NO JUMPING
I read the ominous sign next to the sprawling pool at the famous Fontainebleau Miami Beach. I looked around and saw security personnel everywhere, ready to pounce at any infraction. This was going to be a problem.
Seventeen-year-old dancer Annie Gaddis and her mother Jackie drove three hours from Fort Myers to participate in Dancers Among Us. She brought a bright pink bikini. I wanted to photograph her jumping into the pool. I didn't have another idea. It had to happen.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYKADtPuL9WIRgOGUvyjPF3ASxKyW0il_u8vLR_YWhB2zLqPsU52-pMm3KIqwl4wIRT-p4GxJRccJk7WfXVnLNeYb6o3UFEUftlY1apKmWDEpf1PhJgmd-jGY_A3AYB6qvnPEWF_oxeQ/s400/FB_1.jpg)
I decided to pull some strings- I called my new BFF Mary Barrett, VP of Operations at Fontainebleau. We spent the day before bonding during an intense corporate headshot marathon, which I documented in yesterday's blog "Shooting Corporate Headshots for Miami's Biggest Vice- The World Famous Fontainebleau Resort".
"What do you want? You must want something or you wouldn't be calling." Imagine this said with an Irish accent and a twinkle in her voice. True love.
"Pool access. I want a dancer to jump in the pool. Just a few times. We'll be very discrete."
"Done." She's not one for small talk.
My initial idea was to have Annie sunbathing over the water while holding a tanning reflector. I found a good perspective that incorporated two well-placed onlookers, and we tried it a few times.
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The reflector wasn't working. I wanted her to be more engaged in an activity. What about reading? I looked around and struck gold- Miami Magazine (I love to identify the location whenever possible)! I handed her a plastic cup as well.
"You're drinking water and holding the magazine towards the camera so I can read it. Try to keep the magazine out of the water when you land so it stays dry. We might have to do this a few times."
Yes, just a few.
Yes, just a few.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUC3yoOd-qz5rheLJsX1ug2O9Z1EhfSt8uTBdUcMQfKAb2hg8G3qjSru21QXh7m_zcwIZQUVOJq8cF51hgTTH-e-7Jue_5_AytdZHqanofIm6Ureax4yF5bpp0BMpT2sXUodjs1Fipvw/s400/FB_3.jpg)
Wow, that actually looks really good. It couldn't be that easy, right? I decided to try a different perspective. I wanted her to be more featured, perhaps soaring in the blue sky. And I wanted more palm trees.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJALWOJzf8T3WSLed6kUj8p_1Eqps9twmCnEiyTeYe6-bMvEqKuaC-y7P7tAA4yInOemzW1wrsavjBbTb_umI5-LZ9tUnXxNEBZRuKwo8YohE0sNDXSEGBgUnsFTN4A2mZS7roPpWWGA/s400/FB_4.jpg)
I love it! Unfortunately, the magazine keeps blocking her back foot. Annie suggests a different pose.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTK7IEr_6HBfFZE4Ru1lLzRlFGGxA1UUZD5oxKhrrGGXjMxH3Bq8OkO1Kor6bGQXbcJF9Dqt1I6z9Ya2qd2ji2ex-XkhYcMkUQ2YB2m-IyIJoSa2d94GJq0jly4F65h_RuVIxjnu6AAA/s400/FB_5.jpg)
I love it more! That's a pose I've never used. Amazing. Almost perfect.
"The magazine needs to be turned just a little more towards the camera, and the cup should be closer to your bottom lip."
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyoIZ5w3w6AXILHa1VnJFLZ42mwIHvFyx7SV_EYsjnjK_b3q32WBWc5JLe7eQDNXGXMxdt1tayT-mWNNhZGm3zodtdEthCjuWq7t765p6sVBLFWgm8IH_TcSIJa3DpuieIsa98BhjXYw/s400/FB_6.jpg)
"Legs are perfect. Turn the magazine towards me. The cup is past your bottom lip now. Bring it back up."
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"Legs are amazing, but you covered your face with the magazine, which could be kind of cool but probably not."
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJfHyOBEsE_tniEVJuh3bYLqINdHUUscmiS3IkAX_HyXqsw8vzRJKx9-qOUZ-KyXlVAxIB8nMdm9sKVDf9EHPORVdVtWWmDUBXfMyZIWOM6TgFwspro1rwytV2x3sJ5hqgGXMSKlScVA/s400/FB_8.jpg)
"Perfect cup placement, but the legs are turned slightly too far away from me. I don't like the separation. Plus the magazine is wet so it's folding over at the corner. Let's get a different issue."
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoum2FMZ5mfkj-onekEnPJJ3oUBULGmhZloyjU6ccExoSGqPTwdBfMPEuGwCRIcSqnz6uX34p-6aJzd0GXJMNDlAEmPukkVjLDbwDtOZ134lokn8zUaO6Z6PeTR9s8mbPCdBL-ALMUmA/s400/FB_9.jpg)
"God it's so close. The magazine needs to be a hair turned towards me. Plus I like the first issue better. The 'Miami' is more clear. Love the dude in the shot though."
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRy4bUrzOVkgkODOweejZvrlc0r2F62Jt9V_7TigJVtYtLnCUL-iurNMAPdmYHxB63zZ63-5Vi89_bgu9s3pqrQotng5hSjaIcAT54GaKJh1mKe49jMFYENAkd_MHd_ytK1x7fLrlfsw/s400/FB_10.jpg)
"So, so close. Love the old guy checking you out, but your feet are not exactly together, and that damn magazine is folding over just a little. Plus the cup placement is off again. Keep it in your mouth."
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaeaM5xvPik3LGk95X7Z8arfti77vmSX3ijVJTVeyHdD_qroIGy_yNG9kptkMWZp6KjIpWqtd-LcxtPxOLoCfJH66mdhCEUjmRc6kJ_y4TWiE46hJ-j462g3AJz-XKKcDm-YifOppfxQ/s400/FB_11.jpg)
"Beautiful, but your legs can get a little higher- press them against your butt. And please, Photography Gods, give me one time when the magazine doesn't fold over."
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"Aggghhhhh, it's perfect except for the magazine. Everything else is absolutely perfect. I don't know what to tell you. Maybe a slight turn of the wrist? Maybe a prayer? Something to get that cover legible. Let's try it one more time."
"Perfection!! Amazing work, Annie."
Forty-five splashes later, we had our shot. I turned around to see a crowd gathered. So much for the discretion I had promised Mary. I showed everyone the photo, and they all gasped. One woman commented, "The photo makes it look so easy, but it isn't at all."
"Maybe I should write a blog that explains exactly how difficult it was." I replied.
"Yes, you should."