Why do doll owners photograph their dolls?

Why do you photograph your dolls and make photostories?

I don't tend to make photo stories, but photography is the main reason why I started collecting BJDs. I'm a fashion/editorial/commercial/alt photographer and the thing I love about BJDs is that I always have a model who will do anything I want, in the way that I want, her face is never bad and I have complete control. Humans can disappoint you sometimes.

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

I've never been one to "play" with dolls, even when I was younger.

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 suppose because it's fun. You have full freedom to do what you want with your doll, where you have your doll, ect ect. It's the same as photographing people for me except I'm doing it for my own enjoyment.

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 enjoy having physical prints. I don't frame them or anything, but I have some in my portfolio. I think for me it's the same reason why I prefer to have physical books rather than e-books.

 

Why do you photograph your dolls and make photostories?
For me I like taking their photograph as subjects as they don't move unless I move them, so I can manipulate my doll to create something. When taking photographs of the animate, people, pets the shot can be more hit and miss as such. With my dolls I can set a shot up exactly how I want to which is fun. So I'm able to create a story within a photo, much like stop animation. As an artist I studied fine art and life drawing, to me this is a similar set up but easier as I'm using a doll. At college and uni I created photo stories with toys for illustration, with dolls you can make far more elaborate set ups than with a rubber duck or chicken. Both of which I used in projects! Hehe. For me my doll photography is my creative light release and lets be fair the dolls themselves are so photogenic.

Do you just simply enjoy your doll and play with her without photographing her in a story?
I do like the doll fashion side of things, dressing them and creating an image or persona is alot of fun. I also love sewing and crafting for them and make doll hairclips which I love doing. With my vintage dolls I enjoy spa days and hair treatments and seeing the results of my time. It's relaxing plus my wee daughter, Wren loves being part of the hobby with her dolls too, she joins in with the spa days!

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 you can create movement and expression with BJD's due to the way they move. You can show emotion and feeling through a photograph using them as a model. Whether sad, happy, thoughtful etc. Plus as subjects they are great to photograph as you can take the time, change settings, play with light in your own time. Playing with angles and light on their faces I love personally when I pick up my camera. People may have the same doll, but through their individual lens of their camera they take totally different shots. Its the creative aspect people enjoy.

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 sometimes in my work and plan to use them for something specific next year which I'm excited about. Photographs I take of architecture and cities I sell to various people as part of my job. My doll photography is separate to that, however the project I just mentioned will involve the doll photography which will be fun.

 

Until just a little while ago, most of the pictures I took of my doll were purely for the 'games' section of DoA... and kind of looked a little weird without the context of the game behind it. But I really only have *so many* 'artsy' photos (like, maybe 7). A lot of the rest of them are bad in general, but I was just too lazy to retake the picture.

 

I haven't gotten a doll yet but when I do end up getting one I will probably take pics to show off what I do with it (granted I'll need a camera too first). I look at dolls mostly as a creative outlet whether they be OT playline dolls or an expensive ABJD (like I am trying to save for). If I do something creative of course I have a desire to share it. I used to not understand why people took photos of dolls in factory stock but I realize that for some people they are not canvasses but actors and even for some they are both.

 

The reason I got my first doll was becuase of the photography I saw on the sites mentioned. I've been a portrait and concept photographer for nearly 5 years. When I started looking around on the net I was in awe when I realized the subjects in the photos I was drooling over were dolls and not abnormally gorgeous people haha I love playing with perspective to make Anethena (my Beyla) seem more apart of the world and more...alive? And the angles you can play with to change their expressions. The slightest twist of the wrist is the difference between a smirk and a sweet gaze. Its truly fascinating.

 

Some people just have fun taking angles and poses and the like. And sometimes, it's good to have a photo to remember the story you thought of when playing with your doll

 

I saw the most astounding documentary about this guy who has an entire 1:6 WWII doll village built in his backyard, and takes millions on millions of extremely incredible wow-wow-wow doll photos, to act out these elaborate stories in his fantasy world. This guy had a traumatic head-injury with huge amnesia, and was never the same afterwards, so his doll universe, photos, & stories are definitely on the therapy side.
http://www.marwencol.com/about/

I know they're not BJDs involved, but to me he stands out as an example of how, in the right context, you can get doll-photographs considered Art, even by the mainstream (besides the movie, he's had Manhattan gallery shows and New York Times articles about him). The gallery-owner specifically mentioned how, in most art you see, when dolls are employed it's usually to add a jokey or creepy or ironic note... but that Mr. Hogancamp's use of dolls is without a trace of irony, and the photos are still so powerful.

So maybe there could someday be a BJD-photo craze in some upcoming art gallery scene... ^^

 

Actually, I first decided that I wanted a BJD because I wanted to have something to photograph.
I used to take pictures of my Barbie dolls when I was little, and when I first saw a BJD I knew exactly what I wanted to use it for

 

I personally think that it comes with the hobby. You can't just own a doll, you must share with the world. I also believe it's an art form bc we are using our talents to make them appear human. If someone mistakes the doll for an actual person...job well done lol but its ok not to like taking pictures of your doll. I for one feel really odd taking pics in public. I dunno I'm just afraid ppl are going to come over and ask what Im doing. Its a pet peeve of mine, dont worry what I'm doing. I feel better when I have my fiance with me taking pictures of her dolls as well, feels less awkward. the person can say "Oh I guess EVERYONE is doing that...what ever that is....."

as or the emo part...I dunno whats with that. I guess thats the average style that doll owners like for their doll. Personally my boy doll is a rocker.

 

I loved dolls before I loved photography, and to be honest, at the beginning of my doll-collecting days many years ago I never took photos of my dolls. But, at that point, I was only getting started with the hobby (of dolls, not yet into BJDs) and it was a process for me. First, I bought dolls. Then, I built a collection. Then what? More dolls? Instead I went the photograph route. It added a whole dimension to the hobby because it meant the dolls weren't only sitting there collecting dust. They were being shared with others and by doing that I met a lot of people with similar interests.

In fact, only last week a new doll friend (who I contacted on DofA) and I took our dolls out for photos. A couple months back I recognized a photo book created with photos a person put on Flickr and knew immediately what dolls he had even though I had never met him before. A few months before that I recognized someone in a nearby city had the same dolls as I did and I emailed them and we met up for a meet-up. I don't think people realize how isolating the hobby can be if one only buys and discusses dolls. It's SO much more fun when you can meet people and share this hobby online or in-person. Without the element of taking photos, I wouldn't have such a doll-related social life, to be honest. All it would be is buy, buy, buy... talk, talk, talk... and that kind of hobby seems a little too boring for my liking.

I wouldn't consider doll photography art, though. I think art is decided by the viewer, not by the creator. For those who do consider their own photography art, I suppose it could add more merit to the idea of photographing dolls, but I don't need that kind of reassurance. Art, to me, tends to (but not always) be snobby and elitest in some ways, so I'd much more rather see doll photography as a way to share the hobby with like-minded people on-line because it makes it more accessible to me. That said, everyone collects for different reasons and as a result enjoys their dolls differently. To each his or her own.

 

That is another interesting topic I hadn't thought of -- taking pics with our dolls. I will have to think on that one. I guess a lot of doll lovers envision their dolls as real personalities in their own world with their own backstory and want to keep that separate from themselves.

 

Why do you photograph your dolls?

Photography is the main reason why I started collecting dolls (not only BJDs).
I am a graphic designer and my dad was a photographer. So I always loved to take pictures.
It was so natural to me that the first thing I did when I got a doll was to take pics of it.

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

I like to dress and style them, but the reason I do that is to photograph the 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)

Because the dolls are so beautiful, expressive and photogenic! And they are wonderful models (and they don't move!).

What do you do with these photos that you take?

I post them on online galleries to share the hobby with other people.

 

Haha! This topic made me laugh because I felt the exact same way when my friends got into BJDs. Little did I know, my own BJD fever was incubating.

Why do you photograph your dolls?

To show them off of course!
Of course, I do like to put my pigs out there so that the other piggy owners will be encouraged to do the same, and in that way I can see more and more dolls!

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

Yes! My most favorite thing about my dolls are dressing them up! I also love miniature things, so collecting those is pretty fun 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)

They are the perfect models! Also, they are so customizable and pose-able so that every photographers can create unique and beautiful stories with their photos.

What do you do with these photos that you take?

I'm addicted to Flickr, so my photos go there immediately!

 

Why do you photograph your dolls and make photostories?
*I like to take photographs of my dolls to show how they have changed over time, or simply for the sake of showing him/her off. Photostories are fun and amusing to do.

Do you just simply enjoy your doll and play with her without photographing her in a story?
*Yes. I tend to do this more.

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 a lot of us in the doll community like to photograph our dolls to help develop an "eye," as it were. A lot of people in the doll community are artists, and these dolls that we pour our hearts into are works of art we want to enjoy and show off.

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?
*For me personally, the pictures are memories which help me remember the day, for a personal enjoyment aspect. I keep them, develop some of them into photostories, and post them occasionally. Or at least I will someday.

 

Why do you photograph your dolls and make photostories?
One of the main reasons I got my doll was to photograph her. I use her to practice both macro & portrait photography. I also use her to practice conceptual photography. She's helped a lot, and I've gotten better at all 3 things. I'm still improving, too! Using a doll makes conceptual photos possible when you don't have very many humans at your disposal. :P I also enjoy the challenge of making an inanimate object look very much alive. Regarding photostories, I've never made one so I can't answer that.

Do you just simply enjoy your doll and play with her without photographing her in a story?
I've never photographed her in a story. I do enjoy my doll though, and have fun dressing her up and changing her wig and such. Sometimes, I just enjoy having her around.

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)
For me, it's not that Doll Photography is a hobby, but that photography is my hobby. I'm actually starting in the photo department at VCU arts this fall. If you were to see all of my photography, probably about 10% is actually of my doll. I can't speak for anyone else, though, of course.

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 online as art and hope that, one day, I'll be able to sell them as prints!

 

Why do you photograph your dolls and make photostories?
I started with photography as a hobby first. I'm not able to afford all those expensive lens or cameras, so I had think about different interesting topics to photograph (that I'd actually want to photograph). I got into dollhouse miniatures that way and getting into (tiny) BJDs was just a natural progression from there. For mini's I find it fun (and somewhat challenging) to create realistic miniature scenes and photograph it and it's the same with BJDs. They are surprisingly very photogenic!

Do you just simply enjoy your doll and play with her without photographing her in a story?
Sometimes. Though for me, photographing my doll is part of my playing with him.

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)
BJDs is just another subject matter to photograph. It's the same as people preferring to photograph street scenes, macro, food, people, landscapes, etc *only*

It serves to support/augment their current/main/other hobby, so why not? I personally started out this way and am slowly but surely getting sucked into the hobby itself.

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?
Blog about em. I don't think I'll get to the point where I like a photo enough to sell it (yet?).

I do have them for personal enjoyment, since my blogging about and posting them online is part of the enjoyment.

It's all relative, I suppose.

 

It's because they are so cute.

 

i love photographing things. and i'm sure people are getting tired of seeing photos of my betta fishes. xD

 

Why do you photograph your dolls and make photostories?
Its a simple known fact that I take pictures of my dolls, sometimes to express a form of my own emotion, to test out how they would look on camera (despite the fact I have many times, taken photos of them), to see if I can find a different way on making the pictures dynamic in a sort of way, and many other forms. But most of the time I find them incredibly photogenic, I'm not into those other sort of artistic pictures consistent with humans cause often times, something irks me out about. When I'm photographing dolls, everything is alot better for me. And alot of times I use the photo as a small base for my drawing, like I look at the drawing to see how the poses work and stuff. Yeah. Its alot easier for me to do that than ludge my doll out and in just to draw.
Do you just simply enjoy your doll and play with her without photographing her in a story?
I don't really do photostories just cause I prefer drawing it myself, or just writing it out, besides, I'm not an expert in posing, soooo its alot harder for me to do something like 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)
In all honesty I'm not really sure, I haven't actually run into someone like that but I'd assume that whatever floats their boat works right? If they thing photographing BJD's is a hobby then I dunno, maybe they just like it alot? Maybe its almost like photographing nature to them? Depends on who you meet.
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 really know what I do with them all the time, sometimes tests, posing bases, and personal pleasure just cause I like seeing my dolls XD And alot of times my buddies ask for pictures of them so being me, I take pictures of my dolls and send it to them when they want it.
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'm not sure of the true reason, but you know, I've heard of a handful of people that have been killed when they take pictures with their hobby stuff, don't ask me why, people DO get killed when they put their faces out.
But that might not always be the case of course. I know some people who don't like taking pictures with the dolls. And I also know a few people who like to stay a secret just so people they know wouldn't know that they have the doll.