Why do doll owners photograph their dolls?

Why do you photograph your dolls and make photostories?
I don't make photostories(at least right now), but I photograph my doll because I find her beautiful, so I want to capture her beauty in a photograph. Some find flowers beautiful, some find models beautiful, I find my doll beautiful.

Do you just simply enjoy your doll and play with her without photographing her in a story?
Oh yes, I love seeing her sitting there on my dresser. It always brightens my day because she just has a happy, what's the word...aura? She has a happy aura to her, and it makes me happy.

Why do so many people in the BJD community use Doll Photography as a hobby in itself? (not owning BJDs as a hobby, but the hobby of photographing the BJDs)
Probably just because it's something they enjoy photographing. I really don't see how photographing BJDs is any different than photographing anything else. Think of Doll Photography as still life. What would be the difference in photographing a BJD over any other still object? I see no difference. Like I said above, it's probably something people find beautiful and want to use it as a topic for photography. Besides, for some people these doll families are very near and dear to them, almost like their real family, so they really want to document them.

What do you do with these photos that you take? Do you sell them like a print? Do you have them for personal enjoyment? Why?
I don't sell them as a print, I mostly take them for my enjoyment and for the enjoyment of others. It's simply a hobby of mine, mostly because I really don't consider myself good enough or patient enough to be a professional photographer.


Would you go out and spend a large amount of money for a professional DSLR camera to photograph your dolls better? Even If you were not a "professional" photographer?
Yes and no. I would buy one, but not only for my dolls but to photograph anything better. I have a really awesome Canon I was given as a gift, but I don't know if it's a DSLR or not.

 

I think so ? XD Since doll photography is one of my favorite, and I want to be a photographer anyway (if anything goes well), so yeah, spending money on lenses & upgrading my camera will be in my wish list~~

 

I have a DSLR... somewhere. It predates the arrival of the dolls, however. I'm not a professional photographer -- or even a good photographer -- but I needed its capabilities for work projects. (Mostly, getting good macro shots of jewelry detail, also getting some photo reference for the 3d work.) It's no longer anywhere near impressive compared to what is out now, and I may replace it -- especially if I can't find the dang thing relatively soon -- but I wouldn't do so purely for the sake of my dolls, and they aren't even much of a consideration in making that decision. It's more 'and it would be nice for this reason also', since people ask fairly often for reference pics and I'm not in a position to provide them now. (How the foot from company A compares to the foot from company B, not a lot of artsy-creative going on. )

 

For my photography is also an hobby, but one with a fairly steep learning curve. I'm so happy to be able to use my dolls as models, it helps me to improve my photos and I learn to look at them in a new way.

They are not a replacement for a human model, they are a subject in their own right.

I have a DSLR, but that's because I'm a Photoshop pro in RL and desperately want the image quality of RAW files ;p The post processing of my photos is also part of the hobby for me!

 

Ok.. this is my long answers ...

Why do you photograph your dolls and make photostories?
I've been into photography way longer than bjd. One of the reasons i bought it at the first place was to accommodate my photography hobby. It's easier to work with dolls rather with human model. I don't have to worry about the timing, asking friends to be my models (and kinda have to treat them afterward), or to deal with any complains from them either (since i could be so demanding sometimes).
I don't want to specially pay (human) models to pose for me, since i'm not professional photographer and i don't have money to pay everytime i got urges to do some photoshoots.
And with (human) models, i have to prepare bigger 'stage' than with dolls..which frankly i can't afford now.

As for photostories, i did it sometimes just for fun.

Do you just simply enjoy your doll and play with her without photographing her in a story?
Of course! I love making characters and stories for them (and write them on my notebook), sewing some clothes, playing with new hairdo, and just see them standing there sometimes could make me smile.

Why do so many people in the BJD community use Doll Photography as a hobby in itself? (not owning BJDs as a hobby, but the hobby of photographing the BJDs)
Hmm..i'm not sure how to explain this, but anything could be hobby if they are passionate about it.

What do you do with these photos that you take? Do you sell them like a print? Do you have them for personal enjoyment? Why?
I choose the ones that i like the best then edit them with photoshop. It's another hobby of mine to do some photomanipulation, and share them with others, not in commercial way. That's how i learn how to development my skill.
And sometimes i upload some photos on my online journal.
The rest i'd keep them for documentation.

Another question: The dolls seem to live in an existence of their own when people take pictures of them. Why are owner photographs with dolls so rare? Do the owners want to be anonymous? If that is the case, then why?
I took picture of me with my dolls too, but rarely posted online.
Because i feel like a giant near them, the composition isn't right

Would you go out and spend a large amount of money for a professional DSLR camera to photograph your dolls better? Even If you were not a "professional" photographer?
For overall photography, yes.. not only for dolls. But i don't have any plan to buy one near future, since i'm satisfied with my IXUS 750. What i need right now is bigger tripod
In fact i'm planning on repair my grandpa's old pentax camera, the one with the roll film, after i learned about the darkroom process and all that jazz. It was fun!

 

Perhaps it is the same reason why in antique time parents would commission photographs of infants and children after they had pasted away; to prove that they exist. Do we take pictures to prove, for an instant, that their beauty does exist for even a moment?

Or it could be that we're all narcissistic about our overly priced plastic toys.

 

Heh, yes! My first doll arrived in January 2009, I took a few photos of him with my old camera before ordering a new camera which arrived in March 2009. Eek. xD I'm so glad I did though and I use it for everything now, not just doll photos.

 

You probably have a lot of answers like mine will be, but oh well. XD;; I thought BJD photos on dA were kinda lame too, until I realized how much customization goes into a lot of them. Also, isn't it like using a human model for photos in some ways? Some doll photos are pretty bad, but some are really interesting even if the owner didn't customize the doll much.

Why do you photograph your dolls and make photostories?
I don't make photostories, but I take pictures, mostly to record progress, and just for fun, too.

Do you just simply enjoy your doll and play with her without photographing her in a story?
Sort of. I enjoy them as art projects though, and one of the high points of a project is completing it and showing it off, so photography is a b ig part of that.

Why do so many people in the BJD community use Doll Photography as a hobby in itself? (not owning BJDs as a hobby, but the hobby of photographing the BJDs)
I dunno. It's just a fun thing to do? XD; They're very photogenic.

What do you do with these photos that you take? Do you sell them like a print? Do you have them for personal enjoyment? Why?
Just post them online for anyone who is interested, or keep them in a folder for me to look at. Sometimes I like looking at photos better than at the actual doll. I don't know why, it's just sometimes it seems like you capture a perfect moment, and with a photo you can... savor it? *A*;; Like, when I received my first doll, I thought she was beautiful, but after I took a few pictures and looked at them a couple days later, I was surprised how stunning she looked in them. (But sometimes she looks amazing IRL and I can't quite capture it with the camera.)

 

I think people treat their dolls as sort of a model when they're doing photoshoots.

Personally I see it as a hobby related thing, and I take photos for the sake of taking photos, not for a story.
The concept to me is kind of like figure photography.

I like to post them online, and just let other people see and comment on it. It's also a great way to get critique on your photography skills.

 

Why do you photograph your dolls and make photostories?

I like having the oppurtunity to share new outfits, new dolls, and things that I have made with the doll community. Plus it's another way for me to enjoy and "play with my dolls". I don't do photostoreis, frankly because I'm not very creative in that way, but I do wish that I could photograph my girls better. This Forum, and the talented photographers on it have made me want to learn about photography. I've been reading about cameras and even am considering buying a nicer one to learn with. Basically it's just another way to enjoy my hobby.


Do you just simply enjoy your doll and play with her without photographing her in a story?

Absolutely! Infact this is generally what happens in my house. I would say my main interest with these dolls is sewing at the moment. Sewing is another thing that BJD's has opened for me, and I really love doing it!

Why do so many people in the BJD community use Doll Photography as a hobby in itself? (not owning BJDs as a hobby, but the hobby of photographing the BJDs)

This is an interesting comment, I never thought of it before but I imagine its just like anything artistic, a way to express ideas and feeling through a picture or whatever the media is. I do it to share mainly.

What do you do with these photos that you take? Do you sell them like a print? Do you have them for personal enjoyment? Why

I post them on DOA, and I really have been enjoying attempting to capture them, even if not always successful.

 

Why do you photograph your dolls and make photostories?
I photograph my doll because... well, that's what I like to do. I sew things for him, or I get a new gift for him or something and then I feel the need to take beautiful pictures of it. I am not a very good photographer, but I do try. Photostories are good for character development and are just really fun to do. It's like combining photography+story telling+dolls=fun! I imagine it's not fun for everyone though. I am also a real social butterfly, so I like to get comments on the things that I do, and where I am I don't get alot of verbal feedback other than strange looks.

Do you just simply enjoy your doll and play with her without photographing her in a story?
I do enjoy HIM (not all dolls are girls) without photographing him. I enjoy making things for him and just having his around sometimes makes me feel good.

Why do so many people in the BJD community use Doll Photography as a hobby in itself? (not owning BJDs as a hobby, but the hobby of photographing the BJDs)
I don't know, as for me is encompasses many different hobbies: photography, sewing, collecting dolls, painting, story writing, etc. But I imagine the purest answer you're gonna get is because they like to do it. Isn't that the reason for a hobby in the first place?

What do you do with these photos that you take? Do you sell them like a print? Do you have them for personal enjoyment? Why?
Some of them I keep just for myself, to remember the fun times me and my doll have, but many of them I do post in the hopes of receiving feedback. I don't sell them because I'm not very good, but I do post them on DoA and a few other sites.

But I think the real answer to all of the questions is because; I like to. I wouldn't do it if I didn't find enjoyment from it.

 

This seems interesting~

Why do you photograph your dolls and make photostories?
Well, sometimes I would be playing with them and I'd thik, hey! that pose from that angle makes her look so cute *snaps photo*. I'm very in the moment, and of course I don't want to keep my dolls posed in one way forever, so by taking a photo, I can preserve the way I view them.

Do you just simply enjoy your doll and play with her without photographing her in a story?
Oh absolutely, I just occasionally photograph, I'm no photographer.

Why do so many people in the BJD community use Doll Photography as a hobby in itself? (not owning BJDs as a hobby, but the hobby of photographing the BJDs)
I guess they see these dolls, especially the SDs as awesome models. So they photograph them instead of hiring real models and such.

What do you do with these photos that you take? Do you sell them like a print? Do you have them for personal enjoyment? Why?
I keep most stored on my comp, and I only upload to flickr those that I want to share in a thread, or just favorite shots. But mostly it's when I want to share in a thread. Sharing is caring lol, no but really it's what makes this forum so enjoyable for me, I love seeing how people customize their dolls! For example the Fiaryland Ante sculpt is really popular from my observations, but no two owners have the same exact Ante. Even though it's the same sculpt, everybody's dolls are different, and that i an art of itself, I think. I love seeing the diversity and possibilities.

I kind of feel like our dolls are like friends, and when we post pictures, it's like they're saying "hello!" to all their other doll friends. I guess, maybe you thought this whole photo thing was like showing off...well it is. We show off our dolls, but so what? We should! They're freaking expensive and freakin adorable! And everybody better love them for all that money we spent XD

I love spam, it makes me smile, regardless for its reason of being there :3

 

Why do you photograph your dolls and make photostories?

Because it's fun! lol I was into photography long before bjds and well... a lot of being in the community is taking pictures... you take pictures to do resin comparisons, eye comparisons, show what a wig looks like, show off faceups, show off clothes...

Now onto photostories... well, often people have backstories and characters that go with their dolls. So showing that with your doll is one way to 'play' with them.

Do you just simply enjoy your doll and play with her without photographing her in a story?

Yeah, I don't have to whip out my camera every time I play with my dolls

Why do so many people in the BJD community use Doll Photography as a hobby in itself? (not owning BJDs as a hobby, but the hobby of photographing the BJDs)[/B]

Yeesh I don't know what other people think! But seriously I could ask you "why do people like to photograph children if they don't own any themselves?" or "why do people like to photograph basketball if they dont' play basketball?" frankly it's just an interest in a subject that a photographer likes to capture.

Also photography itself is a very expensive hobby... camera, lenses, lights etc. adds up to BIG $$$$ if you want nice stuff.

What do you do with these photos that you take? Do you sell them like a print? Do you have them for personal enjoyment? Why?

Why do photographers take photographs? Because they enjoy it! That's what they DO! It's like asking why a painter likes to paint! "What do you do with the painting? Do you sell the prints? For personal enjoyment?" Photography is a type of art! I paint pictures, I do it for myself, if I like my painting I'll put a print in a portfolio and maybe stick it on my wall.

 

I take pictures for fun.

I do play with my boy quite often out of the camera's eye~

Anyway photostories are just plain fun to make!

 

Why do you photograph your dolls and make photostories?
Because it's fun. xD I enjoy looking at the photos that I take, and how it looks like they're actually alive doing what they're doing in the photo. Also, I like to capture the moment. Sometimes I'll unintentionally pose my doll that looks good for a photo. Or sometimes I'll be somewhere and the place I am is great for a photo.

Do you just simply enjoy your doll and play with her without photographing her in a story?
Ahah, not really. I always do doll photography. ((Actually it started with FIGURINE photography! ))
If you're talking about do you EVER just do that though, then of course. The majority of the time I'm just playing with my dolls.

Why do so many people in the BJD community use Doll Photography as a hobby in itself? (not owning BJDs as a hobby, but the hobby of photographing the BJDs)
Hrm....I don't see why someone wouldn't want to own the BJD. :/
But I guess it's just that the photos look so lovely...? Everyone has their different reasons, so I can't speak for everyone.

What do you do with these photos that you take? Do you sell them like a print? Do you have them for personal enjoyment? Why?
1) Enjoy them. I like to look at them; they make me happy. I think they look nice, and also a lot of them have memories as well.
2) Post them on deviantART. I don't post ALL photos on there because there are too many, but people there get pissed that I don't post them. x'D
3) Post them on YouTube. I like to show my photos with people. Especially so that if people do not have the dolls, they can go and see my videos and see the dolls. ^^

 

I'm in the process of saving for my first BJD as well, and I plan on taking photos of her like many others in this hobby. I would photograph my doll to share her with the world, and to help myself become a better photographer. I think if I was able to spend more time with her by taking her photo I can find who her character is and how she acts personality wise

 

I have photographed displays of my dolls for many years as a form of celebration; for my birthday as an example. I see BJD photography as another form of artistic expression. Photography of BJD's and other dolls is a wonderful hobby.

I have played around with photography on vintage motorcycles, cars, and other "non-human" objects. People who are involved in those hobbies enjoy each other's photos and share their experiences that way as well.

I still need to work on my photography skills; however, over the years, I have been able to capture some cool photos just by chance or repetition. I enjoy browsing the galleries on DoA; there are so many members who I would consider BJD photo artists and I love their work and appreciate their style of BJD even more.

One is simply sharing what they enjoy with others that have a similar interest. It is a great way to connect with other BJD enthusiasts and see through their eyes what they enjoy about their dolls.

 

Why do you photograph your dolls and make photostories?
Photography has always been interesting to me, and I've idly pursued it for years before finally getting into the BJD hobby. Most common are photos of myself, because as a self-taught makeup artist, I want to share the looks I create (from horrifically wounded zombies) to high-fashion glamour with my friends and family. However from time to time I get together with other fashionista/makeup artist/photographer friends and we have photoshoots. I did a pirate photoshoot with a friend down by the ocean one day where we took turns shooting each other. So for me photographing my doll(s) was just a natural extension of my interests.

That's not even touching on the fact that these dolls are amazingly beautiful and are so capable of evoking human sentiment just by changing the angle of their head, or the pose of their body or even more drastically their eyes or face ups. And ohhhh joy of being able to snap thirty pictures in one pose without complaint!

Do you just simply enjoy your doll and play with her without photographing her in a story?
All the time. Whenever I have a free moment, I spend it with my dolls. Right this moment I have Masato sitting in my lap. Just looking at him can make me smile, and having him in arms reach (often standing on my desk while I play around on the internet) can make me feel really at ease.

Why do so many people in the BJD community use Doll Photography as a hobby in itself? (not owning BJDs as a hobby, but the hobby of photographing the BJDs)
I think that how you treat doll photography is dependent on how interested in photography you are. Some people take pictures like they breathe; some people take pictures because they're excited or want to share something they've created, other people don't feel the need to photograph things at all. I know that since I don't have a lot of friends who share the interest in BJDs among my current group of local friends, I want to take photos to share my excitement with people who do. At the same time I also have an interest in photography of other subjects. To me it just seems natural to want to photograph my doll(s).

What do you do with these photos that you take? Do you sell them like a print? Do you have them for personal enjoyment? Why?
I have tons on my computer, post most of them to facebook, and some of them here. I don't think I'd want to sell them because I'm a lot fuzzy on the legalities of selling images of sculpts whose trademarks belong to someone else. Also...it feels weird to think of selling images of my doll to other people because...well...I don't have a reason. It just makes me shudder on the inside.

Another question: The dolls seem to live in an existence of their own when people take pictures of them. Why are owner photographs with dolls so rare? Do the owners want to be anonymous? If that is the case, then why?
I would LOVE to do a photoshoot with my doll. Get all made up and pretty and snap snap snap....but regular old me? Not so much. He's too pretty. I'd be embarrassed.

Would you go out and spend a large amount of money for a professional DSLR camera to photograph your dolls better? Even If you were not a "professional" photographer?
I have a basic Pentax DSLR camera that I bought a couple years ago for the sake of taking better pictures. It's taken a lot of really great photos for me, so I've been pretty happy with it. And I Love using it to take pictures of my doll, but no, if I wasn't interested in photography at all I probably wouldn't be willing to spend the money on a DSLR.

 

Why do you photograph your dolls and make photostories?
Well it seems interesting to see them in photos, photography is fun~!

Do you just simply enjoy your doll and play with her without photographing her in a story?
Yup! i do sitting every where and snapping photos is a nice way to enjoy also.

Why do so many people in the BJD community use Doll Photography as a hobby in itself? (not owning BJDs as a hobby, but the hobby of photographing the BJDs)
I guess its interesting to see others album and they look at your album.

What do you do with these photos that you take? Do you sell them like a print? Do you have them for personal enjoyment? Why?
i keep them up, its for personal enjoyment actually.. well i dont own a BJD yet.. but i do have smaller dolls that i took photos and post it on my blog XD

 

Why do you photograph your dolls and make photostories?

Well I don't make photostories (I have a terrible sense of flow), I like taking photos of my doll because he's a great human analog. He looks human, poses like one, and best of all, he doesn't fight or give you trouble like a real model would!

Do you just simply enjoy your doll and play with her without photographing her in a story?

I do. I tend to try and get as much use out of something, especially if I paid a large amount for it. Generally I just talk to my doll and bring him along with me for fun to places like my mom's.

Why do so many people in the BJD community use Doll Photography as a hobby in itself? (not owning BJDs as a hobby, but the hobby of photographing the BJDs)

... Okay I have no idea about this, but I would say just because it's something that interests them and lets them practice.

What do you do with these photos that you take? Do you sell them like a print? Do you have them for personal enjoyment? Why?

I keep the photos for enjoyment and something to look at for practice. I'd really like for photography to be my profession, or something that'll make me money to live off of (as greedy as that sounds). Learning angles, lighting and what poses look good with what is something I definitely need to get the hang of, so keeping the photos is something I can look back on and go, "AH HA, I like this, lets try that again but better."