Bring authenticity back into your girls trip through an “incredibly empowering” experience

Sometimes you meet people who are a breath of fresh air. When I met my model for this particular day, she was that. Capricia is a well-traveled and hard-working individual who embraces the motto “work hard, vacation hard”. Not only does she live her best life, but she does it selflessly. On her girls' trip to Tulum, she brought along her beloved mother, and favorite travel partner, Valarie.

As the underwater photoshoot progressed, I was reminded of the value this cenote photo shoot provides people.

After the session, as we were winding down from the emotions of the day, I had a candid chat with Capricia and Valarie. With the mood of the day still fresh in their minds, they shared with me their earnest thoughts.

I felt so touched by our conversation that I reached out to them shortly afterward. I felt that by sharing what they had told me, I would be able to give people a genuine peek into one of my cenote underwater photo shoots. 

A significant part of Capricia’s photo shoot was finding comfort outside of her comfort zone.

Capricia said to me,

“ I was extremely outside of my comfort zone when I chose to do your underwater photoshoot. I can tread water but I don't remember the last time I've gone for a swim of any type on vacation. In fact, before booking, I remember reaching out to Francesca to make sure I didn't have to be an expert swimmer. She immediately assured me that I'd be fine regardless of my skill level, and that's what truly sold me on my decision to move forward.”

Although there's no need to swim (like at all) to have an underwater photo shoot, it still might intimidate you. Don't worry, this comes up often. As Capricia soon found out, you will find comfort regardless of your skill level in the water.

One thing that spoke out to me was that Capricia was traveling with her mom. I cannot imagine a better partner-in-crime for a girls' trip to Tulum. But moms do have a tendency to worry about your wellbeing.

So I had to ask Capricia about how her mom reacted when she told her she booked a photoshoot...underwater.

Capricia shared with me,

“My mom was legitimately angry when I told her about my plans to do an underwater photoshoot, mostly because she was really nervous about the whole thing. She even mentioned several times before our trip that I should cancel it. But as soon as we met Francesca and the team, she could tell I'd be in good hands. And by the end of it, I think I even got her to admit that she wished she would have booked her own shoot instead of just watching from the sidelines. That just means we'll be back soon!”

Valarie is not only an incredible woman but also a remarkable mother. To bring ease to a mother is a feeling like none other. Having your underwater photo shoot with my team and me is more than having beautiful photos taken.

It is taking incredible photos in a safe environment with an emphasis on your comfort.

Throughout my time doing this I have met all types of people. Regardless of who you are, this underwater photo shoot will leave you with more than what you came for. There is something so empowering about the mindset of my clients. Traveling to Mexico to take underwater portraits is nothing short of inspiring.

Capricia expanded on this feeling,

“I've been to 38 countries so far and this was definitely one of my most memorable and magical experiences yet. This is far from your average photoshoot. To start, the cenote blew me away. Just being there soaking in all of its beauty is a blessing in itself. But being underwater surrounded by all of the fish, all whilst striking my fiercest poses was incredibly empowering. You may enter this experience a little nervous, but you're guaranteed to walk away feeling like a whole mermaid, or merman.”

To me, this feeling of empowerment is a byproduct of personal growth. Seeing my clients embrace their beauty in this safe space will always bring a huge smile to my face.

Witnessing how special this day was to Capricia, I asked her if there were any lessons she would take home with her.

She responded,

“The lesson I took away from this day was more so confirmed rather than learned. In whatever you do, it's important to have a strong team or community behind you. Francesca is incredible from beginning to end, and that trickles down to her team, Grecia and Marcos. Grecia is by your side guiding you through the cenote the entire time. She is the reason I felt as comfortable as I did in the water. And while you may not always notice, Marcos is also there every step of the way capturing amazing behind-the-scenes footage. These three are the dream team, and I seriously couldn't have asked for a better team.”

I couldn’t agree more. Community is what supports our success. Whether you are solo traveling or coming on a girls' trip, we are here to support you. Having an underwater photo shoot is so much more than taking beautiful photos. It is adding value to your vacation by grounding your trip with authentic lessons and moments that will outlive your getaway.