How to Look Natural in Portraits: Confidence & Posing Tips from a Fantasy Photographer
What if you could actually enjoy being in front of the camera?
If the thought of having your portrait taken makes your stomach twist a little (or a lot), trust me, you're not alone. I’ve seen it time and time again: someone walks into one of my fantasy sessions looking like they just wandered into a dragon’s cave - wide-eyed, holding their breath, nervously adjusting their costume or hair while trying not to say, “I’m so awkward” for the hundredth time.
And you know what? By the time we’re mid-session, they’ve thawed. We’re laughing. They’re flowing. They’re in it. Not pretending anymore, just being - and looking absolutely magical doing it.
At Fins and Fairies, my fantasy portraits are never about being “picture perfect.” They’re about helping you fall in love with being seen again.
So whether you’re a cosplay newbie, a Renaissance faire regular, or just someone craving an unfiltered dose of self-confidence with a side of whimsy, let’s talk about how to look (and feel!) more natural in front of the lens.
You don’t need to pose like a model. You just need to be you.
Here’s a little secret: those flawless poses you see online that look effortless?
They often required hours of practice, a team of stylists, and a few dozen tries.
That’s not the world we’re playing in here.
When you step into one of my sessions, I’m not expecting you to “know how to pose."
In fact, letting go of that idea is where the magic really begins.
One of my recent clients came in swirling with anxiety - so much pressure to “do it right.”
We started the music, chatted casually, and played dress-up like two old friends.
By the end, they were gracefully moving through poses they didn't even realize they were doing.
Confidence isn’t something you force. It’s something you uncover when you’re allowed to just be.
Here’s how we get there:
How to Feel and Look Natural in Your Portraits
1. Ditch the “model pose” myth
Trying to pose like a high-fashion model usually makes you look stiffer, not more confident.
Why? Because in real life, we’re never motionless.
Instead of holding a robotic pose, I coach you into movement:
Reach your arms out and feel the air around you.
Shift your weight side to side like you’re mid-dance.
Take deep, visible breaths - your body naturally opens up when you breathe with awareness.
Let your character lead. Are you a warrior queen? A mischievous sprite? A sea witch rising from the depths?
We aim for flow over perfection. A tiny head tilt, a soft exhale, a glance over the shoulder—real motion is beautiful.
2. Warm-up like it’s playtime
If the phrase “let's pose now” makes you freeze, don’t worry—I don’t say that lol.
We start off easy, like a creative warm-up:
Breathing together to melt away nerves.
A few playful check-in movements (maybe flitting your hands like fairy wings or pretending to summon sparkles).
Gentle direction that builds into more expressive movement once you're comfortable.
What you're doing in those first few moments?
You're releasing the pressure and getting into the moment.
You’re stepping through the wardrobe, so to speak.
3. Stop trying to look “normal” - embrace your magic
One of the most common things I hear is: “I always look weird in photos.”
Hear me gently and kindly say: no, you don’t.
You just haven’t been photographed by someone who sees what makes you extraordinary.
You’re probably used to cameras aimed at catching your flaws, not your soul.
That changes here.
You’ll look natural in your portraits because I help you remember what it feels like to be you -
the bold you, the fantasy-loving you, the imaginative soul who’s allowed to play.
So when you're thinking, “What do I do with my hands?”
I’ll remind you - be the character.
Touch your crown.
Reach for the ocean.
Laugh like you just saw your dragon land.
Why this matters:
self-expression is sacred
Looking natural in your portraits isn’t about tricks or angles.
It’s about finding safety to express the version of yourself that often gets pushed to the side: the playful one, the dreamy one, the fiery one.
That version isn’t weird or “too much.” She's just waiting for permission.
When you reconnect with your story, your wonder, your creative spark -
that’s when your portraits go from “pretty” to powerful.
You deserve images that reflect your radiant self, not just your surface.
Let’s stop hiding.
Let’s make art that feels like you.
Ready to be seen - really seen?
If you’ve been looking for a confidence-boosting portrait session that feels more like an adventure than a photoshoot, come play.
At Fins and Fairies Fantasy Photography, you don’t need experience, perfect posing skills, or a “fantasy-worthy” body.
You just need a little courage and a spark of curiosity.
Let’s create portraits where you forget you were ever nervous--
because you were too busy reclaiming your magic.
—
With wings or a trident, velvet or tulle, we’ll make it yours.
I’ll bring the camera—you bring your wonder.
🧚♀️🧜♀️ Want to start your transformation?
Reach out today and let’s dream something wild.
