Hold your breath and strike a pose

Underwater photographer Yu Zhizhuan shoots wedding photos for a couple in the specially designed pool. Photos by Zou Hong / China Daily

Jia Hao, owner and shoot directer at HOWMOV underwater photo studio

Underwater shoots add new dimension to wedding photos, Wu Wencong reports.

Dressed in a beautiful white wedding gown, with her hair carefully styled and her groom by her side, Xian Lanjie gave a shy smile and dived into the pool of clear blue water. Like many of the capital's trend-setters, the 26-year-old decided to ditch traditional bridal photos for something more modern - underwater shots.

"I like the way my hair and gown float. With the light coming from the top, it makes me look like an angel," said the Beijing media worker.

Xian and her husband are among the dozens of couples who have captured their special occasion at HOWMOV, China's first professional underwater photo studio.

Located in an outlying village of Chaoyang district, the company's professional photographers already have an astonishing portfolio that includes wedding pictures, movies, music videos and advertisements.

"It all started from a small fish tank," explained owner and shoot director Jia Hao. "I asked myself whether it would be a good underwater studio if I just enlarged the tank."

The 35-year-old artist, who has been shooting films and advertisements for 10 years, said he was constantly annoyed by the patterns on the walls of swimming pools ruining his layouts, while there was often no place to put his lights. So he came up with the idea of making his own underwater studio and designed a circular pool that is 7 meters in diameter and 4.5 meters in depth.

"The biggest difference between running a studio like this and a normal one is the cost," he said, explaining that it takes four to five days to heat 170 tons of water to 30 C, which is warm enough for the models.

Added to this, to achieve the best underwater effects, the lights are all dysprosium lamps, which are normally reserved for movie sets and cost several thousand yuan to rent every day. He also requires specialized staff.

"Three photographers are needed; one underwater and two shooting through the glass. We also need an action director on standby on the surface," said Jia.

Using walkie-talkies to communicate with the director, the action coordinator will pass instructions to the models underwater.

"Most people I have shot are not professional models, some of them don't even swim," said Jia. "But as long as you know how to hold your breath and control your expression, anyone can do it."

At least one person will go underwater with the models, and the studio has also been equipped with an underwater-elevator recently, which enables people to stand in the water.

New bride Xian said she received more than 3,000 "fabulous" photos after six hours of shooting and was struggling to choose which ones to print.

"Both my boyfriend and I know how to swim, but I wasn't used to keeping my eyes open underwater, and I kept inhaling water at first," she recalled. "After 20 minutes though we were so comfortable with the water that we didn't need instructions at all."

She said it can be exhausting staying underwater for six hours but the photographer shooting underwater is even more tired.

"I have decided to give up the traditional wedding photos and hang these in my bridal chamber. I'm also planning to shoot another set of photos just of myself here," Xian added.

After setting up his studio, director Jia is now leaving his colleagues in charge to focus his energies on making movies.

"I don't expect underwater photography to become as popular as the traditional wedding photos," he said. "After all, you need to have both an open mind to the new - and the bravery to try it."