Behind the Scenes: Mermaid Time with @rebeccastought
I’m thrilled to finally share the results of my latest photography adventure. Inspired by the magical photos dandelion photos by @anya_anti_art, I started the coordination process to get my own shot.
Model: Rebecca Stought
Tail: Sheroes Entertainment / Location: FD Studio
Story Time:
I stumbled across an incredible image of a mermaid in a tub by @anya_anti, and I was immediately inspired (look up mermaid in a tub, you'll know it when you see it").
I knew I had to create something like it for myself.
But then reality hit—mermaid tail rentals are expensive (especially the silicon ones)! So, I shifted gears and decided to connect with someone who already owned a tail. I started searching for mermaids in the area, and despite the fact that there’s an annual mermaid parade in New York, it turned into a game of patience and persistence.
Then, I had a work trip to the West Coast, and I thought, "Surely there are mermaids out there!" I kept looking and finally reached out to Taylor from Sheroes Entertainment. Little did I know, she’s one of the pioneers who helped make mermaiding a thing. She kindly connected me with Rebecca Stought, and we were ready to move forward.
We picked a date, but just as we were about to meet, the LA fires happened, and we had to postpone. After a long wait, we finally met up, and magic happened. Funny enough, while I was trying to recreate the shot of the mermaid in a tub, but at least for this location I actually liked the stairs better! So, despite my initial vision, I ended up with a stunning mermaid on the stairs instead.
Fun facts I learned along the way:
You actually need to use some kind of lubricant—yes, lubricant—to get into the tail - and a lot of it.
The tails can weigh around 80 pounds. No joke, being a mermaid is not for the faint of heart.
Tip of the day:
Don’t force it. Sometimes things don’t go as planned, and that’s perfectly okay. I still have plans to shoot a mermaid on a New York beach someday—one step at a time!
Work with an exepert: If you want to work with a mermaid tail — a ‘real’ one, go with someone who already knows - the expertise for how to put it on and move around and strength needed to actually make it work worth it.
Shoot your shot: When it comes to these kinds of things I really work with the phrase: let them say no. Seriously the worst that can happen is they say no, but the best thing that could happen is you get an amazing photo fan fun experience.