If you are going to shoot a client or a model with the expressed intention of doing a transformation into a Faery, shoot your subject against a dark background, setting your lights up as you normally would do for any portrait. This will make it easier to later “cut” her out from the background. DO NOT RESIZE HER AT THIS POINT! Use the original image in the original size so that touch-up will be easier to do. You will re-size her later in step number 3.

This image was a planned image shot of Ms. Dylan A. with the expressed purpose of transforming her into a Faery, so I used a ratty old dark camouflage background to shoot her against. It was taken in my studio on June 30th of this year.

Be sure you re-name the image file, always leaving the original image with the original name in a safe condition!