You've never been photographed like this.
Underwater portrait sessions, brand content, photography workshops and studio hire — on the shores of Caves Beach, Lake Macquarie.
Most photos are taken.
These ones are lived.
DiP Studio sits on Awabakal Country, just steps from Caves Beach — 30 minutes from Newcastle, 1.5 hours from Sydney and a world away from ordinary.
Hilda built this space for people who want their imagery to feel real. Slow fashion labels. Ethical ocean brands. Portrait clients who want something they've never seen before. And photographers ready to shoot underwater for the first time.
Clear mineral water. Soft natural light. A studio designed to move with the ocean, not against it. Come and make something you'll never forget.
“I’ve worked with Hilda for the past 5 years. She's joined us for numerous surf retreats in Australia, Lombok and Sri Lanka — each time capturing the vibes of our retreats perfectly and delivering beautiful imagery. She's not only a talented photographer but also fun, social and down to earth, making working with her really easy and enjoyable.”
~ Helena, Founder, Women Soulful Surf
Born in the water.
Built for the ones who feel it too.
The first time Hilda went underwater with a camera, she didn't surface with just images — she surfaced with a community.
DiP was born from that moment. Now it's a place where photographers discover what it feels like to shoot in still, clear water for the first time. Where brands find out what their product looks like…weightless. Where people come for a portrait session and leave having experienced something they'll talk about for years.
If you've ever stood at the edge of the water and felt it pull you in — this is your studio.
Four ways to work with DiP
PORTRAIT SESSIONS
For individuals, families & maternity
A once-in-a-lifetime experience — and an image you'll never stop looking at. Maternity, personal, creative. Just you and the water.
BRAND & COMMERCIAL
For fashion labels & conscious brands
Underwater and coastal imagery for slow fashion, ethical ocean brands and conscious creatives. Content that stops the scroll — because no one else has it.
WORKSHOPS
For photographers ready to go deeper
Hands-on underwater photography workshops in the studio. Learn to read light below the surface, direct a subject and capture the split-second everything becomes weightless.
STUDIO HIRE
For photographers bringing their own clients
DiP is available for hire. Bring your clients and your vision — we provide the clear mineral water, the light and the privacy. Everything set up, nothing to worry about. No tides. No surprises.
A glimpse below the surface
Quiet. Intentional. Striking.
Step inside DiP’s custom-built underwater photography studio in Lake Macquarie, just steps from stunning Caves Beach - where slow fashion, conscious brands and ocean-inspired creatives come to create something unforgettable.
Take a look at recent underwater shoots, from submerged fashion campaigns to serene solo portraits.
She’s been chasing that feeling her whole life.
Growing up in South Africa, Hilda saw the ocean once a year. The drive home was always the longest part.
After 25 years living by the Australian coast, a career in photography and a lockdown-era decision to pick up an underwater camera — DiP is the thing that brought it all together.
Every shoot Hilda does carries that same pull: the light under the surface, the quiet, the sense that something real is happening. Her clients don't just leave with beautiful images. They leave having felt something they didn't expect.
Ready to go below the surface?
DiP is for brands and creatives who value beauty with depth, imagery with soul and spaces that feel like home. Whether you’re ready to book or just dipping your toe in, we’d love to hear from you.
