10 Secrets to Stunning Underwater Photography & Video

It's easier than ever to get professional results underwater, whether you're shooting stills or video. These 10 tips cover technique, gear, creativity, settings, and common mistakes — building a foundation for images that are genuinely memorable. This isn't a shortcut. It's a journey of discovery that pays off for a lifetime.

1. Best Camera and Lens to Use
2. Can I Use My Phone or Action Cam?
3. Best Waterproof Housing for My Gear
4. Using Domes to Reduce Distortion
5. Follow the Light
6. Practice & Experimentation
7. Creative Vision
8. Mastering Manual Mode
9. Settings & White Balance
10. Post-Production Editing

1. Best Camera and Lens to Use

Cameras

There is no right or wrong when it comes to camera choices. There's a saying in photography that "the best camera is the one you have." It is hard to go wrong with a modern camera today, and it's usually better to master the camera you have than to not know how to use a state-of-the-art one. Use the best camera you can afford — but think of it as a tool, not a jewel. Your creativity should not be limited by technology.

While there are differences between film, DSLR, mirrorless, and medium format cameras, all of them can deliver stunning results as your skill grows — especially when they support your creative vision. If possible, use a camera that lets you select aperture, depth-of-field, and shutter speed. Not relying on Auto mode is likely the single biggest differentiator in your work. The latest and easiest cameras to use today are mirrorless — they incorporate all previous capabilities with great additional features, improved resolution, and controllable settings.

Lenses

The lens makes a bigger impact on your imaging than the camera. There's a saying: "Date the camera. Marry the lens." That's true in part because optical evolution is already at the edge of physics — it's hard to improve a great lens — while cameras continue to innovate rapidly in hardware and software. A good lens yields good results on a mediocre camera. A mediocre lens cannot yield good results even on a great camera.

For underwater work, go as wide as you can. Water creates far more visual pollution than air — the subject becomes grainier, more distorted, and more opaque the further away you are. Wide-angle lenses work best because proximity to the subject reduces distortion, maximises optical sharpness, and gives you greater control over lighting variance.

I recommend rectilinear wide-angle lenses (not fisheye) in the 12–35mm focal length range — for example, 12–24mm or 16–35mm. For aperture, aim for f/4 or lower; an f/2.8 version of a 16–35mm is better and more expensive than the f/4 equivalent, but both are excellent. At the end of the day, grab what you have and move on. You can always upgrade over time.

2. Can I Use My Phone or Action Cam?

Yes. Cameras are superior to smartphones and action cams in various ways, but each is evolving at a different pace and designed for different purposes. Most professionals use phones and action cams to complement their camera work rather than replace it. Here's an overview of the differences.

Action Cams (like GoPros)

Action cams were designed to capture action sports, often from a selfie perspective. They have limited optical and functional capabilities to fit their size and price. They usually offer one fixed very wide-angle focal length, small lenses that rely on software, and few adjustable settings. This makes them excellent if your needs match their capabilities — they are not versatile, but make a great complement to an arsenal, especially for video.

Smartphone Cameras

Smartphones are superior to action cams in almost every way — fewer hardware, software, optical, and connectivity limitations, plus continuous improvement through software updates. The gap between phones and cameras continues to close. That said, phones still rely heavily on software to compensate for physically small lenses, and their weaknesses become increasingly noticeable on larger screens and to discerning observers.

3. Best Waterproof Housing for My Gear

All products have pros and cons — the right question is: what's the best underwater system for me and my purposes? On one end of the spectrum, plastic bags are cheap and universal but yield unprofessional results. On the other, hard cases are heavy, bulky, camera-specific, expensive (starting around $1,500), and often restrict which functions you can control. A surf case can't be used for diving; a dive case is impractical for paddleboarding. Not all models support mounting, triggers, tethering, or lights.

The Outex system combines the best of both ends of the spectrum. It delivers the best optical performance through optical glass ports (not plastic or acrylic), maintains full control over all camera and lens functions, and is universally compatible with DSLR, mirrorless, film, video, and medium format across all major brands. It's modular, upgradeable, travel-friendly (no added weight or bulk), and starts at $300.

For phones, the Outex phone case is universally compatible across all brands and models, uses optical glass ports for professional imaging, and maintains tactile control over the touchscreen and hard buttons underwater. It's also compatible with third-party accessories including tripod mounts, selfie sticks, and lights.

4. Using Domes to Reduce Distortion

Dome ports are popular for underwater photography because they correct distortions caused by light changing speed as it travels from air into water — especially in split-level images where part of the frame is above and part below the surface. Domes reduce the bending effect of light at the air-water interface and make it easier for the camera and lens to find focus in the right area of the frame.

Domes also reduce some of the underwater magnification effect and work best with wide-angle lenses (under 30mm). They have no negative effect above water, so there's no downside to keeping one on.

When evaluating dome ports, consider:

• Material: Optical glass outperforms plastic and acrylic — that's why your lenses use it. Outex dome ports use optical glass, not acrylic.
• Modularity: Can you upgrade from flat to dome, or acrylic to glass over time?
• Scratch resistance: Optical glass is the most resistant.
• Universal lens fit: Can all your lenses be used with the port? Many hard cases cause vignetting with wide lenses. Outex dome ports are universal and self-adjust.
• Transportability: Factor the weight of the whole system, not just the dome.
• Treatability: Glass offers the widest array of anti-fog, water-beading, and cleaning options.

5. Follow the Light

The word "photography" stems from Greek for "capturing of light." Lighting is critical in any photography discipline, and underwater is no exception. Learning how to control, harness, redirect, or create the right light for your subject is the name of the game.

Natural Light

For daytime imaging, embrace rather than fight natural sunlight. Light dissipates quickly underwater — you lose most of it by 10 metres (33 feet). Key factors to master:

• Timing: Time of day changes the angle at which light enters the water more dramatically than in air. Lighting differences throughout the day have a significant impact below the surface.
• Reflection and refraction: Water's near-constant motion creates reflections and refractions everywhere. Learn to anticipate them so you can use or avoid them as needed.
• Shadows and shade: Pulling a large cover over the water creates soft, even light — making it easier to supplement with your own sources, especially if the subject faces away from the natural light.

Strobes and Constant Lighting

There is a growing range of lighting options for underwater photo and video. A few approaches worth knowing:

• Above the surface: Tripod-mounted constant-on lights work well for video. For stills, tethered triggers or on-board flash are supported by several housings including Outex. Hybrid systems like Stella-Pro can be used above or below water, generating over 10,000 lumens.
• Below the surface: Waterproof lighting options are plentiful. They can be placed at specific locations, hand-held, or tripod-mounted underwater — complementing natural light or working independently. Well-lit imagery yields a richer, deeper, more three-dimensional result.

6. Practice & Experimentation

Practice makes perfect — and it's true for imaging. You'll carry your above-water experience with you, but will quickly discover that underwater is literally a whole new world. Breath-holding, buoyancy, gravity, visibility, and comfort in the water all play a much more important role in getting results than they do above the surface.

Everything is in constant motion underwater: the subject, fabric, hair, air bubbles, and the reflections and refractions of light. Auto-focus can be confused by bubbles. Controlling your own movements is harder when both hands are occupied with a camera.

Find a mask or goggles you like to optimise visibility — both of your subjects and your camera's viewfinder and LCD. The Outex system is designed to maintain tactile feel over every button and knob on any camera body, keep all functions where you expect them, and provide clear visibility through optical glass ports — including touch sensitivity on smartphone touchscreens.

Practice, repetition, and experience are key. The lack of gravity means you're free to capture images from any direction. The way movement interacts between subject and water is completely different from anything possible on land — and you'll find yourself rediscovering photography all over again.

7. Creative Vision

I equate creative vision in imaging to having goals in sport. It's different for everyone and evolves over time — but having a creative vision means knowing what you want to achieve. Many of my best shots were not accidents. They were the result of imagination, planning, and execution.

Natural talent and camera skills help immensely, but the odds of getting a memorable, usable shot increase dramatically when you have an idea of what you're looking for, have planned how to get it, and prepared accordingly. My favourite locker-room quote from my athletic career: "Luck is where preparation meets opportunity." That applies directly to imaging. Think of your gear — cameras, lenses, waterproof housings — as tools to express your creative vision.

8. Mastering Manual Mode

There are thousands of guides and videos on this topic. I just want to reinforce the importance of using your camera as a creative tool rather than a computational partner. Think of Auto mode like AI: it does fantastic computational work — reducing shake, finding focus, adjusting settings — based on what it thinks you're trying to achieve. By taking manual control of those settings, you harness that capability for what you want.

Most cameras let you advance gradually. Modes like Aperture Priority or Shutter Priority let you control one of the three key variables — aperture, shutter speed, ISO — at a time. Just controlling one of these settings will increase your output control exponentially. Over time, you'll transition to adjusting all three in real time, using the camera's on-screen readings to guide your decisions. Even smartphones now offer professional modes with adjustable aperture, ISO, and shutter speed.

9. Settings & White Balance

Beyond aperture, shutter speed, and ISO, white balance is particularly important underwater. White balance informs the camera how to recognise the colour spectrum by calibrating all colours against a reference — often white. This matters more underwater because colours disappear faster than in air. For every metre (3.28 feet) of depth, colours progressively drop out — first red, then orange, yellow, green — until only blue remains. Artificial lights complicate this further.

The good news:

• In a pool (within 10 metres of the surface), colour distortion is less severe, and most audiences are accustomed to it. But calibrating white balance will make your colours pop.
• You can also correct colour in post-production — less accurate than shooting it right, but a valid option.

Other useful settings to explore:

• Continuous shooting / drive speed: Higher frame rates help capture the decisive moment in dynamic underwater environments.
• Focal points: Explore face or eye recognition, zone-based focus, or pre-determined focal areas framed to your shot.
• On-screen displays: Use live histograms, light meters, and levelers to put your technology to work.
• File format: Shoot RAW for maximum post-production flexibility; JPEG for smaller files and faster sharing.

10. Post-Production Editing

This area is changing rapidly. The number and sophistication of editing tools has exploded, and we're entering a phase where you can choose between maximum flexibility (full manual control) and ease of use (AI-assisted editing). The options have never been better.

My advice: try to get it right in camera. The closer your capture is to your vision, the better the final result. Think of editing as polishing and finishing touches — unless your creative vision specifically calls for dramatic manipulation or special effects.

Ready to Shoot Underwater?

The right housing makes all of these tips possible. Outex is the only universal, modular waterproof housing system that uses optical glass ports, works with any DSLR or mirrorless camera, and gives you full access to your camera controls below the surface — starting at $300.

Shop Outex underwater camera housings → | Camera compatibility FAQ | See community work

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About the Author

JR deSouza is a 1992 Olympic finalist, 1993 World Champion, and World Record Holder who spent his professional career in technology and imaging at Samsung, TiVo, Disney, and DreamWorks Animation — involved in the launch of DVD, high-definition video, and image capture, broadcasting, and streaming. He founded Outex to combine his passion for photography and water. Six sports photographers at the Tokyo Olympics used his invention. The system is also used in production for Survivor, Amazing Race, National Geographic, Discovery, BBC, and more.