- I'm ready to get mermaid.
(laughs)
Suits on, it's early.
(upbeat music)
- My name is Brenda Stumpf.
I am an underwater photographer and today we are
making some art.
- I am so nervous just because when I see examples
of this done everyone looks so beautiful
and like peaceful and I am like the most anxious,
stressed out person I know.
- I'm excited, but I also feel like I get really
excited about these things and then I'm afraid
that I'm not going to like do as well.
- We're going to angle how to look beautiful under water.
It's a long process, but I think we're gonna make
some really great stuff.
- It'll be so nice to see plus size women
in this kind of glamorous, beautiful light.
- We're already different and being plus-size and
being darker skin toned and me not having hair
and (mumbles) having all the hair.
- Just underwater, having fun and feeling pretty.
(upbeat music)
- All right girls, so we're gonna be working
in the water today and it is one of the most
unusual, amusing places to shoot ever.
So we've got a blue box.
That's what you respect.
That's where your world is going to be today.
When we're down there one of the most important
things remember about underwater modeling is
that when you're holding your breath, the breath
is not in your face.
- It's going to be interesting to see how I can
remain under water, hold my breath, but still
somehow look beautiful and glamorous.
- I've watched it on America's Next Top Model episode.
It was the petite season.
They did really bad under water and they we're models, so.
- We don't want to be going like that, right?
One of the tricks we use in underwater modeling
is using weight belts.
- We each got weighted down with these belts
and it helps with your buoyancy.
You're not fighting to always get up.
You're not fighting to stay down.
You're just able to think about what you're doing.
- I don't know I kind of freaked out a little.
It was like, "What if I need to get to the top?"
- [Photographer] Think right now about
who do you want %to be in this photograph.
- We each kind of like chose a character.
I shouted out, "Aphrodite."
- What is she like?
- She is--
- Passionate.
- And apparently she's down visiting Uncle Poseidon.
- I just want to be like warrior strong,
a little bit sexy.
- Show me what that looks like right now.
- I don't know.
(upbeat music)
- I think this is the first time that I have ever been
under water in clothes.
- It felt so wrong.
- It felt so weird when you're in there.
It's like all flowing.
- I'm scared.
Just what ever way my body goes I should just chill?
- Yeah.
This is still.
We're gonna take a few rounds of just you getting
used to this, so don't worry too much.
- Okay.
(sighs)
(upbeat music)
Whoo.
- Beautiful face, girl.
- Really?
- You kicked ass.
- Are you sure?
- Yeah, I was like, "Oh, my gosh."
- I'm so ner&vous.
Okay.
(upbeat music)
- How can she hold her breath this damn long?
- So pretty.
You look so pretty.
- The art in it is making it look easy,
but it is not easy.
You try holding your breath under water
while looking sexy and glamorous at the same time.
- I thought I was gonna not be able to breathe for a second.
- Your dress is flowing everywhere.
You're face is doing things and you're trying not
to breathe.
- As much as you think that you'd be relaxed
like you really have to like work on those places,
like you were pointing your toes, making sure
your face is there.
- It's really weird to figure out what to do with
your hands.
- The only thing I would say is watch your arms.
- I k&now.
I literally was thinking that in my head.
I put them out and I was like, "Duh."
- They were like, "You're doing YMCA."
So I was like, "Oh."
- When it comes to underwater photography
you become so much in tune with your body.
- When I'm shooting under water what I'm looking
for is there's a moment.
There's a moment where everything starts to happen.
It usually isn't in the beginning of a session.
It's usually, maybe 10 minutes in
where all of a sudden everyone starts to kind of
get their rhythm together.
More like a symphony than it is a painting.
(upbeat music)
- I think this was really just like overall crazy experience
I never saw myself doing this or trying this
and then finding out how hard it was.
That being said it was freaking awesome.
- Lots of awesome women cheering each other on.
Doing something insanely crazy and fantastic.
- People get to live out their dreams and
be the best version of themselves under water
as they are.
(upbeat music)