Surf Photography 101: Beginner Guide by Maria Fernanda
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Surf Photography:
Everything you need to know by Maria Fernanda
A collaboration with
Have you ever opened your Instagram explore page, seen some remarkable surfing pictures, and wondered how photographers take such beautiful shots?
As we approach summer, it is the perfect time to learn and train to elevate your surf photography shots. So, before you take your camera, here are our 5 essential tips on how to nail your surf photography shots.
Maria Fernanda
Surf Photography 101: Detailed Guide by Maria Fernanda
Have you ever opened your Instagram explorer page, seen some remarkable surfing pictures, and wondered how photographers take such beautiful shots? Learn with Maria 🤩
Trailer
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Intro
1
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What is surf photography
60
How to become a surf photographer
186
How to prep for a shoot
330
How to get the perfect shot
671
Best lens for surf photography
957
Accessories for surf photography
1178
Tips and tricks
1331
Inspiration
1435
Wrap up
1540
Meet Your Instructor
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What you’ll learn
To become a surf photographer, you must have a passion for it!
Use weather apps to predict the conditions during the shoot.
If you have a drop of water on the port, it can ruin your whole image.
Shoot with 200 ISO, 2000 shutter speed, and then just shift your focus.
You need to know the sport, and train mentally and physically to be able to excel in photographing it.
Use surf wax, candle wax, sunscreen, or oil to keep the port dry and clean to take the best photos.
Masterclass chapters
What is surf photography?
Surf photography, as Maria would refer to it, is the art of documenting surfing from land or water. There are many differences between surf photography and any other type of photography. Maria will tell you more about it in this chapter.
How to become a surf photographer?
Surf photography involves a lot of sacrifice and commitment. You have to know the sport inside out. You must train for it, especially for water shots. You have to be in shape and ready to swim for hours. You have to be strong both physically and mentally.
Prepping for a shoot
Setting up for a surf photography shoot depends on many things, for example, the day you want to shoot and the waves. Fortunately, there are ways to predict that with some preparation. In this chapter, Maria will tell you how she prepares for a shooting day.
The perfect shot
Define your subject and anticipate what they are about to do. Is it just the wave you want to capture or a specific surfer? At this point in surf photography, knowing the sport comes in handy.
Best lens
The best lens to use will always depend on the type of photography you want to work on. Short lenses are perfect if you want a view of all the surroundings, but if you want to more focus on your subject, you want to focus more on a wide angle. Listen to Maria go into more detail on the perfect lenses for surf photography.
Accessories
Maria will show you her most used accessories for surf photography. Using a housing for your camera is a must when shooting because you want to be able to swim and move fast in the water. When shooting in big waves, wear a helmet and vest for safety.
Tips and tricks
In this chapter, Maria will share some of her best tips for surf photography. Amongst other things, she will talk about where to place the camera housing and how to swim with the camera.
Inspiration
The biggest inspiration is the ocean and the people she meets through her work. In this chapter, she will share some of her best tips for inspiration for surf photography.
Maria Fernanda
Surf photographer
Mexico City, Mexico
“If you are trying to become a surf photographer you have to have a passion for it!”
Born and raised in Mexico City, Maria holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration in Tourism and Hospitality Management.
Since she was a young girl, she has had a passion for being in the water. While in high school, she was a swimmer for the regional team. Whenever she had any spare time, she would escape to the beach and enjoy surfing.
Her other passion for photography started when she finished high school, taking many beautiful pictures around her hometown of Mexico City.
After graduating from college, she traveled to Hawaii, where she learned to combine her love of surfing with her passion for photography. Now she shoots pictures of surfers in the water wherever she goes.
If you enjoyed this masterclass, check out our article about how to nail your surf photography shots!
