We rolled out of bed at 6:30 AM in Orlando, grabbed coffee, and started driving. We wanted to get to the park right when it opened – beat the crowds, avoid the heat, have this amazing place pretty much to ourselves.

Oh, you thought I meant Magic Kingdom? No, I’m talking about a different spot. One with its own kind of magic: the Florida Springs.

If you’re visiting the Central Florida area, take a day off from the Disney rush and plan a road trip to one of the hundreds of freshwater Florida Springs. Whether you love to birdwatch, freedive, kayak, tube, swim, or just relax with a book, there is a Florida spring for you.

And, oh yeah, they are also a beautiful setting for underwater portraits. You can browse examples from my past photoshoots around the springs here

Just make sure to stay in designated swimming areas – the Florida Springs (and all the animals who call them home) deserve our protection.

This week, we were excited to shoot with the super talented Luna! She’s a total pro in the water and has years of experience as an underwater model and mermaid (find her on Instagram).

Fun fact: she’s also an all-around creative and small business owner. Check out her clothing and accessories shop here. No joke, every time I browse her store I add something new to my wish list.

So it was no surprise that she came prepared with two stunning looks.

First up, Luna dove in as a mermaid. It can be challenging to swim and pose with a tail (your brain has so many things to think about at once!), but she stayed totally relaxed.

Her graceful arm extension and controlled swimming helped us get great head-to-tail full body shots like this:

I also love how we got to showcase such a gorgeous natural setting. The seagrass and sunbeams make for a great frame, and you never know when some fish or turtles will photobomb your shot.

Next, Luna changed into a flowy dress, star crown and wings for this ethereal fairy look. She had a wagon full of amazing props.

Luna makes this layered skirt look light and dreamy. But that thing was heavy! It’s important to know that fabrics behave differently in the water. When you plan your first underwater photo shoot with us, we’ll make sure you have a wardrobe that will make you feel safe and confident in the water.

I’ll leave you with this one – probably my favorite shot of the day!

Now it’s your turn! Book your underwater photoshoot (as a mermaid, fairy, or human being) here