Workshops

Mermaid Hyli (Amanda Kaiser) is a professional mermaid from Richmond, VA. She has over 6 years of experience in modeling, birthday parties, aquarium work, mermaid tank performing, and creating with silicone. She became inspired by mermaids from a young age through a book ‘Ingo’ by Helen Dunmore, although she did not begin her career until her college years. 

Through the support of friends and family she took the plunge into becoming a mermaid performer full time. She opened her mermaid costuming business Siren Allure and continues to grow as an artist through the years. She then began her traveling tank show company, The Real Mermaids which performed at many festivals and events, teaching children and adults the importance of conservation through the magic of mermaids. 

She works along side of her husband, J.Berendt Photography, to photograph mermaids around the world. They partner as a team to teach important safety tips, posing, and guidelines for mermaids and mermen of all ages. Hyli looks forward to meeting everyone and getting the opportunity to teach what she has learned through her experiences. 

To see more of Hyli's work, check out her Instagram!

J. Berendt Photography is a husband and wife team located in Richmond, Virginia and are Richmond's premier underwater portrait photographers. ​With over 10 years of combined experience, Joe and Amanda bring a unique set of skills to the table.

Brought into the world of portrait photography through Amanda's modelling career, they have experience working on both sides of the camera. This has provided opportunities for Joe and Amanda to work with some of the best photographers in Virginia and across the US, picking up expert tricks and tips to share with you! 

When they're not exploring the world photographing beautiful locations, they are focusing on weddings and family, couple and newborn portraits. And of course, they are always up for shooting some mermaids. They love shooting to make their clients happy.

To see more of their work, click here

Iara Mandyn is an award-winning mermaid model, performer, and dancer who specializes in underwater work. She believes that modeling underwater is liberating in an entirely unique way, and loves helping people bring out their individual personalities for the camera. 

She is a certified freediving instructor who has been in the industry for over 10 years, three of which she spent working at the SF Bay Area’s only dedicated underwater shooting studio as head promotional model, choreographer, and underwater talent coach. She uses this experience to build student's confidence in the water, with an emphasis on creative expression and safe practices. 

Her aquatic performances and videos have been shown world-wide, including pieces in Montreal’s Cité Mémoire, the Berlin Festival of Lights, Italy’s Opera Stage, and Migration’s dance video tour in Wales. 

For more info on Iara, visit her website

 Brett Stanley has been working with water for over 10 years, and is still finding creative ways to create images that have a life of their own.  Brett loves being under the water and adding photography to that is just a bonus. His natural calm nature in the water really helps his clients to feel comfortable, which is the first aim of any underwater shoot.  

Whilst based in Los Angeles, USA, the Australian born photographer travels frequently and relishes the chance to work with new people and new locations all over the world.  Always looking to innovate, Brett has built custom equipment and perfected his techniques to make every photoshoot the best it can be.  

Brett’s work has been published worldwide and his landmark series Underwater Pole Dance garnered massive attention internationally and was featured in magazines, newspapers, and on TV all over the globe.  As an award winning underwater photographer, you’ll always be in good hands. 

You can find more of Brett's work here