SO many Sculpts, how do you research?

Go look in the BJD Databases?

 

I would say you start first planning your doll.
What character do you want the doll to be?
What size will best suit the character? SD? MSD? Tiny?

Google "tan bjd" or "snow queen bjd" or any notion in your mind you will see how ppl customized their dolls all you will have to do is then look at the sculpt they own and google it to find that specific doll in owners pics.

You can also look in the companies websites:
iplehouse
fairyland
luts
...etc


This is how I do.. it's a long process but I enjoy it

 

I usually look at all the majour doll companies first, and then I browse DeviantArt or tumblr. Once I find a sculpt I like I look for all of the pictures I possibly can with different wigs and faceups and all of that to make sure I like every aspect about them. It takes a lot of time, but I don't want to make a rash decision and then regret it later!
But like Latefa said, looking for certain keywords would work too! But in the end, you can customize any sculpt to how you want your doll, but make sure that you really love the sculpt!

It usually takes me weeks of looking and relooking at pictures to really say "OK THIS IS IT" so just be patient, it'll be worth it in the end!

 

I like to browse major companies, as others have said, and also check out the databases of specific dolls here on DoA. The News section can also be helpful, because you can follow the links to other companies you might not otherwise have seen. Once you find a doll you'd like to see more of, locate the discussion for it on DoA to get more information. Google Images and other forums can also be great for finding more pictures.

 

There's a DoAWiki on dollmakers which is what you could check out. It covers both the major companies and single artists.

What works for me is figuring out what size doll I'd like to have and what budget I'd like to stick to. Then, I usually search for dolls that really blow me away and still make my heart beat faster if I haven't seen a picture of them for over two weeks. It also helps to look for less flattering pictures of the doll of your interest. If these pictures still make you feel like this doll is the one, you've got the right sculpt.
Searching simply means, looking for pictures on DoA, DA or wherever and looking up company websites. Unlike some of the others in this thread I'm partial to small artists, but that might also be because I'm one myself and am interested to see other people's work.

The past few years I've had several of these 'need-to-get' dolls. The doll I went for first, was the doll that was a limited. And if there were more limiteds on my wishlist I'd go for the one that would be most difficult to get after (s)he'd sell out. For instance; I was looking for both a Volks SwD Lucas and a Gomidoll Iru-HS. When a friend of mine put an Iru for sale, I decided to go for him, because he'd be nearly impossible to find later on.

Usually it takes time before you find the first doll you really want to get. Enjoy the search, don't rush it. This is just as much a part of the doll hobby as owning a doll and you don't want to miss that excited rush that you'll feel when you're trying to find out which one is going to be yours.

Good luck!

 

I just don't buy anything until I happen upon a face that I fall in love with. I know it when I see it.

In addition to the wikis & photo-request threads & gallery threads, keep checking the News threads.... When a company puts out a new doll, you'll see it there first, and true love is often possible at a first glance.

 

I never thought I would ever buy a BJD anf then I saw IH Lahela and I could not stop looking at her. I did not even care what size she was as I was smitten. I looked at her every day until the last day of the order period. I was still in love so I did it.

Now I do a little more research as I want my collection to work together. But my advice is to love the sculpt first!

 

I just check out everything bjd that is available on the internet. It's all there, after all, and search engines and forums like this are your friend! It's really not hard, just time-consuming.

But I LIKE looking at bjds and learning about them-- so there's no problem, really. You just need to be constant and thorough.

I check DoA and various other doll forums. I check doll news sites. I check doll companies. I check ebay.

I really want to know what's out there and what are the perfect doll and doll items for me.

If I'm interested in a sculpt, I'll check out what is said about it in the various threads here and also run a search elsewhere. I check out everything--the Waiting Rooms, the doll discussions, the company reviews. I check out the company sites and if they have any domestic agents and what options and prices are available. I'll check ebay and the Marketplace here and on other doll sites for sales and prices. ...I make sure I do the research thoroughly so that I won't be surprised by anything, and in the meantime, figure out if the sculpt is for me or not.

And sometimes you just have to be very patient, since it all takes time. And sometimes you won't see the right thing right away. Sometimes you have to wait. But as I said, since I enjoy looking and learning about bjds, this is all fine.

 

I check the company, I head to Doa And dA to find pictures of the doll to try and get a idea of how it looks in a setting besides a company 'light', I got about DoA to see what others think about this sculpt and the body type it'd come with, basically, I try to scope out the basic information, but most of all I make sure I love the mold.

 

I'm pretty new. So I started my research on DoA before I was a member and literally went through all of the companies that were listed in the wiki...time consuming...but so worth it. From there I did additional digging, box openings, owner pic's, etc...for more info. But going through the wiki is a good exercise because you really get a feel for the style you are attracted to (realistic, stylized, anime, fantasy) and which companies make them. Once I became familiar with the companies and artists style there are only a handful of companies/artists that I check now. It's just a lot more manageable.

Also I've done what a lot of other collectors have suggested and decided on a specific size to collect. That really cuts things down as well. And I only look at current or future dolls and that saves me from going nuts over a past creations that will haunt me forever.

 

I usually go to BJDcollectasy and browse their list of doll companies when I'm looking for a doll. It's good to try out all different companies until you find the doll that's right for you.
Though, as someone else said, it's also probably a good idea to get a set idea in your head of what you're looking for, size, the character you want the doll to be, gender, etc.

 

First off, good luck, and hope you find what you are looking for!

I researched for over 12 years before getting my first BJD's recently.
I changed my mind about sizes, then company's, then sculpts, until I made up my mind.
Hopefully it won't take you so long!
100 people can have the same doll and they all look different with different wigs, eyes, clothes, face-ups, modifications, etc.
Figure it out what you want first!

What size you want to start with?:
Tiny, Medium, Large, Huge etc.

What is important to you?:
Pose-ability, sculpts, extra parts, cost, etc.

What company, brand, type?:
There are tons to choose from, look around!

Do you want a particular type?
Limited, special, rare etc.

Do you want it to be replaceable?
Spare parts, different options etc.

The list goes on!
If you decide it's not for you, sell it/trade it/change it/customize it!
The point is, test the waters, see what you like, figure it out and have fun with it!

 

I try looking at the bare sculpt, without makeup and face-up, to see if I still like it. It makes it easier, since many of the sculpts are similar when they're bare.

 

I don't have characters in mind before I get a doll, so I don't research. As a couple of members have already posted here, I look at a company's new releases and fall in love right there and then, or don't. I've gotten every one of my dolls this way, except for my Volks FCS boy, who I wished for a long time afterwrds that I had pre-planned. But he's become a great guy over time and now I'm happy with him. If I were the type of doll enthusiast who made up characters beforehand, I think I would have to do some major research. But I'm the type of doll enthusiast who sees a doll scupt...almost always a limited...and says to herself, "Ooooh pretty!"...and then figures out a way to get it! LOL!

Juli DC

 

I usually just cruise the companies or wait for a new release that matches my characters... Since all my dolls are chosen after specific characters that's not too difficult and saves me a ton of time researching for something. When I see a doll and it clicks then that's that for me.

 

I've been looking at different sculpts at different shops and have made a wishlist, once in a while I look again at those on the wishlist and see if I still want them as badly Ofcourse this is tricky with limiteds... so if I fall in love I'll just figure out a way to get it!

 

I browse a LOT of people's boards, flickrs, etc. because sometimes company doll photos can make or break the doll without accurately representing it. I too am shopping and I like to use price guides as well, and compare resins for potential hybriding. I also read and watch TONS of reviews.. a doll may LOOK nice but it's joints might blow, yknow? I've been shopping for nearly two months and here I am still looking for the perfect bits for my perfect doll.

 

First, I think abiut what I want in a doll. This time, I wanted something smaller and genderless, but weighty and not appearing 4years old. So I went to each bjd seller site (the manufacture sites) and browsed each doll by doll, looking past the company faceup. I had to firmly keep in mind what I wanted, because some dolls could easily turn into impulse buys. If I liked a doll and was interested anough to put it on the list of options?, I would go into DoA gallery/database or find owner dolls on flickr to see if it really was that great. When I found a few Iiked, and some I didn't like, I posted a thread in Visual Concepts explaining what I was after, which dolls I liked, and which I didn't like. They gave sugestions that I looked into, i would post them in the "researched" portion of the thread with a note on what I did/didn't like about them, and then I would continue researching on my own until the next suggestion. Then I found the doll, somewhere I didn't expect and therefore didn't look, per someone's suggestion. So it's important to go through each subshop in every webshop!

Good luck!