Buying a new doll: with or without company faceup?

For me it really depends on the doll. When I like the default face-up, why not let the company make it? But there are also some where I had a different face-up in mind and rather wanted to do them myself than talk about custom face-ups with the company.

 

I have yet to attempt a face up. I want to, but I am leery of practicing on an expensive doll. But I just ordered a Hujoo Freya, which comes without a face up, so I guess now will be my chance. Then maybe I'll start ordering blank dolls more often. So far though, most of mine have been previously owned so they already had a face up, and the few I have ordered from a company I have had them do the face up.

 

My creative streak isn't into drawing & painting. Although sometimes, when trying to explain my imaginings to a faceup artist I've been tempted to at least try sketching! Most of my dolls were bought second hand, but with artist faceups rather than factory ones. If I ever get a Soah, I love the original ED faceup & that's what I'm watching for. Same with the smiling Ryung head...so for me, it depends on the doll!

 

I can't do faceups myself. I used to buy all company defaults because they're usually beautiful, but after buying an IpleHouse guy whose faceup looked nothing like it was pictured, I stopped buying company faceups whenever I had the option to 'opt out' of the feature. It's a hassle shipping things around, and a worry, but in the end it's worth it to find a nice artist who can do just what you want. It's also typically cheaper than company faceups, which overcharge I think (I think IH is $75!) and it takes longer for your doll to be produced if you want them to paint for you.

 

For me, it depends on the doll. If a face-up really works, and I know I can't do it myself, then I am happy to let another artist make that doll come alive. A lot of face-ups can be quite pricey though, and sometimes they don't quite look the way that one hopes. Other times, they might not fit one's dream for that sculpt. In these cases, I like the challenge of trying to do the face-up myself.

 

Because I'm new to the hobby I've ordered my first dolls with company face-ups. I actually have most of what's required to do a face-up myself but I want to be more familiar with BJD's before I attempt my first one. Then I'll probably get a cheap head to practice on.

 

I bought my dolls with default face up. But I would like to have custom face up next!

 

I always get mine blank so I can do their face-ups, and I won't feel bad about redoing them whenever I want.

 

I don't have the talent to do my own faceups, or the time to devote to practicing faceups so they'd be half decent, so I buy my dolls with company faceups when I can. Some of the doll heads I've bought didn't come with faceups, so I've sent them to some incredibly talented ladies who've given my doll heads the look I want. I was considering getting my Yeon-Ho's sparkly company faceup stripped and getting something more natural but I've unexpectedly come across one of my all-time dream dolls up for sale, and need to keep my funds for him. Maybe next year, Verlaine will get his new face

 

I always get my dolls blank, because my friend whose a fabulous faceup artist lives just 15 minutes away. So for less that the cost of a factory faceup I can get a beautiful custom faceup, and deliver and pick up my doll in person. So, no packing, no shipping, great value, gorgeous dolls, plus a nice visit with another doll nut. Other than doing the faceup myself - which I have no interest in doing - it couldn't be any better.

 

For me, it is quite simple:

If I like the company's faceup, and it works for the character concept I have in mind, then I will happily buy it. I love getting a doll that can be made "complete" fresh out of the box, and it helps me bond with the doll to have him/her look how I had wanted right from the start.

If I don't like the company's faceup, or I have a very specific character in mind, then I will send the doll off to an artist for a faceup. I hate having to send off a doll I have probably just waited months to receive, but the end result will be worth it because the faceup is usually very important to my being able to bond with a doll.

I used to do my own faceups for awhile, but they always seemed to come out with a different expression than I had been going for, and I am awful at doing boy faceups. Also, I am super picky about the quality, and I am not an artistically gifted individual. xD So I found I am happier just having a talented artist do it for me.

 

Most dolls I order the company faceup with, unless it is ridiculously expensive or I have a faceup in mind for the doll.

 

I want my next one with a face up. If I do not like it I will have someone do a new one!

 

I voted 'It really depends on the doll'

When I looked at my collection, there was a majority with company faceups. But if the company faceup (or in certain cases the multiple options) doesn't suit my needs, I'm happy to receive it blank and get a customiser to make my image come to life!

 

For me, it depends on how much I like the company face-up. If I find something funky or the face-up doesn't click with me, I'd have no problems getting the doll blank and doing it myself

 

It depends. Most of my current dolls are blank because it gives them a certain 'air' in photo's. In some pics they look like their smiling mischiviously in another they look sad or forlorn.

But for my first MSD It's gonna be a face up version because I do NOT want to spend that much money just to screw up on the first go.

 

I had problems with factory face up with my Iplehouse Nami. After that I decided to buy dolls without face up. And thats why I began to make face up myself.

 

I only have one doll and she has the company face-up. Mostly because I loved the face-up.

I am buying a new doll this week and he will also have the company face-up, since I like that as well. But he might be sent to an artist if I feel that his face-up don't match well with what I have in mind for him.

 

It depends for me. Do I like the doll with the company face-up or have I seen the same doll with an even more awesome custom face-up? XD

I bought my first doll with the company face-up but ended up getting her a new custom face-up. My second doll still has the company face-up and I love him that way.
3rd doll also custom face-up. It seems like the more I look at these dolls I want with awesome face-ups the more custom face-ups I want. Lol.

But initially it depends on if I like the doll with the company face-up or not. C:

 

i really like getting the company faceups because i don't have all the supplies or the skillset to do my own faceups. i really adore a lot of the custom faceups i've seen and i do admire artists that do them. i'd really like to buy blank dolls to get custom faceups for giving the doll more of a uniqueness and support small artists but that can be expensive. and getting company faceups is just really convenient and not to mention your new arrival will be photo ready right out of the box!