It’s fair to say that there are countless photography genres to keep your creativity alive and well. I’d imagine that many of you reading this article have experimented with numerous genres over the years to build an understanding of photography and image-making. I recall when I got serious about digital photography, I was out and about photographing everything from landscapes and street scenes to portraits, pets, and parties. Eventually, I settled into street and travel photography and stuck with that as my lead genre. But there is one genre of photography I come back to every now and then that’s not only fun, but teaches me a lot about my craft. Yes, of course, I am talking about Toy Photography! Toy photography is one of those genres that can be as simple or as complex as you like. Plus, you can play with this genre at home in your lounge, at the beach or local park, and even while away on vacation. Toy Photography is an expansive genre that can range from simple toy portraits to larger, more complex scenes featuring environmental effects such as smoke, mist, and even fire. But let’s not get ahead of ourselves!
Toy Photography! Are You Serious?
Yes, all too often, but that’s not important. Toy photography may sound like child’s play, but it’s a very serious genre that can teach you a lot about your craft. Plus, it’s loads of fun, granting you creative licence to get in touch with your inner child and even get reacquainted with much-loved childhood toys. The world of collectible toys has exploded in recent years as the generation that grew up in the 70’s and 80s is seeing many of their childhood favourite fandoms re-emerge with collectible toy lines and more. I was born in the early 70’s and so enjoyed everything from Star Wars and Indiana Jones, to Astro Boy and the Transformers. And of course, let’s not forget Lego! I loved Lego so much as a kid, and I still love it to this day - although I am running out of room to display my sets. Lego was my childhood escape and one of the first ways I expressed creativity growing up. These days, my partner and I are collectors of many things, and we have curated an eclectic showcase of retro-Japanese toys, remakes of childhood classics, and, of course, anything new that falls into our orbit of whimsical knick-knacks and display pieces.
What’s The Best Gear For Toy Photography?
One of the best things about Toy Photography is that you don’t have to invest in any new camera gear or serious lighting kit - unless you want to. Who am I to stop you? Toy Photography can be approached with as little as an iPhone - but a few extra items can elevate your learning and outcomes. With the amazing macro functions on modern smartphones, it’s possible to get some incredible shots in and around the home. Stepping up from that, you can obviously experiment with your DSLR or mirrorless camera and a sharp portrait lens or even a macro lens for greater detail. And before you rush out to buy a Godox lighting setup, use that smartphone torch for some illumination. For the sake of the tech nerds out there (I applaud your technical prowess and love of details), here’s a list of the kit I typically use for this genre:
- Fujifilm X-E5 - 40MP CMOS (cropped) sensor and IBIS
- Fujinon XF 30mm F2.8 Macro Lens
- 2 Aputure MC Aputure AL-MC RGB Led Video Lights
- 2 Manfrotto Pixi EVO 2-Section Mini Tripods
- Godox TT350F (Fujifilm) On-Camera Flash with a diffuser.
- Vinyl Tabletop Backdrops - the sort used for product photography.
Bring Out The Toybox!
Before you rush off to your local toy store or brutalise your credit card on Amazon, stop and consider what style and generation of toys you want to photograph. This is a really important consideration, as you can use this opportunity to revisit toys you might have stored in the attic or garage. If you’ve had kids and/or grandkids in your life, you may still have a box of their favourite playthings stashed away somewhere. Speaking of the kids, you could even make this Toy Photography experience something you share with the children in your life. Make it a fun weekend activity to share your craft with the younglings. But of course, if you really want to relive your childhood fandoms with some new collectible action figures, then once again, who am I to stop you! The scope and scale of collectible toys are truly massive, but all you need is one toy to make a start. I find that figurines provide the best starting point as they are highly detailed, often poseable, and speak to an era or fandom that you find appealing. For example, my partner is a Nurse and Nursing Educator and has acquired an impressive collection of nurse dolls, figurines, playsets, and antique memorabilia. As for me, I am a big nerd and collect figurines and memorabilia from the Nintendo gaming universe - Super Mario, Donkey Kong, Metroid, Zelda, and many indie-title collectibles. What will you choose to photograph?
Let’s Play…And Take Some Photos Along The Way!
One of the best parts of Toy Photography is building a scene that fits with the theme of the toys you are photographing. This is the part where you get to play with setting up miniature worlds, dramatic lighting, and experiment to your heart’s content. You can even take your toys on the road to fun locations like the local park or the beach, or take them on vacation to hunt for interesting spots to set the scene. A simple approach is to take your toy to the local park or botanical gardens and use natural light to photograph your subject among the bushes, emerging from a pond, or standing on the beach, staring out at the setting sun. Alternatively, if you are housebound due to weather or recuperation, set up some toy scenes on the coffee table, kitchen bench, or out in the backyard. Part of the charm of toy photography is leaning into a sense of play. Pose your subjects in a funny or serious way. Light them dramatically or use natural light. Add props and associated objects to build a scene or have the figure and the backdrop tell the story. There are no limits to the creativity and fun you can have.
How I Set The Scene - And Behind The Scenes
Most of the images in this article are toy portraits that were shot on my kitchen bench at home. I like setting up these kinds of shots in that space as the elevated bench is so much better for my back than leaning down at floor level. But you can also do this on a coffee table or work surface. I cleared the bench of clutter and used flat nylon backdrops with textured patterns as the ground. In some cases, I curled the backdrop up the wall to make a seamless background. In others, I kept the backdrop as the ground and then stuck a large print to the wall as the background. Using my own prints enables me to build more detailed scenes that are on brand with the toys in question. I then place the figure in the space and use two Aputure MC RGB Video LEDs on mini tripods to light the background and the figure dynamically with whatever colour combinations work best. I also use the on-camera flash to bounce a bit of light off the ceiling or to direct light at the subject. Given the scale of the subject, I can simply set my camera on the kitchen bench rather than use a tripod. As a result, I can use slower shutter speeds and a self-timer, knowing the images will be sharp.
With that setup in place, I get serious about playtime. I change the lighting direction and colour, add a pop of light with my iPhone, and alter the figures' poses and placement. It’s a lot of trial and error, but that is what playtime is all about, right? Kids play and experiment with toys to learn about themselves, their environment, and their imagination and creativity. Toy Photography follows those same principles. Through experimentation and play, we gain insight into working with a different genre while building skills in lighting, composition, scale, prop usage and appeal. I also use this opportunity to play with depth of field - the F/2.8 maximum aperture on my Macro lens is more than enough to create background blur, especially at close working distances. As for the editing, it’s yet another example of how experimentation and bravery can make all the difference. I use Adobe Lightroom (currently on the hunt for a less expensive editing suite) and primarily focus on crop and framing, exposure management, and masking to add further depth through shadows. The point is, this is your time to push the boundaries of what you would normally feel comfortable with when editing images. It’s a process that will teach you much about the craft and how you approach it. So lean into it and embrace the happy accidents.
Get Out There And Play!
There’s a lot to love about Toy Photography. It’s a playful way to document your fandoms, create lasting memories with your kids, and build upon your developing skill set. I know loads of photographers who carry a favourite figurine in their camera bag at all times. That way, when the motivation strikes, no matter where they are, they have a willing participant to pose and be the star of the shoot. On my first trip to Tokyo, I brought a Yoshi (Nintendo) figurine and placed it in random scenes around the city. He fast became the mascot of my trip and also played a role throughout my image collection. My final bit of advice for anyone wanting to dabble in Toy Photography is this: don’t take it too seriously and allow yourself to play with the process to elevate your joy of photography and build a few skills along the way. So the next time you walk past a toy store, stop in for a minute and see what they have on offer. Who knows, you may come across a toy that sparks a memory from your childhood. Or, you may be struck by inspiration and ideas about how to make that toy the star of your next shoot. You have nothing to lose. Be safe. G
PS. While I prefer to capture toy portraiture, there are other ways to create compelling toy images. If you are looking for more Toy Photography examples, ideas, or inspiration, I highly recommend you check out Sgt. Bananas, Fathers Figures, and Manu Perspective over on Instagram. These creatives take Toy Photography to the next level and well beyond that! G
