Look,

Here's the truth,

Becoming a surf photographer isn’t easy. Being a beginner at anything is tough and humbling, but especially so with surf photography, where just about everything, from choosing the right gear to understanding your camera settings, swimming with a heavy camera housing and moving around surfers, can feel incredibly intimidating and challenging.

What if you...

Didn’t have to figure it out alone? What if you had someone right there in the water with you -  guiding you, encouraging you, showing you step by step how to do it? That’s exactly what this shoot along session is about. When I was starting out all I needed was someone with a lot of ocean experience to go out with me and show me the way. Now, I want to be that person for you. So you can feel confident, safe, and fully ready to shoot the surf on your own - with a deep trust in yourself and your skills. Because learning in person, side-by-side in the ocean, changes everything.

Hi! I'm Leo

I’m a professional surf photographer, photography workshop organiser, podcast host, and online educator helping women capture & share the beauty of the ocean.

I started Surfgirlnz in 2022 when I bought my first camera and water housing.

Now, 3 years later, I’ve captured over 2,000 women in the surf, worked with my dream clients, my work has been seen by millions, I’ve organised 8 surf events across New Zealand, hosted 8 sold-out retreats in Fiji, Lombok, and the Philippines, and taught over 200 women how to become confident surf photographers.

I truly believe all of this puts me in the perfect position to take you into the ocean and help you become a confident surf photographer too.

Why I Offer This Shoot Along ♥

5 years ago my friend took these two photos of me:

 As soon as I saw these photos I knew I wanted to do the same:

Capture the beauty of the ocean and the feeling of surfing.

BUT

The idea of swimming in the ocean felt really intimidating to me.

So I decided to take my camera out on my surfboard instead: 

After getting knocked in the head by my camera a couple times I quickly realised this wasn't the way to do it.

 I knew I had to ditch the surfboard and buy some fins but nobody was able to show me the way

After a year of shooting on my surfboard I finally asked my friend - someone with a lot of ocean experience - to swim out and take photos from the water:

That was the moment everything changed.

All I needed was someone by my side to show me the way…

So I could feel confident, safe, and fully ready to shoot the surf on my own.

Now, I want to be that friend for you.

So you can shoot in the ocean with a deep trust in yourself and your skills.

The details:

When:
Sunday 3rd August 2025

Where:
Manu Bay or Ngarunui Beach Raglan (depending on the conditions)

Time:
3-4pm (first time slot)
4:30-5:30pm (second time slot) 

Price:
Pay in full $299 or
Two monthly payments of $150 or
Three weekly payments of $99

Limited spots:
3 per session (2 time slots)

_{NOTE: If ocean or weather conditions are unsafe, we’ll reschedule to another day. Your safety and comfort in the water are the top priority - I’ll keep you updated every step of the way.}

Here's what's included:

✔️ In-Water Surf Photography Coaching with Me
Spend one hour in the water with me, alongside two other women, getting hands-on guidance to help you build confidence, feel safe, and improve your surf photography skills instantly.

✔️ Experienced surfer model
I’ll arrange for an experienced surfer model who can ride the waves really well. This way, you’ll get to practice shooting real surf action in the water with someone skilled and confident on the waves.

✔️ Lifetime access to my online Surf Photography Course 
Get access to everything I’ve learned over the years - including gear, camera settings, positioning in the lineup, editing etc. 

✔️ The exact presets I use to edit my photos
You’ll also receive the exact presets I use to edit my surf photos so you can edit your photos like a professional. 

✔️ Lifetime access to my online surf photography community 
You’ll get lifetime access to my private online surf photography community, where you can connect with other women, ask questions, and keep learning long after the shoot along is over.

✔️ Camera & Helmet (if you need it) 
No camera? No problem. I can arrange a waterproof camera and/or surf helmet for you if you don’t have one yet - I just ask that you bring a pair of fins.

✔️A Community of Like-Minded Women
Meet and connect with women who share your passion for surf photography. You’ll leave not just with new skills but new friends too.

Total value:

• ✔️ In-Water Surf Photography Coaching with Me - $487
• ✔️ Experienced surfer model - $150 
• ✔️ Lifetime access to my online Surf Photography Course - $697
• ✔️ The exact presets I use to edit my photos - $197
• ✔️ Lifetime access to my online Surf Photography Community - $197
• ✔️ A Community of Like-Minded Women - priceless! 
•  
• Total value: $1,578
• Your investment: $299 
•  
• you save $1,279

In this shoot along, you'll learn how to: 

• ✔️ Test, load, and take care of your water housing so it lasts
• ✔️ Get the perfect focus
• ✔️ Get consistently good photos with the right camera settings
• ✔️ Stay safe in the water
• ✔️ Stay calm in the ocean, even when conditions are challenging
• ✔️ Use swimming techniques to save your energy
• ✔️ Best plan for your surf shoot
• ✔️ Prevent water drops from ruining your photos

• ✔️ Stop your housing from fogging up
• ✔️ Position yourself in the lineup without being in the way of surfers 
• ✔️ Get in and out of the ocean safely with your gear
• ✔️ Feel confident in the ocean
• ✔️ Feel fully ready to shoot the surf on your own 
• ✔️ Read the surf and choose the best spot to shoot
• ✔️ Work around surfers with confidence and awareness
• ✔️ Make the most of small surf or imperfect conditions

Who this shoot along is for & 
who this shoot along is not for: 

This shoot along is for you if:

✅ You’re just starting surf photography or have done a little, but want to get better
✅ You love the ocean and want to feel more confident taking photos in the water
✅ You feel nervous about your camera or gear and want someone to help you figure it out
✅ You want to take better surf photos and learn how to do it right
✅ You like learning in small groups with kind, supportive people
✅ You can follow instructions and are happy to learn step by step
✅ You enjoy learning with other women who love the same things as you
✅ You’re ready to stop trying to do it all on your own
✅ You feel a little scared, but also excited - and your heart says “yes!”

This shoot along is not for you if:

❌ You can’t swim 
❌ You don’t feel comfortable swimming in the ocean
❌ You’re expecting perfect waves and perfect weather on the day (I will cancel if conditions are unsafe or really not surf-able) 
❌ You want to learn in a competitive or serious environment. This shoot along is about having fun and building confidence
❌ You want to learn with a group of men 
❌ You can't follow instructions or working as part of a small group
❌ You’re not ready to try new things and make mistakes

What women are saying about the shoot along:

Behind the scenes of a shoot along day:

Surf photos my students have taken
after learning surf photography from me:

Reasons you might want to join this shoot along:

• ✔️ You love surfing and you want to combine your passion for the ocean with your passion for photography to express yourself creatively and spend more time in the ocean doing something soul-filling and creative

• ✔️ You’re a surf mom who loves to spend time with your kids in the ocean and loves the idea of capturing your special memories in the ocean together 

• ✔️ You have a surf injury and miss being in the ocean with your surf friends and are looking for ways to still get out in the line-up and enjoy the ocean

• ✔️ You’re a surf brand owner who needs high-quality ocean content for your social media, website and ads but you can't afford to keep hiring content creators for social media content so you want to give surf photography a go yourself

• ✔️ You dream about leaving your 9-5 job to do something you love doing and get paid for spending time in the ocean and being creative
• ✔️ You want to capture meaningful memories of you and your friends in the surf - moments you can look back on and cherish forever.

I deeply believe that surf photography is something everyone can do - even if the ocean intimidates you.

That’s why I’m here to guide you step-by-step, helping you build confidence in the water while learning to capture beautiful surf moments - all without needing to spend thousands on gear or figure it out alone.

Proof you don't need an expensive camera
to start surf photography:

Are you joining me?

I repeat: Spots are super limited. There are only 3 attendees per session, with 2 sessions total (6 people altogether). If you’ve been waiting for this, don’t hesitate to claim your spot.

I can't wait to meet you and go in the ocean together.

We will have so much fun, I promise!! See you at the shoot along! 

xo Leo