Portraits
Fine art, below the surface
Gowns, light, and held breath. Portrait sessions in springs, pools, and open ocean.
View portraits
Underwater Photography & Film
Made belowthe surface.
Portraits, cinema, and adventures. Photographed where gravity lets go.
Studio · 4 m
Gravity endsat the waterline.That's where we begin.
Submerge is an underwater photography studio in Fullerton, California. We photograph portraits in our studio pool, in springs and in open ocean: real fabric, real breath, real depth. We work on film productions as underwater camera operators, safety divers, stills photographers and talent coaches, and we teach people to work in the water. Then we guide small adventures to some of the clearest water on earth.
Down here light bends, hair floats, and nothing holds still. We've spent years learning to direct all of it.
The Work · 10 m
What we do down here.
Cinema
Underwater production
Underwater cinematography, safety diving, behind-the-scenes stills and talent training for productions shooting below the surface.
See film production
Training
Learn the water
PADI Mermaid and Scuba certifications, an underwater portrait photography crash course, and workshops.
See the training
Travel
The clearest water on earth
Small-group adventures and workshops. Dive all morning, shoot all afternoon, and fly home with a gallery.
See the adventuresAdventures · 20 m
Next departures
Turquoise Bay Resort, Honduras
Roatán 2027: Dive Trip and Underwater Modeling Workshop
Jun 12 – Jun 19, 2027
Eight days at an all-inclusive dive resort on Roatán: three boat dives a day for every diver, plus an optional underwater modeling workshop.
View the adventureReviews · 30 m
Justin and Abbey did such a brilliant job with organization and creating a safe atmosphere for us to learn underwater modeling combined with scuba.
Tara Coyote, Roatán 2026 trip guest
Creating an environment where we felt safe—both physically and psychologically—to try new things, push ourselves, and just enjoy being there.
@mermanchatravee, Roatán 2026 trip guest
Safe doesn't even begin to describe it. It was so comforting. It's like I'd done it a million times before.
Megan Johnson, Roatán 2026 trip guest
Hands down one of the coolest and most unique experiences and they are such a great team to work with. Totally made me feel at ease and my maternity pictures came out 10/10!
Morgan Naim, Maternity client
From my first pool shoot, walking in with no experience in front of the camera or underwater, all the way to my most recent trip with them doing scuba assisted modeling in a shipwreck at the bottom of the ocean in Bali, it's been a dream! A dream that AI just can't compete with!
T M, Bali trip guest
Justin Lutsky is a total professional. Always responsive, on time, with great follow up, he is also extremely talented, creative and super easy to work with. His calm and thoughtful manner makes the day fun and stress-free. I would recommend him to anyone!
Hannah Mermaid Fraser
From the journal · 32 m
Recent stories
October 23, 2026
Three Talks at DEMA 2026
Justin Lutsky and Abbey Blake present three free seminars at the DEMA Show in New Orleans, November 3 to 5, on Deep Blue Adventures' seminar schedule.
January 15, 2026
Underwater Maternity Photos to Celebrate Motherhood
Underwater maternity photos offer a serene, weightless way to honor pregnancy with artistic, emotional portraits designed to create lasting legacy imagery.
November 24, 2025
Underwater Portrait Photography in Southern California
Stunning underwater portrait photography for everyone in Southern California, no professional training or perfect body required.
Field credits · 34 m
Featured in
MerPeople
A Netflix original docuseries
Selected clients
NetflixDiscoveryVevoScout Productions
Underwater cinema · dive & safety support · talent coaching
When a production needs the real thing below the waterline, they call us.
Surface when ready · 40 m
Ready to gounder?
A portrait session, a production that needs an underwater expert, or a seat on the next adventure. Tell us what you're dreaming up.