articles/Children/livingfaeries-page2
by Anita Mason Published 01/08/2009
What is The Fairy Experience? Having searched fairy websites for some three years now, I was disheartened by the cute, kitsch, glitzy images I have seen. Superimposing children with blank expressions, to look like fairies, was not for me - their pictures are taken on a blank background and then Photoshopped onto various flowers and woodland scenes. I wanted the children to experience the whole fairy scenario.
How many little (and big) girls dream of being a real fairy? The look of excitement when they are faced with a rack of delightful costumes, wings and headdresses to choose from. This is something I am extremely fussy about - the design and colour coordination of the outfits - many are hand-made by me. I started with one small elf outfit, not thinking that parents would want their little chaps photographed as an elf - how wrong I was. They will certainly get mileage out of those pictures on his wedding day!
My vision was to design and obtain everything to be as realistic as possible and, hopefully, this is the end result, after a lot of searching. The portraits are taken with classical lighting, with some posing involved. However, the children, through curiosity, soon give me their own poses from their imagination.
The key to the sales is giving a selection of portraits they just cannot resist - a little touch of tear-jerking music and a box of tissues does the trick on many occasions. We also play fairy music during the photo shoot to create the atmosphere. I once had a big bully 'Bob the Builder' chap cry as he saw this three-year old vision of beauty step out, dressed as a fairy. I liken this to a mini-makeover for little ladies!
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