Hang Fluke is a simple, classic pose that drives engagement.

The mermaid silhouette is recognizable at a glance in this pose, and the environment plays a large role in your movement, making the final scene more organic. Getting into the pose can be as simple or as difficult as your environment allows.

The hardest part about this pose is finding a place to sit that is tall enough to let your fluke hang freely, but easy enough to get there in a tail!

If there is a lot of surrounding flat space, you may be able to put your tail on while in position. If the “seat” is small & requires good balance, you may need an assistant to carry you to the spot & lift you into position once you’ve put on your tail.

Once in place, both hands should be free (unless you need to hang on for balance!) making this a great pose for product modeling.

Get Creative!

Analyze your environment with a creative eye to determine the best places to sit! I’ve sat on trees, boulders, bikes, bar tops, boats, cars, and more! Try to get enough height to let your fluke fully hang or cheat the camera upwards to get as much of the fluke as possible if you find that it’s laying flat with the ground.

Towel Tricks!

When shooting in a new setting, I always recommend bringing along a brown / neutral color towel, in case you find the perfect seat for a shot & then realize it’s super sharp & rugged. I use this trick for both fabric and silicone tails, as BOTH can tear like skin on sharp rocks. Try to hide as much of the towel under your tail as possible to reduce the amount of after editing for the photographer. Always know your limits on a photoshoot and don’t let a photographer push you into doing something unsafe for you or your costuming just for “a really sick shot.” They wouldn’t risk their expensive equipment, why should you?

My recommendation for beginners:

only start on smooth, large flat surfaces so you don’t have to worry about balancing or ripping your tail. Please test your shooting locations without a tail before hopping in one! Know your limits and don’t do anything dangerous “for the gram!”