One toe in the shallow end of summer, one dive into my favorite photo book this season and one scroll through the Instagram feeds I follow and it’s clear: summer is photogenic. The vibrant hues of this season pop against blue sky, and water backdrops transform everyday scenes into paintings. Turquoise pools, rippled ponds and clouds of mist catching sunlight at the local water park all make my heart skip a beat. But sometimes capturing it in photos isn’t easy–our creativity hits a rut.
The above photos all present the same perspective: people in water, smiling at the camera, same angle, same story. Lovely, yes…but there are so many other ways to tell a summer story with photos–to capture color and childhood, freedom and fun, relaxation and warmth. Change it up:
Basking in that dreamy feeling, I dug through some photo archives this week to pull out tips for taking creative water photographs this summer. Whether it’s in the pool, off the lake or spraying the hose from the front lawn, there are a number of ways to dive into the challenge of taking water photos. Here are 48:
1. Shoot from Above.
Pool photos take on a whole new look when you get high enough (or have a lens with a wide enough angle) to surround your subject completely with water.
2. Looking In the Water
Capture that half in-half out exploration mode (think snorkeling) by getting as level with the water as you can.
3. Looking Out the Water
You don’t have to have an underwater camera housing to get underwater photos. In still, clear water you can shoot down at a subject just under the surface. My kids open their eyes underwater, but this would be just as cute with goggles.
4. Add Bubbles
Bring bubbles in the pool or to the beach–your kids will love it–and capture soapy rainbows against water–it’s gorgeous!
5. Include Pool Tiles in Photos
So many beautiful patterns and colors that add interesting lines to photos like these blue-green beauties.
6. Jumping In
The proverbial summer photo. Off a dock, from a diving board, into a wave, a pool, a lake, the ocean. Nothing says summer like arms-in-the-air and clouds-in-the-sky.
7. Coming Up for Air
8. Pool Caps
This is one of my favorite summer photos. Wearing some retro beach wear not only keeps your hair dry, but it adds some colorful summer style.
Our favorite swim caps: flower swim cap (like above), another flower swim cap, comfy reversible swimcap from Hanna Andersson (made from bathing suit material), stripe ruched bathing cap
9. Just the Feet
Baby feet in water. Enough said.
10. Funky Angles
Go ahead and get a crooked horizon. Get in the water, bend and stretch and play around with perspective. You might just capture summer in a way that brings smiles for years.
11. Baby Got Back…float
12. Get Level with the Pool and take a Profile Shot.
13. Under the Boardwalk
Piers and boardwalks are one of my camera’s muses. And this photo will always be one of my favorite summer shots.
14. Esther Williamseque: Synchronized Swimming Legs
15. From Where I Lie…in the water
16. Bright Pool Floats.
Since water can’t wear jewelry, we bring it accessories in the form of happy pool floats, the brighter the better.
Want to see some awesome pool floats that make your photographs drip with color and summer style?
Our faves: donut pool float, watermelon pool float, pretzel pool float, giant swan, rainbow pool float (love this one!)
17. Through the Fountain
18. How Low Can You Go?
Squat down, lie down, get low, low, low to see the beach in a whole new way. Think of it this way. If you were a crab with a camera, what would you see?
19. Zoom In!
Ten points for capturing drippy eyelashes, five for drippy cheeks, three for wet hair.
20. Reflection of…
Capture pool/lake/ocean in the opposite direction–the reflection of it in a window, a sliding glass door or reflective sunglass lenses.
21. From the Pool Steps
Switch it up from taking photos from outside the pool into the pool.
22. Water Ripple Circles…like tree bark rings
23. Wedgie in the Water
Baby’s gonna sport one some time this summer. Grab your camera.
24. Depth of Field
Focus on something different than the subject’s face in the water–feet sticking up, a pail and shovel in the sand, a starfish–but still get people in the background scene. It tells a different kind of story.
25. The Whole Scene
Back up, back up, back up. Use a wide angle lens (or phone camera) to survey the entire landscape. This is the cover of the summer coffee table that lives in your head.
26. Get Goggle-eyed
Keep the goggles on for the pictures. Goggles equal childhood summer.
27. Feet in Shoreline
This is a great way to capture a baby + mama photo if you’re holding the camera.
28. The Big Splash
29. From Below
Bottom of the dock, in the boat, under the diving board. Shoot upwards from the water for an entirely different look at summer.
30. Outdoor Shower (rig your hose and do it in your own backyard!)
31. Add Flowers
Float some wildflowers in the water and swim in them, wear flower crowns when you swim.
32. Water Toys
Don’t forget to photograph the little toys–the boats, the mermaids, the Nemos, the colorful pails and shovels.
33. Blankets in the Sand
34. Hair Flinging
Fun photos to take! My kids do this, ask to see the camera, laugh at the product, and want to do it all over again.
35. Hot Tub Bubbles
Love the white foam that shows up in our hot tub photos.
36. Through the Window
I love the juxtaposition of an inside watching/outside swimming story.
37. Out of Focus
38. Shoreline Sunset Silhouettes
39. The Dad Throw
It’s a summer proper noun.
No Pool? No Beach? No Lake? No Problem.
40. Kiddie Pool
Think a kiddie pool is too small to make splash? Lainey would beg to differ.
41. Pull Out the Hose
42. Car Wash
In your own driveway…or hit the local quarter car wash–your kids will have a blast.
43. Rain Droplets on Plants/Flowers
44. Mud Puddles
45. From the Hose’s Perspective
46. Rainboots in Puddles
47. Drinking Fountain
48. Water Balloons
Michele says
Beautiful photo’s. Great post. Nuff said. I especially love .38 Silhouette, simply a gorgeous stunning photo. Love it. Also love the rubber boot idea. Thanks for the reminders and all the new ideas for the summer.
LEanne says
Oh My!! What fun! This is getting me really excited for summer. I think I may get a kiddy pool and set it up for my “kid” which is actually a dog, but envisioning the pictures now I think it’ll be super cute! Thanks for the ideas 🙂
Agnes dyna says
Thank you! Great post, beautiful pictures and fabulous tips. I will try as many as I can! Thanks, Kelle!
Sandra says
I could almost hear Mungo Jerry’s “In The Summertime” looking at these gorgeous photos.
Molly says
Just LOVE. I will definitely be using these! Your babes are so precious.
Ann says
Love this post! Your shots are always so creative.
Hollie says
I usually don’t comment but I just LOVED this post today. You are a fabulous mom and photographer!
Christine says
This post has been one of the most helpful I’ve ever read! Thank you for sharing your photography knowledge with us!!!! Happy Summer!!!!!
Kristyn Cole says
These are so beautiful! I love this whole post and I’m so glad I came across your blog from Bloglovin this morning 🙂
Deena says
When you become jaded with the blogging-writing scene, you can always give photography lessons. Your incredible photographs draw me to your blog again and again…sometimes even more than the content. Great ideas for summertime pictures.
Andrea Worley says
Love this! so many fun ideas to get my inspired this summer!
Transport excursii says
Very nice ideas. I hope that i will enjoy my summer and that I will capture all my memories in pictures like this!
Kbubert says
Love this! I feel inspired now!
sarah Kopke says
Love these images so much!! Looks like your links to the swan and rainbow pool floats both link to the pretzel one… just wanted to let you know. The shot of your cutie in the donut float has always been one of my favorites of yours. 🙂
Kelle says
Thank you! Fixing now.
Olivia Johanson says
You are an artist Kelle, all your photos are amazing! I’m in the middle of compiling pictures of my family too. They’re growing up so fast, and I feel like I should start capturing every moment. What I have here are nice quality photos that I got from my regular point and shoot and camera phone.
I actually bookmarked this article so I can review it for the summer. But I feel like my camera is getting a little out of date. I’ve been looking at mirrorless cameras and DSLRs. But if it’s okay to ask, what camera would you recommend for a beginner but quick enough to snap running/playing kiddos. I admire those out of focus, depth of field and sunset photos …
Tracy says
I just found your blog, and it’s amazing. Thank you for the incredible ideas I’d never have considered for summer photos! My grandchildren (two toddlers and a newborn) will be a good age to begin doing this next year. They live in another country, so creating memories for them is critical to us. I really appreciate your sharing your ideas this way. Thank you. ♡
Nat Lewis says
Gotta try some of these water photos – thanks for sharing 🙂
Nat Lewis
Rocky Mountain Decals – Cute Wall Decals kids, home & office!
http://www.rockymountaindecals.ca
Janice Tyler says
I just found your blog and saw this post about summer water photos. I was really surprised how original your ideas and tips are. I love taking photos but I’ve never considered of taking photos with water and people. These photos look so simple and the same time so original and professional. I wonder what kind of camera you used. I believe that it is impossible to capture shots like that with simple camera or phone camera. While watching these photos I started to want to go to beach and take some photos! Thank you for inspiring me! And I think the best photos are where you can’t see clear people’s faces and, of course, photos where only legs and water are seen. These looks like taken by professional.
Mary Wallis says
These are absolutely beautiful! I have loved looking at your photos for years. Each one tells a story. Each one is lovely.
Kaylene says
I accept this challenge! Now if Utah would warm up so I could start! Thank you for the inpiration! I totally am in a rut!
Eric Glenn says
Hi,
Just go through your article “48 Creative Ways to Capture Water Fun this Summer” really love and like it because the babes are so cute.when I found your blog and saw summer water pictures and really surprised how original your thoughts and implements. That is why feel inspired as well feel a great beautiful moment right now. Special thanks for this great sharing, please keep it up.
Rom says
Great article! love the pictures. Make me want to take out the SLR camera that is taking dust in the attic! 🙂
It gives me a lot of idea for this summer!
Thanks
Mustapha Jamal says
Great post, beautiful pictures and fabulous tips.
Kathy says
This is an amazing capture of fun. Thanks for sharing. Looks like you had some good water fun. Our family loves being around the water, in the pool, at the beach, or in a water gun fight.
http://www.mommyhighfive.com/best-swim-floaties-toddlers-preschoolers/
Setbitv says
These are absolutely beautiful! I have loved looking at your photos for years. Each one tells a story. Each one is lovely.
rick mat says
i like your photos <3 <3
test iptv says
your photos are amazing.