The Blue Planet Aquarium employs all sorts of people, from locals to those from Townsville, Australia, and it’s a treasure trove photo experience, either on your own or with the kids. You don’t need expensive cameras and tripods to get some good shots. Here I share a few tips on how to come away with great memories and some striking pictures.

Sand Tiger Shark Blue Planet Aquarium
Sand Tiger Shark Blue Planet Aquarium
The Blue Planet Aquarium employs all sorts of people, from locals to those from Townsville, Australia, and it’s a treasure trove photo experience, either on your own or with the kids. You don’t need expensive cameras and tripods to get some good shots. Here I share a few tips on how to come away with great memories and some striking pictures.
Tip 1 – Timing
The first time I went was on a Bank Holiday, and it was mega busy, with all the car parks open and a queue heading out the door.
If you can, pick a weekday or get there early. Having some space will help you get fantastic shots without stepping on small children, falling over prams or people getting in the way.
They’ve all got the same right as you to be there, so best be flexible. It saves a lot of frustration in the long run and will give you a chance to relax.

Tip 2 – Empty and Charge phone
Photography 101, but I mention this because I didn’t follow my own rules and spent time scrolling through the phone and deleting pictures.
Luckily all my stuff gets backed up on the cloud anyway, so it was merely a waste of time but one I could have done without, especially when trying to take a shot in the underwater shark tunnel.
Tip 3 – Alcohol Wipes
Many smaller exhibits are dotted about the Blue Planet (around 100), giving the photographer some niche photo opportunities.
Now I’m not sure on the Blue Planets view on this, but I took some lens wipes to wipe away the sticky fingerprints from the glass when I was trying to take shots of the frogs and whatnot.
Quite a lot of the smaller tanks have double skins on (either to keep the heat in or mitigate against kids bashing the glass), you can’t do anything about the second glass or condensation, but fingerprints are gone in a second.
I gave the glass a quick wipe and made sure I picked the right lens (you have three to choose from on the iPhone 12, remember)!
Tip 4 – Don’t use a Flash
There are signs up about not using a flash for the animal’s benefit – but flashes are just a waste of time from a photographic point of view when you’re shooting through a transparent material. They’ll pollute your shot with odd shadows and overexposure.
When you’re taking shots, it’s okay to use the automatic settings (the iPhone 12 I was using didn’t need any tweaking), but make sure you keep the phone right up to the glass, keep it steady and switch the flash off.
Most of the tanks have pretty good lighting. Make sure your camera lens is right up next to the glass; otherwise, you will get reflections of yourself in the pictures.

Tip 5- Go Around Twice
The great thing about Blue Planet is you’re not constrained to how long you spend there or how many times you go around the exhibits.
It might be complete luck if you see one of the creatures in a great photo opportunity, but as Louis Pasteur said, “Chance favours the prepared mind”.
Take stock of what you’ve already got in the cafe after the first time around, then head around again. It gives you another opportunity to get a great shot, and this time you’ll know what to expect.
The shot I took of the shark was from the second time around in the underwater shark tunnel, I didn’t do anything different, but the more time you spend going through the tunnels, the greater the chance you’ll get to take a fantastic photo; either because the creatures are there this time around, or someone isn’t in your way.
It’s always worth having a good look at the shots you’ve taken and quickly tweaking them using either the indigenous software in your phone or if you can Photoshop. I’ve nearly binned some fantastic images because they look a bit dark when trying to see them on the tiny screen, but lightening them up has brought them to life.

And that’s it, remember to share anything you’ve got on social media and comment here on your experience. Institutions like the Blue Planet may be there to make money, but they also have significant educational and conservational mandates and provide jobs for people far and wide, so it’s well worth supporting them.
If you’ve got an interesting photo or digital challenge you need solving, get in touch with Experience Photography now.
Scroll Down For More Blog Posts!
Level Up Your Profile
Level Up Your Profile "You can just take
Portrait Photographer Liverpool
Portrait Photographer Liverpool If, like Emma, you're tired
Professional Product Photography Liverpool
Professional Product Photography Liverpool. Here's a great example
Professional Hotel Photography Wirral
Professional Hotel Photography Wirral. Here’s a shot of
Mike Price and Callum MacLeod Ram Racing
Mike Price / Callum MacLeod of Ram Racing in
Product Photography West Kirby
Product Photography in West Kirby. Getting the right
FERRARI 488 PISTA S-A
FERRARI 488 PISTA S-A At Oulton Park. The
We’re On Shutterstock
We're On Shutterstock After an investment focussing on
Oulton Park Supercar Pageant Photos
Oulton Park Supercar Pageant Photos Getting photos at
Product Photography Wirral
Product Photography Wirral Are you
Professional AirBNB Photographer
Improve your AirBnB Occupancy with Authentic Photography Do
Devils Bridge Waterfall
Devils Bridge Falls Long Exposure. There's something very
Professional Videographer Wirral
Professional Videographer Wirral Long gone are the days
Running Hax Branding Work
Running Hax Brand Work We've been working with
Top 5 Warwick Castle Photography Tips
Top 5 Warwick Castle Photography Tips Going to
Photographer Champion Business Park
Had a great session this Easter week pulling together
Audi S3 in Liverpool
Here's an Audi S3 I spotted in Liverpool. I
Brook Studios Champions Business Park
Video work is always a challenge. Yesterday I used
Merfyn Hughes Memorial Rali Llŷn
Merfyn Hughes Memorial Rali Llŷn Another weekend and
Yellow AMG GT Liverpool
Yellow Mercedes Benz AMG GT On the way
The Sail Loft West Kirby
The Sail Loft West Kirby The sail loft
Porsche Centre Chester
Trip to the Chester Porsche Centre in Ellesmere Port.
Renault Clio 3.0 V6 Sport
At Experience Photography we love cars. And while in
Somefin Fishy Digital Success
Here's a shot we took in Somefin Fishy, the
Commercial Property Photography Liverpool
As all photography does, commercial property photography aims to
Rali Bryniau Clwyd
Here's a shot of the Rali Bryniau Clwyd. The
Kiosk Coffee Formby
Kiosk Coffe is based in Formby. I went here
Somefin Fishy Blue German Ram
A Blue German Ram from Somefin Fishy. These colourful
Back to Bokeh
If you're looking for abstract images to use in
Kraken Aquacare
Here's a black and white shot of Mike from
Composite Christmas Image
For Xmas I decided to have a go at
McLaren 570s New Bond Street with iPhone
This is a photo of a McLaren 570s on
Fforest Coaster North Wales
The Fforest Coaster ride is based in North Wales
Dylans Menai Bridge Photo
Dylans Menai Bridge is a really modern restaurant
James Trenholme Memorial Rally
One from the James Trenholme Memorial Rally 2021 in
Top 5 Tips to Taking Photos at Blue Planet Aquarium
The Blue Planet Aquarium employs all sorts of people,
Splash Point Photo Rhyl
Great photoshoot at Splash Point Photo Studio with Beth.
River of Light Liverpool
The River of Light festival in Liverpool - a
Email Marketing Expert Wirral
Pretty neat email marketing from Babbel in the form
Adams + Russell coffee roasters, Birkenhead
Here's a shot of some excellent coffee I picked
Experience Photography
Experience Photography based in the North West of the
Liverpool Model Photographer
While it may no longer be a Unesco certified
Sicilian Avenue London
Another one of Sicilian Avenue London in Holborn. As
Libre Studio Liverpool
This is from a recent shoot in Libre Studio,
Hotel Du Vin, Wimbledon
This is the Hotel Du Vin, Wimbledon from the
Sicilian Ave London
One of London's little gems, and used as a
Making Your Social Shots Pop
Are people not engaging with your posts? Does everybody
DSLR Sensor Cleaning
Photography is all about telling a story, a narrative
Reptile Photographer
They always say, never work with children or animals.
Photographer Near Me
If you're looking for a local photographer for
Wirral Photographer
Hi! Welcome to Experience Photography. I'm a photographer
Social Media Photography Liverpool
Photography for social media is a little more relaxed
Sportscar Photography Liverpool
If you’re tired of getting the same old pictures,
Corporate Headshots Photographer Liverpool
Having worked with the likes of Compass Group and
Product Photography Liverpool
Getting the right digital assets and product photos can
Commercial Property Photography Liverpool
They say that the first bite is with the
Model Portfolio Wirral
If you're looking to build your model portfolio on
Professional Business Headshots Liverpool
Your brand is everything, and your digital estate needs
Purpleport Modelling
Purpleport Modelling
Model Portfolio Liverpool
If you're looking to get your model portfolio sorted
Commercial Photography Liverpool
Having a robust digital estate is essential for modern
Leave A Comment