Fantasy portraits?

[lonni]

Hi

I had an enquiry about doing some fantasy portraits today its not really my style but got me thinking about if i should add them to my product range. Does any one else do them and are they worth the trouble. Also do you have a lot of call for them?

By fantasy portraits i mean those awefull photoshopped porytraits of your kid with fairy wings sitting on a toadstool in a misty glowy rainbow forrest or the client in a wooded glade patting a unicorn.

Real tacky in my opninion, but another photographer in town seems to be doing alot of them, but i dont think he is much of a photographer so.... you probably know what im thinking.

[AnneWynne]

Lonni, if you think fantasy portraits are tacky, you probably should not add them to your product line. I think people who do fantasy and other themed portraits really enjoy the process which, in turn, fuels their creative eye in shooting this style.

Fantasy and other themed portraits can be a very lucritive area to get into. You can use them to have limited sittings for your studio, making them psychologically more appealing to customers (limited drives up desire).

I have seen some beautiful, take-you-breath-away portraits of the theme variety (see some of Sandy Puc's work) as well as some of the tacky stuff. If you don't have a studio with proper backgrounds and props, you would need to scope out some outdoor locations that would enhance the feeling you are trying to capture. There is also an investment in costumes and other props (some of which are not cheap).

I personlly like the fantasy and themes portraits. Unfortunately I do not have the infrasturcture to support them right now or else I would be offering them.

[lonni]

The portraits i have seen dont use props or anything, it is all done digitally, all of it. The images are taken in a studio with white back ground.

I come from a graphic design background so i am quite used to offering products i think are tacky and despise, but i am adaptable, which is part of the reason i am a successfull photographer. While i have my own style which is a bit more photojournalistic and natural with some more traditional posed portraiture, i can adapt to my customers needs, whcih helps in commercial photograhy as well, since i am photographing in the customers style not my own.

I do those 80's style glamour portrait, feather boa, valeline lens and pink back lighting and 70's style playboy style boudoir with out blinking an eye.

[wendy kathleen]

I do them mostly for children. It can be a fun and creative process. You can see what I've done (I call the section Pretend) in my gallery section Wendy Kathleen Photography

[lonni]

Wendy, your pretend images are stunning, nothing like what i am talking about. I call what you show themed portraits.

Can i ask what actions/presets you are using?


What i am talking about is featured here



If the image does not work, here is a link:

latoriana.com.au Give Them Wings Fantasy Portraits

[AnneWynne]

Hi Lonni,
If you enjoy themed sessions, you may really get into the fantasy themed sessions. If your competition is the site you linked to, you would probably blow her out of the water, so to speak, with dress-up, themed portraits.

look for hand-made fairy wings via Etsy or a renaissance fair vendor. You might find some good ones in a costume shop. There are inbstructions for making fairy wings yourself. Not really difficult but does take some time and a little bit of artistic ability. I have a link somewhere not on this computer. PM me if you want the link.

Fairy costumes are also easy to make...basicly a longish tutu (a no-sew project) with a tube top. There are lots of vendors who can suppy you. Finding the right outdoor location can be a bit of a hunt. Look for grottos, bridges, nice woodsy areas. Fairies like to hang out among flowers as well.

I am probably telling you what you already know, but I hope this is helpful.
Anne

[BK553]

wow, those are...something...Wendy your work is great. I'm not creative enough for that stuff, but more power to ya!

[lonni]

Thanks guys, its been bit hard to find any real information on this style so i talked to the photogrphaer in town that does them.

He was real nice and told me all about it but then he realised i wasnt a customer, which he would have realised if he listened to me and looked at the business card i handed him straight up.

Pretty much i dont think the protraits he has on display were actual fantasy shoots, it was done to try to get the customer to buy them, he took the risk of printing it and now has all these images and nothing to do woth them. I think he only had 1 booking for them.

The link i shared wasnt him, his are a little better but you get the picture.

I wont be doing fantasy but will look at getting more props to do the themes style.

Im thinking fairies, pirates, princess and prince to start with, any ther ideas?