Erena Shimoda’s Underwater Photography

Specialties

Erena Shimoda Photography specializes in underwater portraits and underwater healer for beauty, fashion, aesthetics, confidence, memories or just fun. By capturing people’s best characteristics underwater and bringing them to the surface, her goal is to see her clients smile as they hold their final image in their hands.

She wants the photo shoot to be each client’s own project. The clients should be involved in pre-​production so they can get to know each other and feel pumped up about the shoot! For her, the most important and beautiful aspect of her work is to be able to successfully present who the subjects are through their expressions, emotions and personalities. Telling them what they should look like would defeat the purpose of her goal, so she prefer not to do that. She helps them feel comfortable and relaxed underwater.

History

Established in 2009.

Erena Shimoda is a scuba diver for over 10 years. She became a Dive Master in Venezuela and started taking pictures of marine life. She switched the subject to human in 2009 and she absolutely loves interacting with her clients and learning from every photo shoot.

Underwater portrait business

* Maternity

* Engagement /​Wedding

* Family /​Pool party

* Beauty /​Yoga

The money raised from the regular portrait sessions will go for the future underwater healer photography sessions for cancer survivors (so that they can have this life-​changing experience without financial obligation).

Meet the Business Owner

erena S.

Business Owner

Erena Shimoda was born and raised in Tokyo, Japan. Although she grew up in the middle of the city, she was always curious about the underwater world. She enjoyed floating in a inflatable pool while daydreamimg about mermaids and singing a children’s song:

the ocean is wide, the ocean is huge

After scuba diving for the first time during a trip to the Honduras Bay islands Utila and Roatan in 2004, Erena immediately became an underwater addict. She received her Divemaster certificate in Venezuela in 2005 and began shooting underwater photographs in Thailand, Bonaire, Corsica, Cozumel, Cancun and Hawaii. While attending an underwater portrait workshop in Texas, she was inspired to use her background in New Media and Fine Art to create unique compositions by using different media.

Erena has been living in San Francisco since 1994. When she can’t reach tropical water, she’s usually taking photographs in swimming pools or staring at the cold ocean. And she is still humming the ocean song.