What about hair and makeup?

Waterproof everything, hairline weighted so it moves slowly under. I'll connect you with a Barcelona MUA who does underwater work regularly. Optional.

Can my partner be in the photos?

Yes — partner inclusion is standard on the full day. Older children too.

Do I need to swim well or hold my breath for long?

No. Most frames are taken with your eyes open just under the surface — three to five second holds, with breaks. Nervous about water? We do a 15-minute warm-up first.

Where do you shoot in Barcelona?

Three options: a Cocopool saltwater partner pool in the Barcelona area (gentler on skin and eyes, not heated, ideal May–Oct); your own heated pool (best Nov–Apr); or a hotel/gym pool booked together. Outdoor and sea locations along the Catalan coast are available May–Oct.

How much does it cost?

Half day €600, full day €900, pool venue billed separately at cost. Travel outside Catalonia quoted separately.

Is the pool heated?

Depends on the venue. Cocopool saltwater pools aren't heated (recommended May–Oct). From Nov–Apr we use a heated venue — your own pool or a hotel/gym pool booked together.

Why saltwater?

Less harsh on skin and eyes than heavily chlorinated water, easier to shoot eyes-open in, and clearer on camera. The better default for underwater portraits when temperature allows.

Do you speak English on set?

Yes — English with you, Spanish with the pool, MUA and assistant. All contracts, invoices and delivery in English.