What to Wear for a Dark Fairy or Macabre Portrait Session
We’re talking fairie portraits and macabre today. No, not whimsical Tinkerbell fairies, these are the dark fairies. The ones you don’t want to chase through the woods. The ones you don’t want to create a fairy door for.
Not every fairy lives in a lush, golden meadow. Some of them haunt the forest and wear crowns made of tiny bones. If that sounds more like your thing rather than pink wings and pixie dust, welcome. This post is for you.
Fantasy has many sides and levels. Today, we’re taking a deep dive into the spooky side. This is for the goth girls, vampiresses, dark fairies, and fans of surrealism.
Fun fact, fairies are actually really mischievous and mean. I have loved fairies since I can remember. If you want to listen to a fun podcast episode about them, check out the Morbid Podcast, episode 32. They go on a quick dive into evil fae lore. It’s a true crime podcast, but they often have fun episodes of other stuff.
If you’re thinking more macabre style, I have a bone crown just for you.
Halloween came early. Well, it is June, so it’s Summerween.
Let’s dress up to show off our dark side.
Spooky, Creepy, and Otherworldly
Think gothic queen meets woodland creature.
Moody, dark, and very dramatic. The woods with crooked tree branches. A cracked handheld mirror with a silver handle. Sticky spider webs that get in your hair as you quietly walk through, while carrying a lantern for light. Are you real, or are you a ghost?
Not really "wish upon a star," it’s more "I’m roaming these woods, searching for something."
Your wings might have a tear or two in them. As a dark fairy, you’ve been through it. And, enjoyed every moment.
Ghosting photo
Imagine Your Character
Before you arrive to your session, close your eyes for a bit. Not while you’re driving, though. Ahh! Quietly think about your character. Who are you impersonating? Who do you want to be today? Who is it that you want to become?
It can be as light or as dark as you want.
Blow black glitter into the moonlight. Or, you can drink a chalice of grape juice and dribble it down your chin, for a vampiress effect. Think about a classic film, a theater play, or Halloween character.
The best fantasy portrait sessions happen when you show up excited and ready to play. And, if things don’t go exactly as planned, we’ll improvise. Rain happens. Wind happens.
And, no, you don’t need acting experience.
Don’t stress or overthink this. It’s going to be fun.
Maybe you're the spinster who cursed the kingdom and has no regrets. Or the vampiress who has loved and lost for centuries and sadly carries it with her. Or the mysterious woman who roams the woods at night, and the villagers aren't sure if she's real or a ghost.
You don't have to be any of these things in real life. That's the whole point. This is your chance to play, and let your hair down and act unruly, untamed, feral. It’s an invitation to channel the wild woman you secretly want to be.
What to Wear
A long, black flowy gown, the bigger and more dramatic, the better. Velvet, lace, chiffon, anything that moves and flows when you walk
Black wings, big or little, it’s up to you
Black faux fur on your wrists, shoes, a shawl wrap, or on a collar
Fishnets and heels
Black lace gloves, long or short
A Victorian-style collar
Victorian dress with hoop skirt*
Black satin robe with faux fur, like the woman is wearing in the photo above
A long black wig if your hair isn't already giving gothic queen*
Nails- long and dark, or skin color
Black cloak or cape, long or knee length*
Creepy Accessory Ideas
A bone crown- yes, really. It exists, and it's perfect.*
Black lace umbrella, or a vampire-ish one.*
A lantern to travel through the dark woods*
A cracked mirror as a prop
Black lace for covering the face and head*
Witchy boots if you’re going for a Victorian theme
Gas mask*
*Items with an asterisk are ones I have available in the client closet. You may use these items to create or add to your theme.
And, also, you don’t have to make this scary. Eerie just because it’s dark, is enough.
Makeup & Hair
Pale skin. Dark lips that are deep burgundy, purple, or black-ish. Smoky eyes. A lace piece draped over the head for a more ethereal feel. Avoid the dewy skin look. Matte powder over your face and neck. We’re going for aged skin here. Save the fresh faces for the cutesy fairy themes.
You can be as glam as you want, or not.
Stock image: I found this and liked the witchy aesthetic
Moody Locations
The High Desert has some surprisingly dramatic, dark locations. Just after the sun sets, it‘s blue hour. The camera and I both love this time of day the most. It’s a little eerie and feels cool. The sky and ambience are actually blue-ish.
No golden light here. We’re keeping it creepy. We’ll save that for another fairy portrait style.
My property has large junipers, and Wrightwood has a whole forest of spooky trees and trails. Some spots even look like they belong in a dark fairytale. My studio is also perfect for controlled, dramatic lighting that really makes the dark aesthetic shine.
Picture yourself running through trees carrying a lantern, looking for your lost love.
In the studio, I will photograph you with a simple backdrop, then go in and play with Photoshop afterwards. Or, I will design a spooky set for you to play in. Complete with fog and fog-filled bubbles. Dark fabrics draped for the background. Moss, black flowers, and a mockup room.
I can also make you a ghost. This is done during blue hour with my camera and lots of patience. I will photograph you and create you as a ghost or you with a second version of you as a ghost.
The photo below of the girl with a mirror, is called ghosting. This isn’t AI. This is my photography skills at work.
Who is the Session For?
The alt girl who wants photos that look like HER. She’s tired of seeing all the regular portraits in a field. She wants something that screams to her. Literally.
Maybe your home has a darker aesthetic, and you want artwork that feels like you. Girl, I got you! Let’s create a big, beautiful portrait and hang it in an ornate Gothic-style frame. It can be hung in your living room or above your bed.
This is for the woman celebrating something huge, like a divorce (yes, sometimes it needs a celebration), a big birthday, or even an "I survived that chapter, and I'm still standing" moment.
Are you a Halloween lover who doesn't think magic should be limited to October? Same. Halloween is a way of life, right?
The mom who wants something extraordinary for her daughter who marches to the beat of her own drum.
You don't have to explain yourself here. The dark girlies get it.
Again, it doesn’t have to be extra dark. This can be all about you in a white flowy dress, running during blue hour. A little sweet, mysterious, and spooky. Very ethereal, without the daytime feels.
Ready to frolic through the dark woods while channeling your ancestors?
Let's build your dark fairy or spooky dream together.
Check out my image gallery here.
Cheers,
Annette
