Today we’d like to introduce you to Grace Dolman.
Hi Grace, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I grew up in Encinitas, CA, where the ocean was just part of everyday life. Some of my earliest memories are shaped by salt air and long days at the beach, and that constant proximity to the water gave me a deep, almost instinctual connection to it. Creativity was also around me from the beginning, my grandfather was a photographer, so I grew up with a camera in hand, documenting everything. At the time it was playful and curious, not something I imagined would become my path.
When I was 18, I moved to Oahu, and that’s where everything shifted. The underwater world opened up to me in a completely new way. Diving there changed my perspective; it wasn’t just about being near the ocean anymore; it was about entering it, understanding it, and feeling part of it. That’s when my photography started to take on deeper meaning. Around 2021, I began taking it seriously, driven by a desire to capture the beauty and emotion I was experiencing beneath the surface.
Since then, I’ve spent four whale seasons in French Polynesia, an experience that profoundly shaped me as both an artist and a person. I’ve also traveled to places like Indonesia, Fiji, Australia, and New Zealand to photograph our oceans and the life within them. Each place has deepened my respect for the natural world and reinforced why I do what I do.
Along the way, I discovered spearfishing, which introduced me to an entirely new relationship with the ocean. It gave me a deeper appreciation for life, sustainability, and the responsibility we carry as participants in nature. I’ve been fortunate to spearfish in some of the most remote corners of the world and even document the experience in a film exploring spearfishing and our connection to the sea.
At the heart of it all, my goal is simple: to share the beauty I’m privileged to witness. I hope my work allows people to feel even a fraction of what I feel underwater; the awe, the humility, the connection. and inspire a deeper respect for the oceans that give us everything.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road. Falling in love with the ocean, and with photography, felt natural. That part was easy. But the places I’m drawn to require much more than passion.
Spending months at a time in remote locations means being far from everyday comforts – consistent routines, reliable medical care, familiar food, even basic stability. There’s a physical and mental toll that comes with choosing environments that are wild and unpredictable. The ocean is powerful and humbling, and working in those conditions constantly pushes you.
Professionally, it’s also been a grind. I haven’t had handouts or shortcuts in the photography world. Everything I’ve built has come through persistence, long days, and showing up again and again. Being a photographer often means sacrificing stability; a steady income, traditional structure, and sometimes even a sense of security. You put your work and your heart out there without knowing how it will be received.
But every challenge has shaped me. The uncertainty has made me more resilient. The remote seasons have made me more adaptable. The sacrifices have made the work more meaningful. It hasn’t been smooth, but I didn’t choose this life for its bump free path, I wouldn’t trade the journey for anything. Every obstacle has made me a better human and a better photographer.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I’m a photographer and film maker of many kinds, but I specialize in underwater photography; and whales are at the heart of my work. The ocean is where I feel most aligned, and over time I’ve built my craft around documenting life beneath the surface. I’m also a freediver and spearfisher, which has deepened my understanding of the environments I photograph and strengthened my connection to them.
I’m most proud of my whale photography and my freedive spearfishing work. Spending multiple seasons in places like French Polynesia has given me the opportunity to witness and document some of the most intimate and powerful moments in the ocean. Those encounters have shaped not just my portfolio, but who I am.
What sets me apart is that every underwater image I create is taken on a single breath. No tanks, no bubbles, just me, the ocean, and the subject. That means every frame is intentional. I have to be fully present, physically prepared, and deeply connected to what’s happening in front of me. There’s no rushing it, no forcing it. It’s hard earned, breath held, and built on respect. I think that presence, that raw, immersive connection; is something people can feel when they look at my work.
What has been the most important lesson you’ve learned along your journey?
The most important lesson I’ve learned is how humbling the ocean truly is. No matter how strong, prepared, or experienced you think you are, the ocean reminds you that you’re a guest. It teaches patience, respect, and surrender. You can’t force an encounter. You can’t rush a moment. You have to move with it, not against it.
It’s also shown me that love exists everywhere, if you’re willing to look for it. I see it in the way whales move with their calves, in the quiet resilience of coral reefs, and in the small coastal villages I’ve traveled to where life is lived simply and intentionally. There’s a rhythm to the natural world that feels grounded and honest. They aren’t rushing. They aren’t consumed by noise. They exist in balance with their environment. The more time I spend underwater, the more I’m reminded that a simpler life, rooted in connection and respect, is often the most meaningful one.
Pricing:
- Book a session with me- $1000
- Whale mom and calf print – 1200
- Heart reef – 800
- Waves – 1200
- Another prints – contact me
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.graceschreck.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/graciedolman
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@graceandluka
