Box Openings - why do we have them?

Yes I always photograph and enjoy watching videos and looking at pics of box openings. Its exciting!
I think people do this because it really can be considered an " event" due to the long waitings and anticipation. Its such a magic moment for me!

 

I like watching because I haven't gotten my first BJD. So, I like to see how the dolls are packed and what they come with.

Another thing I love is sharing their excitement. I get so excited for people especially with video openings.

 

I have created video/taken picture of my box opening ceremony. Why did I do it? Because everyone else was doing it and I loved seeing how people reacted to the doll, including my family members when my box open.

I think everyone does it because when you watch a video you can feel the anticipation for the people who is making the video and it is somewhat your "baby" when it arrives and everyone want to have a picture/ video when their "baby" comes home.

 

For me, as my dollies birthday is ALWAYS the day they arrive, the box opening is kind of like... their birth.
And I want to share that with people.
'Look, this is when my baby was born' kind of thing

 

And that's exactly the point. That's where it came from... Volks doing "birth ceremonies" with their dolls.

 

I love doll openings because it's an exciting moment. I always call them 'baby pictures' it's like the birth of a new addition to the family for me. All my box opening pictures are really precious to me.

 

It's like christmas and opening presents! Yay!

 

I havent given it much thought, but I tend to photograph *every* package I recieve (admittedly, usually only a single snap after unpacking, and not the picture frenzy box openings tend to be). Personally, I like looking at mox openings more than I like looking at gallery photos since they let you see the sculpt right out of the box, either without face-up (always nice) or the untouched original.

 

I've only ever made one box opening thread. It was for my dream doll that I never thought I'd get to own. I made it 'cause I was just so freaking happy that I wanted to share. The thread's gone now but I've still got the pictures and I can't help laughing at myself when I look at them because I look so damn ecstatic in them that it's kinda ridiculous.

I think some people love to share their happy moments. Especially in a community like this one, where other people always want to see what your new doll looks like. It also helps to see a sculpt you've been thinking of getting in its raw state of no faceup/clothes/etc. Ditto for a limited or fullset you've been eyeballing.

 

I never have an open box gallery or photos or such (it's bother me too much ^^") but I enjoyed watching and reading other people's box opening, it's a happy moments to share!!!!!

 

I have my box opening usually at the customs office :-(
When you go and pick your parcel up and pax the taxes, they ask you what is supposed to be in the parcel and you have to open and confirm the contents of the parcel right away.

I enjoy watching the box openings though. ;-)

 

Box opening day, whenever it occurs is like CHRISTMAS... I feel like I'm 4 yrs old again.

Also, sometimes the time between "yay I finally saved up enough" , placing the order, and then actually GETTING THE DOLL can feel like FOREVER... and we all vicariously enjoy other people's joy at box openings. (I like seeing other people's box opening photos... it's a pretty big rush... not quite the same <obvy> as a box appearing on my OWN doorstep... but still exciting.)

I also end up with an "obligatory" cat in the box photo or two.

I may be a bit weird, in that even before I had a doll... I had some amigurumi plushies that I took around on "field trips" (and I still do!) and photograph them. ( http://www.flickr.com/photos/trinlayk/sets/72157605120496738/ )

 

I think for a lot of people, even if they don't realize it, the tradition of the box opening is sort of like giving birth to the doll in a way. You have the doll coming out of the box all fresh and new. It marks the beginning of their "life" with their owner. I think it's sweet. =)

I hope that when I eventually get my doll I'll be able to do a box opening. XD

 

My family had always taken pictures at Christmas and birthdays of the whole present opening thing. So it seemed completely natural to me to have a box opening for my first boy, who arrived just before Christmas. I took pictures of my girlfriend's box openings for her dolls, as she did for mine. It's always been an exciting time for us, and we both love recording that.

But I also support the idea of keeping a record, just in case. I'm a pessimist (read: realist), and I prefer to plan for the worst and hope for the best in these cases.

However... my biggest reason for box openings... It's not just to take a bunch of pics of me being excited about my newest toy, or to keep a record of how well it was packaged or if it were damaged, or even to record that special moment. I just want to learn how to take pictures of my doll! One thing I've noticed about BJDs is that every single sculpt has a particular angle that favors them the best - and even the same sculpts seem to lean towards different angles or styles. So I like to figure that out as soon as possible, so as not to waste camera memory by filling it up with poses and angles that, on the computer screen, just look plain weird.

 

I am literally LOL! Way back when I first started collecting Himsteds and was
on the Himstedt thread of the Ebay Doll Forum (umm, still am!) it was a big deal, and a lot of fun to
document the arrival of a new doll!
Of course, it was usually a BIGGER deal than a BJD as the boxes often weigh about 18 pounds and are a bit unwieldy!
So......I don't see anything odd about documenting the de-boxing other dolls, especially if it takes awhile to ransom
the doll, (from LAW) that builds the excitement even more!

 

heheeh
I haven't done a box opening yet, but I will when my doll arrives.
Why? Because it's something that I had to wait so long to get, it cost me alot of money and I'm damn excited!
I took pics of my car when I got it and if it came in a box I'd take pictures of the box too. lol
In fact thinking about it, we take pictures at xmas and bdays, this is kinda like that too!
I might not do it so in depth if I happen to get a second doll, but the first one is pictures of box and all! lol

I love to see the pictures in the box opening threads!
I think they are alot of fun, there doesn't really have to be a reason behind it, but mostly I think we are just so excited, we have to share this box opening experience!

 

When I got my first doll I did a box-opening partly because I was stupidly excited and wanted to share him with everyone but mostly because it seemed to be the thing you do when you first get a doll.

These days I do it because its become part of my 'new doll' tradition and I'd feel weird not to. I tend to love looking at others because its nice to share their excitement. Plus the box opening threads tend to be the best to find out how the company packs stuff, as well as exactly how the doll looks from different angles.

 

For me personally.... it's kind of like having a baby? XD
When your baby is first born... don't people usually wanna just show everyone how cute it is? "omg look how cute my baby is! i love him/her so much!"

It's like that for me.. I have done some box opening photoshoots, but have lost all of my photos (sad... TmT ). I look at box openings because I get so excited seeing others open their dolls, and to have a look at whats inside!! Haha.. it's just so exciting. XD

So yeah... haha. I do it/take part in them because I just get so excited, and happy XD I love seeing others dolls.

 

I was actually quite addicted to people's box openings for a while. XD I would read almost every one that popped up in the forums~

I agree with others who have said it's kind of like having a baby... Plus, the community is so supportive in most cases that it's sort of like; "Thank you for being there for me DoA, look what it's brought me!" (For some people! ) There's also an element of just wanting to show off, or to share the joy~
I did a box opening for both my girls! Even though Allura just came wrapped in a ton of bubble wrap in a tiny little cardboard box. :3

 

1) Have you created a box opening video or taken pictures as you opened the box?
--If yes, why did you do it?
I sometimes do box openings. I've lucked out quite a few times and been the first person on the forum to recieve a newly released doll, so I take the pictures for the people who are interested in seeing owner pictures and not photoshopped company pictures. I also have under-appreciated doll sculpts too. I spent ages trying to find more pictures of a Tan Limwha Luna but it wasn't popular enough, so I posted my box opening in hopes it helped anyone else looking for the same thing I was. Even though the box opening was partially a silly story, you still get the owner pictures. I'm easily amused and I enjoy being silly in order to make someone laugh, so some of my posts can be a bit ridiculous.

--If not, why not?
I won't post if its quite popular or there are several threads of the same doll.


2) Why do you think we do it?
I think its natural to want to share our happiness with other people. Especially on this forum because we know that there are other people out there who share our excitement or anticipation.
I do it mostly for reference. There have been dolls out there I liked but when I saw owner pictures got turned off, or vice versa. Or to take a picture of a blank, naked doll and then search for the same doll a few months later to see how they've changed with a face-up and a personality.
I like when someone is happy because their happiness makes me happy also, so I like how people get all excited and show things off like "here's this, and here's that" makes me feel excited too. Just part of my nature, I'm very empathic.
I think it helps other people who are in the same wait. Sort of like, "Here's proof they're shipping, so hold on just a little more. They're packaged well, see? here's the photo, so you can stop worrying that things will be a disaster."
I know not everyone is a "here is my doll" person, so its up to each individual if they want to post or not. But I always thought that was what this forum was for... a giant reference for any and all bjd that are on-topic, in any stage of completion. Just depends on the person how they want to deliver the information you're looking for, maybe