Photographer Andrew Fronda dreamed about doing an underwater shoot since getting his start in the field. An imaginative collaboration made it possible — and the ethereal results were stunning enough to grace the pages of Vogue Italia.
"I always loved being around water, so I just had to do it at some point," says Fronda. "And it's a pretty rare concept at that."
The project became possible with one homeowner's generous permission, granting access to a pool designed by the legendary Skip Phillips. According to Fronda, the most difficult part of the shoot was equipment research, with the process taking around six months.
"I don't have the financial budget to spend on high-end underwater gear, so I had to look for more cost-effective alternatives," he says.
Fronda's choice to work with model Jessica Young for the series "was a no-brainer" — he noted their shooting chemistry and Young's artistic passion. But submerging the project was no easy feat.
"Shooting underwater has a lot of safety risks involved, so we had to make sure we had thoroughly planned that out," says Fronda. "So we asked [Jessica's] boyfriend Aaron to help us out. Fortunately, he also does videography, so that was a bonus for us to have video footage."
Ultimately, the risk was well worth the reward.
"To be able to successfully execute the whole idea was amazing enough for us, but the surprise didn't end there," says Fronda. "One of our shots (Different Dimensions) got published in Vogue Italia! This concept couldn't be more memorable, as it was the fruition of having a good team chemistry."
Model: Jessica Young; Pool Owner: Angela; Pool Designer: Skip Philips; Assistant/Videographer: Aaron Greenway; Photographer: Andrew Fronda
This article first appeared in the March 2021 issue of AQUA Magazine — the top resource for retailers, builders and service pros in the pool and spa industry. Subscriptions to the print magazine are free to all industry professionals. Click here to subscribe.
