Last year I had the idea to start filming music videos, whether someone hired me or not. I thought it would be an interesting medium to work in and since I have a film background, why not! I have shot two since then but they are still being edited, so I will share when they are finished. For my last video shoot we filmed underwater, and I grabbed a few stills while we were at it!

Shooting underwater is always wrought with challenges, but this shoot proved very simple in some regards. I rented a black bottom pool that was truly very dark, so editing the background and making the subject stand out became easy. I had an amazing model to work with, Sara Silkin, who is also a dancer and choreographer. She could move like nobody’s business under that water! And to boot, it was an overcast, rainy day in Los Angeles, so the light was wonderfully diffused.

The downside? It was COLD. That water was some of the coldest I have ever been in. Our model was turning a range of blue to purple to black, and so we could only shoot for a few minutes at a time with an hour in between to get warmed up again. It was extremely tough on my body and I definitely paid for it the next few days, but it was so worth it. I hope you enjoy the images!

Do you have a favorite?

Have you dabbled in underwater photography?

…I just need to pace myself.
(In other words: Brooke, be good. Please don’t fizzle your money away on costumes.)

Victorian Choice
(on Ebay)

Purpose: Period piece + drama.
Price: $30-150

American Vintage
(online and in stores in Los Angeles)

Purpose: Vintage pieces by era.
Price: $50+

Nifty Thrifty
(online)

Purpose: Inexpensive vintage items.
Price: $10-50

Rusty Zipper
(online)

Purpose: Prairie dresses.
Price: $40-60

Adored Vintage
(online)

Purpose: High-end vintage.
Price: $60-500

Aside from online shops, whenever I travel to a new town I ask the locals where to go for vintage, second hand shops, or costume stores. A lot of towns do have places like this, and while they can be expensive, you can always try to haggle with the price. I have even “rented” from stores like this even though it is not their policy to do so – it doesn’t hurt to ask!

If you are searching on a site like Ebay or Etsy, some key words that I often use are:

Fairytale
Flowing
Prairie
Bohemian
Long dress
Vintage
Gunne Sax (brand)
Victorian

I don’t worry to much about size when looking for vintage outfits, since one size is usually all that is offered. I always carry with me binder clips and safety pins so that I can make an outfit fit the model.

I hope that you find this helpful, and if you have any suggestions, please list them in the comments! This can be an ongoing helpful list for everyone!