Water Photography Workshops & retreats
Get in the water, create something real.
This is the workshop that changes how you see light.
DiP workshops put you in the studio with a camera and a subject - and teach you how to work with water, not against it. You'll learn how light behaves below the surface, how to direct someone who's holding their breath, and how to capture the exact moment a body becomes weightless.
Small groups. Hands-on from the first session. Whether you're a portrait photographer curious about underwater work, a surf photographer who is keen to get in the water, or a hobbyist ready to take on something new. This is the workshop that changes how you see light.
Thanks so much, Hilda, for showing me the ropes to get comfy with my underwater housing in your beautiful pool studio. I really appreciated the knowledge you shared with me in a calm setting, which gave me the confidence to take my gear into the ocean and keep experimenting.
~ Penny @snappylapper
Winner: National Emerging Art Prize for Photography 2025.
Learn to shoot underwater & ocean portraits
This is for you if...
You want to try water housings and underwater equipment before you invest in your own
You have your own housing and want to learn to get the most out of it
You want to shoot underwater portraits, but don't know where to start
You want to shoot ocean/surf portraits - above and below the surface
You want to feel the difference between shooting in an underwater studio and in the open ocean - and understand how to adapt between the two
You want feedback, not a formula, in a group small enough to actually get it
You're ready to walk away with portfolio images you can use straight away
This isn't a lecture-style workshop
most of your day will be spent in the water, camera in hand.
Upcoming
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Upcoming 〰️
dip in
where it all begins
Half-day
Pool only
Introductory level
Your first time below the surface doesn't have to be overwhelming. DiP In is a half-day introduction to underwater portrait photography in my custom-built heated pool studio at Caves Beach - calm, supported and hands-on from the moment you get in the water.
You'll shoot a real model, learn how light behaves below the surface, get comfortable with water housings, and walk away with portfolio images and the confidence to go deeper.
No pressure. Just you, your camera and the water.
Perfect if:
You've never shot underwater before and want to find your feet before committing to a full day.
Dates announced to the waitlist first - join below
DiP Under
The day you learn to shoot both worlds
Full day
Pool + ocean
Dual skill
Most underwater photographers shoot portraits or surf. Rarely both. DiP Under teaches you both in a single day - starting below the surface in my heated pool studio, then crossing the road to the ocean at Caves Beach for surf portrait work above and below the surface.
This isn't a lecture-style workshop. Most of your day will be spent in the water, camera in hand.
Morning: Custom-built heated pool studio - real model, settings, light, directing. All images yours to keep.
Afternoon: Into the ocean at Caves Beach - surf portraits above and below the surface with a real surfer in calm water. Reading the water, positioning yourself, getting the shot.
Before the day: A 30-minute 1:1 call with Hilda - your camera, your experience, your goals.
4 women only
19 September 2026 Sold Out
Dates announced to the waitlist first - join below.
Proudly partnering with:
Most photographers only ever see one half of this
DiP Under will teach you both
dip away
the adventure
International retreat
All levels welcome
Travel with purpose
DiP Away takes everything DiP is about - water, craft, community - and moves it somewhere extraordinary. Small group international photography retreats for women who are ready to combine creative growth with serious adventure and leave a place better than they found it.
You don't need to have attended a previous DiP workshop. All levels welcome.
Travel with purpose
Every DiP Away retreat partners with a local community organisation in the destination country. A percentage of every retreat spot goes directly to women and communities on the ground - so your adventure contributes to something that lasts long after you've flown home.
It's conscious travel - choosing to show up somewhere with intention, and support the people who make these places extraordinary.
We go beyond the lens
At each destination, DiP Away includes a visit to our community partner - meeting the women we support, hearing their stories, and seeing first-hand where your contribution goes. Not as observers, but as guests. These moments tend to be the ones participants remember longest - and the photographs taken there, the most meaningful of the entire trip.
Two destinations are being planned for 2027
One is tropical - warm water, world-class surf, extraordinary underwater light, and a local women's organisation doing remarkable work in the community you'll be visiting.
One is personal - a homecoming to the country where Hilda was born. Dramatic coastline, ocean portrait work, and a wildlife experience that has no equivalent anywhere else in the world. Plus a partnership with a local community that will stay with you long after the safari dust settles.
Both are small. Both are immersive. Both are built around leaving something behind.
Details being finalised - join the waitlist below and you'll be first to know when they open
“I feel incredibly lucky to have been part of the very first DiP workshop. If you’ve ever wanted to challenge yourself creatively, whether you’re just starting out or you’ve been photographing for years.
I genuinely can’t recommend Hilda’s workshops enough.
She has created more than a photography course- she’s built a community that inspires people to see the world differently.” 🤍
Katie ~ attended DiP In, April 2026
I'm in!
add me to the DiP waitlist
Please feel free to contact me with any questions xx
FAQs
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No — if you have any safety concerns, the pre-workshop call is a good place to check in on this.
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Yes. Focus on your camera, not the cold.
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Yes — a real model in the studio and a real surfer in the ocean. All images are yours to use in your portfolio.
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Comfort in the water helps, but you don't need to be a surfer. The ocean shoot is in calm, manageable water — the session is about reading movement, not riding waves. Mention any concerns on your pre-workshop call.
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The studio session goes ahead regardless. If ocean conditions aren't safe, we reschedule that session — you won't lose the full day.
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Because you can't learn in a queue. Four means you actually get in the water, get feedback, and get the shot.
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You're welcome to bring your own gear if you have it. If not, no problem — Hilda has a DSLR, a mirrorless camera, and two housings available on the day, so everyone gets plenty of time behind the lens regardless.
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Caves Beach is on the NSW coast, about 2 hours north of Sydney — close enough for a day trip but with plenty of accommodation options if you'd like to make a weekend of it. A great excuse for a little escape.
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Booking & Payment
A non-refundable $200 deposit is required to secure your spot. Cancellations made more than 30 days before the workshop date may be transferred to a future DiP workshop at Hilda's discretion.Cancellation or Postponement by DiP Underwater Studio
If the workshop is cancelled by DiP Underwater Studio for any reason, participants will receive a full refund of all payments made, or the option to transfer to a future workshop date.Weather & Ocean Conditions
The studio session will proceed regardless of weather. If ocean conditions are deemed unsafe on the day, the ocean component will be rescheduled to a mutually agreed date at no additional cost. No refund is provided for the ocean session being rescheduled due to weather.Health & Safety
Participants must be comfortable in the water. Any health conditions, injuries, or concerns that may affect participation in water-based activities must be disclosed to Hilda during the pre-workshop call. DiP Underwater Studio reserves the right to exclude a participant from any activity deemed unsafe for that individual.Images
All images taken during the workshop by participants are theirs to keep and use in their portfolio and for commercial purposes. Images may not be used in a way that misrepresents DiP Underwater Studio. Hilda may photograph the workshop for promotional purposes — please advise during your pre-workshop call if you do not wish to appear in promotional material.Equipment
Participants bring and use their own equipment at their own risk. DiP Underwater Studio accepts no liability for damage to personal equipment during the workshop. Loanable equipment (DSLR, mirrorless, housings) is available but must be handled with care — participants are liable for any damage caused through negligence.Liability
Participation is at your own risk. DiP Underwater Studio holds public liability insurance. Participants are responsible for their own personal insurance, health cover, and travel arrangements.