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 is more than just an underwater photography studio. It’s a creative space built for eco-conscious fashion brands, ethical swimwear labels and creatives who want to dive deeper with their imagery.
Hilda built this space for people who want their imagery to feel real. Slow fashion labels. Ethical ocean brands. 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.
Born from a passion project during lockdown, DiP blends professional precision with creative freedom, giving brands and individuals a space to capture calm, intentional and truly one-of-a-kind underwater photos
Born in the water.
Built for the ones who feel it too.
What began with surf shots and salty portraits turned into something deeper. While learning to surf during lockdown, Hilda picked up an underwater camera, and in theprocess, discovered not just a new creative outlet, but a tight-knit community of ocean lovers who welcomed her in.
That same sense of connection, support and creative openness is at the heart of DiP. This isn’t just an underwater photography studio. It’s a space to create, collaborate and feel at home in the water. Whether you’re a brand, a photographer or a creative soul drawn to the ocean, DiP offers more than just a backdrop – it offers belonging and a growing community from Lake Macquarie, Newcastle and beyond.
Four ways to work with DiP
PORTRAIT SESSIONS
For anyone ready to see themselves differently
You just need to show up — the water does the rest.
A DiP portrait session is unlike any photo experience you've had before. Weightless. Unhurried. Completely yours. You'll leave with images that don't just capture how you look, but how you feel.
BRAND & COMMERCIAL
For fashion labels & conscious brands
Campaign shoots, studio sessions and retreat documentation. 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
Looking for a private, calm space to shoot underwater portraits, minus the tides and unpredictability of the ocean? DiP Studio is available for hire. Perfect for maternity, branding or creative sessions, our purpose-built studio offers clear mineral water, soft natural light and all the creature comforts you need for a smooth, soulful shoot. Bring your clients and your vision — we provide the clear mineral water, the light and the privacy. Everything is set up, nothing to worry about.
She’s been chasing that feeling her whole life.
Born in South Africa, Hilda only saw the ocean once a year. After long drives to the coast, she’d spend hours in the whitewash riding a broken foamie, wave after wave.
That pull to the water never left.
After moving to Australia and spending 25 years by the beach, it’s now hard to imagine a day without the ocean – even in the icy chill of Winter.
Already a qualified photographer, during lockdown, Hilda shifted her focus, picking up an underwater camera and diving into surf culture and ocean-inspired imagery.
Now, as the founder of DiP, she brings that same sense of wonder, freedom and connection into every shoot.
Join The Community. Create Something Real.
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.
