What to Wear for a Whimsical Fairy Portrait Session
For the little princesses and the ones who haven’t stopped believing in magic.
Some fairies live in dark, enchanted forests, and aren’t the sweetest. And some of them fly around in meadows, drink tea from tiny cups, and leave a trail of glitter everywhere they go. This post is for THOSE fairies. The sparkly ones. The ones who twirl and dance all day.
As a little girl, I always had a tiny obsession with fairies. My mom told me the dust you see floating in the air, were fairies. We had dust fairies, not bunnies. Anytime something went missing, it was a fairy. And, yes, a mushroom ring is a fairy ring. I have a fairy garden in my backyard, complete with gnomes and tiny houses.
It’s safe to say, I like fairies. I even have a tattoo of one. It’s my only tattoo.
So, let’s rev up our wings and start fluttering. Let’s play fairy for a day.
The Mood
The feeling you’ll go for is light, magical, free-flowing, and impossibly sweet. Think pastels, glitter, flower crowns, and ribbons catching the warm breeze. This session will feel like you’re hanging out inside a snow globe. Not the kind with snow, though, the kind with golden glitter.
The feel will be dreamy and enchanting. Ethereal, even. Whether you're five or fifty-five, this is your invitation to play dress up in the most fantastical way possible.
Magical Main Character
You're not just a little girl wearing fairy wings with glitter in your hair. You're a fairy who tends a secret garden, hosts tea parties for woodland creatures, and knows exactly where the biggest toadstools grow. You leave glitter footprints everywhere.
Dear Mom, you're not just supervising. You're the fairy queen, and she's your apprentice. You both live here now, together in the most magical land.
What to Wear
Pastel colors: soft pinks, mint green, lavender, butter yellow, sky blue, cream, and gold. Bonus points for anything opalescent
Large tutu or flowy, solid color dress that moves when you spin
Ballet slippers, pastel flats, or barefoot in the grass
Fairy wings, the sparklier the better*
A flower crown. Fresh or faux, both photograph beautifully*
Hair glitter because you are magical, and why not
Elf ears. Plastic or wire ones are an absolute must*
A wand if the mood strikes
Long curly hair, short wispy hair, or a wig
Accessories
Ribbons for twirling
A tiny teacup and saucer*
Fairy tea cakes or cookies as props
Lily pads and flowers floating in an ethereal pool- for a special portrait
A blanket spread in the grass for a storybook tea party*
Big oversized teapots and teacups for an Alice in Wonderland theme
Toadstools. The secret ingredient to every truly magical fairy scene
*I have a few props, wardrobe pieces, and accessories you can borrow from my client closet.
The Magical Location
Golden hour creates a soft, warm glow that catches your eyes and makes everything look like magic. Studio sessions with draped pastel-and-glittery fabric as a backdrop are equally magical.
Studio sessions are perfect when you want to be fully immersed in the fairy world we build together. Secret fairy gardens, grassy parks, and ethereal pools are all fair game.
Mother-Daughter Magic
This is honestly one of my favorite session types. It’s a cute play on the classic mommy-and-me portrait.
What’s sweeter than a mama and her little one, both in wings, feeling beautiful and playing together? Dancing, twirling, reading a storybook in the grass, dipping toes in a nearby “babbling brook,” sharing tea and tiny cakes.
The photos become something neither of you will ever forget. It’s a memory that will last for decades.
Who This Session Is For
The little girl who has been waiting her whole life for this.
She’s always wanted to dance with the fairies. Now she can become one of them. At least for a day.
The mom who wants to be in the photos for once, instead of behind the camera. The grown woman (me) who never outgrew fairy tales and isn't embarrassed about it. The birthday girl, the flower girl, the girl who just needs a little magic right now.
You don't have to have a reason. Wanting to feel magical is reason enough. Don’t we all deserve to feel magical?
Ready to frolic through your own fairy garden?
Let's build your enchanted world together.
Looking for something a little darker than the usual pink fairytale fantasy? Click here.
As I type this, I’m planning on a self-portrait fairy session for myself. Stay tuned!
I hope to create something whimsical and sprinkle fairy dust everywhere with you soon!
Cheers,
Anentte
