10 tips and tricks for creating a fairytale portrait

Have you always wanted to shoot a fairytale portrait? Then wait no longer! Get started with these 10 tips plus an exclusive bonus tip from Marije Dijkema, and before you know it you’ll have added the most enchanting portraits to your portfolio.

Do these tips sound familiar? They might! We gathered them for the eighth home assignment of Het Perfecte Plaatje 2022. Will you take on the challenge once more?

Tip 1: Decide what ‘fairytale’ means to you

‘Fairytale’ is a personal concept. To get a clear idea of a fairytale portrait, it’s important to ask yourself what it means to you. Before you start, make sure you have a clear picture of what you want to capture. Think about the details in advance, too. The more you have figured out beforehand, the more effectively you can get to work.

Tip 2: Choose the right props, clothing and look for your model

Once you have a clear vision of your future photo, start thinking about props and accessories. Which objects can strengthen your image? Consider make-up and hair as well: what should they ideally look like to complete your photo? We recommend creating an (online) mood board with inspiring images that match your idea. Besides being half the fun, a mood board also gives you something to hold on to during the shoot.

Tip 3: Play with your settings

You can of course apply the rules of portrait photography to a fairytale portrait too. But especially if you’re after a dreamy effect, it can help to experiment with a wider aperture (a lower f-number). The blur this creates across the image can give an intriguing effect.

Tip 4: Decide which background works best for your idea

The background of your portrait can really reinforce the result you’re after. Decide whether to go for a neutral, even background that puts all the attention on your model, or for a background that complements your model, which can make the image even more powerful. Want to provoke questions or reactions? Then choose a contrasting, surprising background.

Tip 5: Use a tripod

Placing a tripod at your model’s eye level makes it easier to focus on the eyes when shooting at a wide aperture. If your camera body has eye tracking, you can even release the shutter without looking through the viewfinder. The advantage is that you can keep communicating with your model. This usually helps your model feel more at ease, which benefits the photo. Using a remote can make this even easier.

> These are the tripods we recommend

Tip 6: Use soft light

Soft light combined with backlight or shadow enhances a dreamy setting. Avoid direct sunlight and place your model in the shade or indoors instead, where you can play with incoming daylight or lamps to create the right look for your photo. Tools such as softboxes, or simply a net curtain, can also help create the right effect.

View our recommended lighting kits here

Tip 7: Focus on the eyes

As Leonardo da Vinci once wrote: ‘The eyes are the mirror of the soul’. That’s why it’s essential to make sure your model’s eyes are perfectly sharp. That way, viewers looking at the portrait feel as if the model is really looking back at them, perhaps with a hidden message in their gaze. If your model looks into the camera from the side and you choose a wide aperture, make sure the eye closest to the camera is sharp. The eye further away may then be slightly out of focus; how much is up to your personal preference.

Tip 8: Help your model get into character

Take your model along into the fantasy world you have in mind. Ask your model to really get into the role: the better they do this, the more you’ll see it reflected in the final image. For this, it’s also important that your model feels at ease and free to express these emotions.

Tip 9: Play with perspective and composition

By playing with perspective and composition, you can create surprising images. Although you may start with a more traditional composition to practice, it’s great fun to experiment afterwards. Move your camera well forward or back, use a different focal length, or shoot from a lower or higher vantage point. What do you notice? How does this change the mood or emotion of the photo? Does it enhance the image you want, or not?

Tip 10: Experiment with post-processing

A fairytale atmosphere lends itself perfectly to subtle post-processing, for example by emphasizing red lips or playing with color intensity. You can also choose to edit your image heavily, for instance by adding elements such as mist or clouds. This draws the viewer even further into the model’s world.

Bonus tip from Marije Dijkema: “Have your model look away”

Portrait photographer Marije Dijkema was a guest judge for Het Perfecte Plaatje in 2022. For this home assignment she shared a handy tip: “A model who looks away from the camera comes across as dreamier more quickly than a model who looks straight into the lens.” Will you give it a try?

Instagram: @bijmarije
Website: bymarije.nl

Share your result

Share your fairytale portrait for a chance to be featured on our Instagram account! Use the hashtag #KameraExpress or tag Kamera Express in your post. And don’t forget to follow us for plenty of inspiration.

> Read all about portrait photography here