I noticed super early when I was an infant, that was from seeing mf cradles. Cradles by far my favourite, ff my favourite combo then ff, do not care an iota for fm, I'd sooner it never existed.
Haven't had as much real life carrying experiences as I'd like, it is a huge deal to cradle girls when it happens though but no I haven't had a turn on during it, yet at least but certainly after thinking about it!
I am not into being lifted so I don't think I can give you tips nor would I want to. I do not ever intend to spend actual money to lift a girl, as for girls getting angry, sadly not all girls like being carried & my rotten luck often the girls I have carried or wanted to don't like it! I usually ask first before attempting a carry so at least I gave some respect and warning. Often liftees are worried when carried, which does spoil the experience a little, I'd not want her to feel uncomfortable so I would cut short the carry. I can't speak scientifically where the fetish comes from as it's irrational but I'll offer what I can for someone who's tried to make sense of it pretty much my whole life so that's well over 30yrs of processing.
I will debunk the dom/sub part at least for me, it's nothing to do with that for a lot into it (I imagine fm dudes it is though as invariably you're into amazons & do not like being the lifter), for many they like the kidnap theme or subconscious theme so yes subcategories of it does tie into domination, e.g. wrestling. I'll focus on myself though, I do find damsels in distress hot & them carried is either showing they are vulnerable or when rescued and carried seeing them safe is a relief. It can be a possessive thing, example and I relate guys into lifting have the sentiment if they've carried girl before they've had them, akin to like having had sex with them. Overall for me while I wouldn't usually pass on a pretty lady cradle carried I prefer it most when it's a positive carry, where she's enjoying it (Best of all a romantic carry e.g. being cradled and kissing by another woman)
An aspect that may be become with L&C fans is feet, it wasn't an issue for me when younger but as I got older I much prefer/require even a woman when carried to be barefoot or at least barefoot in shoes, being carried showcases the liftee's body like nothing else (Why I don't get fm fans, do you like looking at the male form?! Over a woman?!) & for foot fans a very nice view of the feet e.g. the soles in a way you wouldn't see when the liftee is not carried. And of course upskirts for the bum fans, perfect view with an OTS or cradle.
What I'd like to know is what determines if a girl likes or doesn't like being carried, is it childhood experiences? Their self opinion of independence? (E.g. a feminist may equate letting a man carry her as showing weakness to patriarchy)
It's one of the rarest fetishes so will be among the least studied so good luck seeking answers!
But I have a theory for liftee fans it may be the weightless sensation that's arousing, e.g. going on a rollercoaster it does offer a different sensation. Not carry related but David Carradine died from hanging himself, not a suicide but misadventure from his fetish for asphyxiation. When being hanged you're technically being lifted & that sensory experience may be arousing for some... So I wonder with liftee fans, are you also turned on being lifted generally? For fm fans i.e. by a man or suspended in midair e.g. a ride or sitting on a mount.
What makes me think it's more general than specifically stating one is into being lifted by a certain sex for liftee fans is in one forum 1 guy's explanation where he discovered his fetish is in wrestling he realised he had an erection when being lifted (By a male yet he claims to be a fm fan, if so then why was he aroused when lifted by a male?) Then again fetishes aren't sciences, foolhardy finding logic in them!