Cenotes & The Art of Portrait Photography with Fran Reina
In episode #62 host Brett Stanley chats with with Italian photographer Fran Reina, who is now based in Mexico. They talk about her love of water travel and how she transitioned from a dive guide to underwater portrait photographer shooting in the cenote, near Ply del Carmen.
She also lets us in on her business processes, how having a studio assistant made all the difference and what’s involved in letting someone else into your business.
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Episode Summary
In this episode of The Underwater Podcast, I chat with Italian underwater photographer Francesca Reina. Her journey began while working as a scuba diving instructor in the Maldives, where she started experimenting with a GoPro to capture the underwater world around her. With no formal training in photography or the arts, she built her skills through trial and error. Over time, she upgraded her gear, developed her visual style, and focused her work on underwater portraiture using natural light and minimal equipment.
Francesca shares her approach to working with non-professional clients, building trust in the water, and creating relaxed and expressive portraits. She talks about her preference for freshwater locations near her home in Italy, and her travels to Mexico to photograph in the cenotes. These cave systems offered new challenges and opportunities with their striking natural light and clearer conditions. With the help of her assistant she handles both the creative and practical aspects of each shoot.
As her client base grew, Francesca created a Customer Relationship Manager (CRM) to help her stay organised with inquiries, bookings, and communication. She explains how the system has supported her transition into full-time photography work. We also discuss her editing workflow, how she approaches social media, and why she prefers simplicity and connection over elaborate styling or production.
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About Fran Reina – Underwater Portrait Photographer

Francesca Reina is an underwater portrait photographer with a deep connection to the water. With over a decade of experience, she has worked as a SCUBA diving instructor, underwater photographer, and certified yoga teacher. Her understanding of movement, breath, and calm beneath the surface informs her approach to photographing people in this unique environment.
In 2016, Francesca arrived in Mexico and was immediately drawn to the cenotes. Their crystal clear water and dramatic natural surroundings offered the perfect setting for her creative work. She quickly recognised that these spaces would become the foundation of her artistic practice, allowing her to combine her technical skills with a strong visual sensibility.
Through her sessions, Francesca invites clients to experience the weightlessness and quiet of being underwater. Her goal is to create portraits that capture not just how people look beneath the surface, but how they feel. Each shoot is a collaboration, designed to help clients feel present, confident, and seen in a moment they can return to for years to come.






