Why do doll owners photograph their dolls?

I have always been into photography, so taking pictures of things I find beautiful (in this case dolls) in only natural. I haven't really gotten into doing photo stories, but I enjoy using my dolls as models.

 

Why do you photograph your dolls and make photostories?
Simply because they are beautiful dolls and I wish to share them with other people! I wish people to know my dolls style and personality and I think that is best displayed through pictures I feel that a dolls character really does shine through when i see pictures of them.

Do you just simply enjoy your doll and play with her without photographing her in a story?
But of course! Its most of the joy of these dolls Taking pictures that capture their character.

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)
Its alot like having a model except I feel its alot easier to control a doll rather then an actual
model you can get the dolls to look exactly how you want and I feel that BJD is such a broad hobbie that owning them in themselves is not the only reason people get into this hobbie people roleplay, use them for photography, use them for fashion and crafts, make up, the possibilities are so endless why limit yourself? They are their to appreciate and what best way then through photography

 

well im not really into photographing anything at all ( i did it for my hsc, so ive had enough for a lifetime) but i think i photograph my dolls because it allows other people to glimpse the characters and personalitites i give them through my eyes, while remaining interesting, and allowing myself a creative outlet at the same time. I dont really DO emo shots though, (no offence meant to anyone who does!) because i dont see the artistic merit.

And yes, i can just play without photographing them.

HOWEVER! i like to share the joy i feel in the hobby by sharing, and one of the only ways to do that over the net is photos

 

*irked* Please remember that all photographers and artists must start somewhere. Just because it's taken with a web cam or it's not pretty doesn't mean it's not art. If someone makes an attempt at something creative and has a product, then it's art. Even if it's as simple as taking a cellphone pic of their doll in the box. I'll agree that dA is filled with photography that could be critiqued and improved greatly from where I stands right now (8D and hey that includes just about everyone including me) but I would never say that the pieces aren't art. If someone wants to photograph their doll, they have to start somewhere, let them try and give them constructive criticism to help them improve. > moving on.

Why do you photograph your dolls and make photostories?
I don't necessarily make photo stories, but recently I've attempted to convey some aspect of my characters in each photo I take and not so much just pretty pictures of a doll.
I'm a photographer before I am a doll owner, and if for whatever reason I could take photos anymore, my dolls would go.
Does that make me a bad doll owner? Probably to some people, but photography is my outlet, that's who I enjoy them and use them. It actually bothers me to see them sitting on a shelf for an extended period because I feel bad for not doing anything with them. To me that's my wasted money.
I enjoy taking something still and putting life into it. This ability to speak for those who can't, to be able to get into lives of characters and promote things that I'm passionate about even if it doesn't reflect myself (gay rights, pro choice, even just awareness for little thing like single parents) I've been criticized because my storyline is one sob story after another, but I honestly just write as I go and if I'm feeling passionate about something that day, I will write it in there or I'll photograph it.

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

I already answered this basically. But pretty much no.
I sew for my dolls but that's only so they have more outfits for photoshoots so things don't get boring, and I attend doll meets and just smaller gatherings with local doll friends, but my camera is always in my hand ready to take photos.
Most of my enjoyment of meets comes from being able to [photograph dolls that I don't own/don't want to own/will never own]

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 can't really answer that as I'm just me...
But I'd say its a "keeping up with the Joneses" deal. Where everyone else is doing it, so they do.
And I'd think most people initially start photographing to share their dolls when they open them or whatever, and then they continue to take photos to receive feedback that they may not get in real life.

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?

90% of my photos get dumped on my external hard drive and never looked at again.
10% go on deviantart so I can receive feedback and entertain those who want to look, though recently I've shied away from dA
and then a tiny percent goes to school projects - I'm headed for a MFA in photography and my main photo professor has been pushing me to continue pursuing doll photography and let that be my "vision" as he finds it incredible the amount of depth I put behind it all. The portfolio I'm doing for one of his courses is actually a photoshoot attempting to tell the storyline that my dolls come from. (not a photo story as the images will speak for themselves)

 

Why do you photograph your dolls and make photostories?
I do it cause it's fun. And it helps my photography skills grow so much. Two of my dolls are over a year old now and I went back and looked at the first few shoots I took them out on and I'm proud to say my skills have grown so much in just the past year.

Do you just simply enjoy your doll and play with her without photographing her in a story?
Of course I'm not always taking pictures of them, I quite like just looking at them as the sit next to me, I'm also in the middle of writing their back story in a full length book form and just having them sitting next to me helps me feel inspired to write.

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)
That's like asking why do people draw their dolls as a hobby, or make clothes for them. It's just part of owning a BJD. I know very few doll owners that don't enjoy taking pictures of their dolls. it's also a way of showing them off. Most of us are very proud of the dolls we own and love showing them off to other people.

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 DA and keep them for personal enjoyment. To why I post them on DA is so that others can enjoy my dolls and so people can critique my photographer, as for why i keep them for personal enjoyment I absolutely love looking at pictures of my dolls. I have a habit if I post a gallery thread of looking back at it myself several times and just smiling in delight at the pictures of my doll.

 

Why do you photograph your dolls and make photostories?

Honestly? Most of the time I take pictures of my dolls, it's because I want to show off. If I've put a lot of work into her outfit, or fussed over her face-up, it feels good to have people admire it. And I love my girl so much, I just want to share pictures of her. Like someone who shows off pictures of their pet or something.

Sometimes, however, I do it for artistic purposes. I get an idea for

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

This is basically what I do with her 90% of the time. I pose her or sew for her or just cuddle her. Usually I only photograph her if there's something specific I want to do or show off.

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)

First of all, I think it's because there's a lot of crossover between this hobby and people who are one form or another of artists. And with dolls, taking pictures of them is probably the art form that involves them the most. They're very interesting to photograph, because they're almost human, but not quite. Plus, there's a lot of stuff you can do with a doll that you could never do with a human model unless you used Photoshop, like detaching a hand and sticking it on a mirror, or taking out the eyes and putting LEDs in instead.

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?

Mostly I just stick them on photobucket and either post them or forget about them. I'd never sell them (who'd want my crappy pictures?) and while they can be fun to look through, I always have my dolls to look at in person.

 

Why do you photograph your dolls and make photostories?
Because it amuses me, and they are so lifelike and beautiful!!! I know you expected that answer but it's true. It's like having the perfect model posing for you all the time. It's really a joy.
Do you just simply enjoy your doll and play with her without photographing her in a story?
Well, *him, haha (I don't actually mind just kidding) but yes! I love him so much I enjoy him in every aspect with or without pictures ^^
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)
Because photography is a hobby. I don't think they're using "Doll PhotographY" but more just 'Photography". It's just average photography hobbyig just with a different,more beautiful subject
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?
Nooo most of my pictures are private I just like taking pictures XD I would like to share them but usually no one really sees them anyway... So I just tend to keep them to myself.

 

I think probably a big reason so many people photograph their dolls is because, like me, many people are isolated in their involvement. Until about six months ago, I didn't know anyone within a two hour drive who had even heard of BJDs. Now I know one person who has two, and he got them because he saw my photographs and was fascinated by them. He had never heard of BJDs before and was absolutely not any kind of doll person. Photographing them and posting them on Forums allows me to share them with my online, like-minded friends. If they photograph their dolls, then I get to share in their excitement and enjoyment as well.

Why did I start taking pictures? Because they're beautiful? Because when you take pictures of them they come alive? When people see my photographs they always talk about how the dolls look real- but when I show them the actual dolls they don't see it. These are always non-doll people who either buy my book or see my photographs displayed somewhere. Many of them think the dolls are life-sized and are amazed at how small they are.

Photographing the dolls gives me a socially-acceptable excuse for having them, especially since I did the book. So where as before they would see me and think - wow, look at that crazy lady taking pictures of that weird, kind of scary doll; since I have the book and I can give them a postcard about it, now they think, Wow, look at that crazy lady taking pictures of that weird, kind of scary doll, but she did a book so I guess it's okay.

Photographing dolls lets other people see them the way I do. I always loved doll photographs as a little girl- loved the Edith the Lonely Doll series of books, loved the old Betsy McCall photostories in McCall's magazine. Loved making little scenes and tableaus with my dolls as a child- I never really "played" with dolls, as in, they were never my children, etc. I always kind of used them as props for my little fantasies. So it seems natural that when I got ahold of the perfect dolls (BJDs) that could pose in amazing ways, I would put two and two together- Doll + Camera = Fun.

 

Why do you photograph your dolls and make photostories?
-I absolutely love to share my dolls, just as much as i enjoy seeing others! Photostories are a fun way to interact with others, i have found people get very into them, and respond more to stories/situations/cute things they can get into as well

Do you just simply enjoy your doll and play with her without photographing her in a story?
-I love my dolls, i dont photograph all of them all the time, of course i must be inspired in order to photograph them mood, lighting, outfit, certain dolls stick out to me for certain photoshoots

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)
-kinda confused here....i wouldnt be able to photograph them if i didn't own them myself...but i enjoy and love my dolls and making them my own, and un like any others out there.

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 had my flickr.com pro account for almost 4 years, i have a rather large following and friend base who enjoys my photos, i equally love looking at others dolls, stories, creativity

 

Why do you photograph your dolls and make photostories?
Interestingly, this is something that intersects with my significant other's hobby. He's getting into photography, and therefore I have been borrowing his nice equipment to photograph my dolls. My mom, who also collects BJDs and photographs them, is married to a lovely gentleman who not only lets her borrow his equipment, but will often photograph her dolls himself. I think that I like working with dolls on camera is sometimes easier than working with people. I find that the dolls are beautiful, and pose elegantly.
I'm also a theater person, a director and playwright, as well as an actor. Directing dolls really is MUCH easier. I have all these silly stories that are easy to share through photo stories.

Do you just simply enjoy your doll and play with her without photographing her in a story?
I don't have to photograph my dolls to enjoy them. I don't take pictures every time I change their clothes or take them somewhere. But I do enjoy taking pictures, too.

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)
Unlike most other dolls on the market, BJDs are infinitely posable, and that makes for a large range of expression. Unlike most action figures, they're far more interesting as subject. (Action figures tend to be simplistic in sculpt, designed for "hard play" rather than elegant poses.) Anyone can take pictures of their dolls. Learning to take GOOD pictures of dolls requires practice and a learned skill, two things that seem to come naturally to people who collect these kinds of dolls. I notice that a lot of Doll Collectors (not just BJD collectors) have an artistic spark, and Photography is an art form.

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 put them on Flickr, or Photobucket. I share them with my friends and dolly playmates. I even won a doll through a photo contest once! (My first tiny!) I don't sell prints of my photos, but it's not outside the realm of possibility in the future.

 

These BJDs are dear to me and help me better my photography skills. Artists that take photos of nature, flowers, landscapes are art. So why is taking photos of dolls not art?
I am not a creepy person sitting at home playing with a dollhouse and dolls. My pictures are art and many of my friends want to purchase my doll pictures for their children's nursery or bedroom. That is art.

Thanks for the interesting topic/debate

 

I'm new to the hobby (awaiting my first doll) and have found this discussion a really enjoyable read. I think there are many aspects to the hobby and I love the way that dollies excite the imagination. I hope to learn to craft lovely outfits for my future dollies and to be able to share them through photography.

Great post!! :-D

 

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

Yes, all my dolls are enjoyed even when i'm not photographing them.

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 it's more than one reason, some people love to share their dolls, while others may have wanted to do photography for awhile and found their muse, or just enjoy the practice. Photographing things is a lot of fun all it's self :P
Me personally, i photograph her because she's so beautiful, and i want that to be shared with others.

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 use them for personal enjoyment, sometimes i upload my favorites to show around.
As for why, i like remembering certain moments with her, like a particular style or pose she had that struck a cord with me. I tend to photograph these moments.

 

First, let me say, how is this so different than taking a picture of a still life, or a plate, or a blade of grass? I'm not one to "roll my eyes" at any sort of art, whether I like it or not, because art is barely even defined, it means different things to different people. Just had to get that out of the way. ^^

Why do you photograph your dolls and make photostories?
First and foremost, it's enjoyable, and it really is a creative outlet. Instead of sitting down and writing a story, you're mapping it out with your own hands. I really like that.
As for regular photography, it's fun to portray your character how you think they would act if they were a real, living person. To me, photography gives dolls life.

Do you just simply enjoy your doll and play with her without photographing her in a story?
Even though I love photographing my girls, I enjoy even seeing them sitting there in a cute pose as I study. It gives me a break from the hard work and I just stop to look over every once in a while.

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, in some circumstances, those people may not want to own a BJD. They may not want to research various aspects of the doll hobby, or buy new things, or even buy a doll at all. But if they see BJD photography as something fun to do, they can do that without actually owning one. They may not have time for the maintenance that comes with owning a doll, either.

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?
My photography is for my own personal enjoyment, because, as I've stated above, it's a creative outlet. I post them on deviantArt, and usually don't receive much recognition, but it's still fun to post a picture and answer curious questions, and even share your dolls' background. The whole hobby to me, with everything included, is just fascinating.

 

show off their clothes, photostories (which I rarely do as, well my idea's are weird)

 

To share with others... for posterity, just for the he!! of it...

- ShadowHawke -

 

I sort of find this whole line of questions very odd, but I will answer nonetheless.

I photograph my dolls because I belong to an online community. A virtual space. I cannot show my dolls to my friends in person nor can others show me their dolls in person. The only things I can and others can do is "talk" about them by typing or "show" them by taking pictures and posting said pictures. Speaking for myself, since I am a visual person I like to look at photos and I like to share my photos. Photography is in my opinion the most effective way of participating in a virtual community.

Of course I could and do enjoy my dolls without taking photographs of them, but that is done in private and isn't easily sharable in a virtual community. I could describe how my doll looks in a paragraph long post few will read, or I can take a photo and show them in an instant what I see. The private play I do with my dolls doesn't require photography, but connecting with my friends online is more easily done with a picture than with words in this hobby. Photography is definitely a hobby in its own right, and I'm sure the visual nature of BJDs attracts a lot of people who enjoy taking quality photographs. There's no reason why the two hobbies (dolls and cameras) can't cross-pollinate.

I share my photos on DOA, on Flickr, and on my private doll blog. I look through them on my laptop and just enjoy them. I doubt anybody would want to buy prints of my dolls when they can take photos of their own.

 

Actually, it's not an expectation at all. Many members of the forum barely post photos, many members aren't even active. There are hobbies among hobbies in this hobby. It's nice to combine! It's nice to have a photographic figure or model at your beck and call. It's nice to have something in the flesh to help your creative writing. It's nice to create characters. These dolls help a good many of us stay in touch with our creativity and fantasy. I can easily say without my dolls I'd be a depressed rot spot in life. I'd have nothing right now. They constantly give me something to look forward to, something to plan for, something to do with my free time. Instead of being addicted to television or online shopping I "work on" my dolls.

 

Why do you photograph your dolls and make photostories?
Because it gives me the chance to explore photography more.
This may come across as offensive but I prefer photographing dolls to people because they're a lot more perfect and you can position them 'just so' without having to worry about invading privacy and the model being uncomfortable and all that.

Do you just simply enjoy your doll and play with her without photographing her in a story?
Most definitely. I play with both my boy and girl on a regular basis and that mostly just involves trying new wigs and clothes items on them.

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 do believe that some will agree with what I said in the first question.

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 as souvenirs of my successful shoots. Because both my dolls were gifts, photographs that I send to the person who bought them for me is my way of showing them that I appreciate the gift. I will probably never sell them like a print because I take copyrights very seriously. Most definitely for personal enjoyment.

 

I am learning to photograph my dolls and find that they look very different through the lens and in photos. This is fascinating to me. I play with them a lot also aside from photographing them. I doubt I would ever offer prints but think a trading/collecting card system or even game with doll ACEO would be a ton of fun! I post some pix, do funny purikura on others and mostly use the most recent as wallpapers.