Clear water, grainy light, and that slow, hazy feeling of summer evenings. I wanted this session to feel cinematic and a little nostalgic—less “posed on the shore,” more “we wandered into an indie film together.” J & M’s swim session became exactly that.
Building a Session Around a Movie Mood — you can have this too!
Rather than starting with a specific location, we started with a feeling. The movie Call Me By Your Name came up, I love the soft, dreamy pacing of that movie—sun, water, intimacy, and a little bit of melancholy in the edges. The slowness, the “let’s hang onto summer” feelings, that’s what the vibe was.
Once in the water, the session became more about small movements than big poses. Hands skimming the surface, foreheads pressed together, sparkles on the surface.
Because we had talked through the mood ahead of time, they knew what we were chasing: something slow, intimate, and layered. That gave them permission to relax, stay close, and ignore the camera. We chose a quiet swim spot where we could wade in slowly, talk between shots, and let the light shift from bright to blue. Then, it was simple: enjoy the water, snack on a picnic, soak up the sun.
How to Plan a Cinematic Swim Session:
Choose a Secluded Spot
Privacy matters for sessions like this. Look for quieter lakes, rivers, or calm coves where you won’t have crowds watching. I have a whole list of spots for Oregon!
Keep Outfits Simple and Comfortable
Think: neutral colors, fabrics that dry quickly, and pieces you can move in. Swimwear is great, but layered linen or cotton looks beautiful in the water too.
Decide on Your Mood Beforehand
Do you want something playful, moody, sultry, or soft and nostalgic? Naming the feeling helps us build a shot list, choose timing, and direct in a way that feels right.
Want Your Own Cinematic Couples Session?
If you’ve ever watched a movie and thought, “I wish we had photos that felt like that,” we can absolutely create it. Swim sessions, late-night city walks, foggy forests—there’s so much room to play.
