Capturing an authentic underwater look for an editorial photo shoot is very difficult. You require a waterproof camera housing, safety personnel, cooperation from the weather at your chosen location, and a model who can stay in position six feet underwater. So, many photographers don’t even consider this creative area of photography; however, the Morelli Brothers did not skip the underwater concept, they just came up with a more functional solution for creating a great, authentic underwater photoshoot. For the June 2026 cover of Vogue CS, they booked FD Photo Studio’s Underwater Studio in East Los Angeles. Here’s the studio that made it possible.
Paul Anthony Kelly is a Canadian model and actor based in the US. He is best known for playing John F. Kennedy Jr. in the FX anthology series Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. & Carolyn Bessette. Prior to his role in a hit television show, he spent many years modelling for top men’s fashion lines (Brooks Brothers, Bonobos, etc.). His role on this television series has launched him to a new level appearing on the cover of Vogue CS.
The cover features actor Paul Anthony Kelly seated in the pool in full denim, shot through the front window by the Morelli Brothers. Luca and Alessandro Morelli are fashion photographers and directors based between Milan and Los Angeles. They’ve shot covers and campaigns for Vogue, Elle, Dolce & Gabbana, and more. For the Vogue CS editorial, the full production team included:
The deep teal water color comes straight from the studio’s preinstalled RGB lights. No post-production color work needed.
The studio is located at 3316 E Olympic Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90023. It is 680 square feet. The pool is 19 feet long by 7.21 feet wide, and between 5.2 and 5.9 feet deep. Water stays at 86 degrees and is fully filtered between every booking. No need to bring underwater housing or specialized camera gear.
Two clear glass viewing windows — one 2×2 feet and one 4×4 feet — are positioned one at the front, one on the side of the pool for a photographer to get perfect shots. You shoot from outside the pool through these two windows.
Three continuous RGB video lights with barn doors come preinstalled above the pool at no extra cost. Want that deep teal like the Vogue CS cover, or cool blue tones for an ocean feel? Dial it in before your subject even gets in the water. The overhead grid system keeps all lights safely above the pool with full positioning control.
The studio includes a working shower inside the space, making wardrobe changes and post-shoot cleanup easy for a model. Just like in a regular pool, you need to rinse before and after your swim. Don’t forget to grab a few towels with you from home. A makeup station with a vanity mirror and seating, a portable AC unit, a sound system, and free WiFi are included. For all available and rentable equipment, check the FD equipment list.
The studio also has additional background options, such as a jungle wall, an RGB tunnel, and a metal sheet tunnel for a variety of visuals.
A studio site rep is present throughout every rental to help with the pool and lighting. Just note the minimum rental is 2 hours, and all swimmers must know how to swim. The studio rate is $125/hour.
There are also a lot of mermaid editorial photoshoots here at Olympic 1. You can see the shoots and the underwater guide in our previous post on underwater mermaid photography.
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