The Doll Forum

I’m interested. Doll photography is a skill I’d like to improve. Especially if it’s self-paced. I also agree with all the previous posters’ comments about posing and lighting. Lighting in particular can make or break a photograph and that’s definitely an area where I’d like to improve.

I would definitely be interested, from a novice point of view. I'd want to learn specifically doll posing, lighting, and angles. I know there's some tricks with eye direction that can be the difference between just a picture of a doll and "oh my god, who's that model?" The price would be the deciding factor. If it's reasonably priced I would watch them.

I think this a good idea. It would be really hard to co-ordinate online workshops due to the varied time zones and peoples work schedules.
What might be an idea is one of our professional photographers to post a photo and then people can study the photo and look at how the pose was done. Then look at ways to copy the photo to the best of their ability. Don’t worry about the lighting at the time as the posing is the key thing in doll photography. Even the best lighting won’t fix a bad pose, but lighting will enhance a good pose.
This will force people out of their comfort zones and start to think a bit creative. Looking at real model photos you find appealing work well. Look at how the model is posed, look at the curves in her body and them look to replicate it. Even someone starting out in taking photos can replicate some kind of pose.
This sounds weird, but but yourself in that pose to feel how it will look. Then transfer the pose into your doll. Works wonders. Shoot at different angles, add head tilts and body twists….but please remember to look at the small details like fingers.

I’m happy to answer any questions when you’ve shot to help out.

Cheers
Tighes.

How is this different from any of the thousands of free and fee glamor photog workshops available now? "How to pose your doll for realism" is what is missing. Models pose themselves mostly, the downcast eyes, brow peeks, etc. Those are the skills missing from the majority of the community. Everyone who has a doll picture where her hand is a flat paddle needs to take it.

Ok, maybe a Professional would have a guide here on/for the Basics.

Tighes wrote: ↑Tue Feb 28, 2023 4:22 am
This sounds weird, but put yourself in that pose to feel how it will look. Then transfer the pose into your doll. Works wonders. Shoot at different angles, add head tilts and body twists….but please remember to look at the small details like fingers.

I totally agree. It's not weird because I often use myself of parts of my body to pose my doll. I'm always thinking about how me or a real person would stand, lay down, sit or place herself or just a body part in a situation or a pose.

But that itself should be in a course ... So I'll shut up for now!

How should lighting be positioned? Low pointing upwards, centered pointing straight at the subject or higher pointing downward? This would be based on having two small adjustable photography lights. I know all this is based on several variables, but what usually provides the best results? Thanks

Mreman72 wrote: ↑Wed Mar 01, 2023 1:18 pm How should lighting be positioned? Low pointing upwards, centered pointing straight at the subject or higher pointing downward? This would be based on having two small adjustable photography lights. I know all this is based on several variables, but what usually provides the best results? Thanks

There's is no wright or wrong way to do it. It depends on what Is the result you want. All I can tell is one light source is not enough for inside photos. Two is basic. 3 and more is a good start. On my last photoshoot, I've used 5 different light sources. Using natural lights is owl other game. On this aspect of photography, I could use some help and improvements.

I mainly learn from free YouTube videos. My background is as a professional artist for landscape oil paintings, it helps though.

Posing and lighting are the most interesting areas to me. There are lots of good lighting vids on YT already. So instruction on posing and doll prep would be great to find.

soonpk wrote: ↑Sun Mar 05, 2023 11:44 am Posing and lighting are the most interesting areas to me. There are lots of good lighting vids on YT already. So instruction on posing and doll prep would be great to find.

These days, one can find many videos on photography. All aspects are covered if you look for the subject of focus. As far as the posing for dolls…It should be no different than real girls. A simple search on posing for Boudoir should get most of us started. There are shit tons of photographers on YouTube that make exceptional teachers. And it’s free. Not sure people here would want to pay for advice and good orderly direction that is already available for free.

I agree there are courses on YT that I have seen and tried my best to model setups.
I would be more interested in an interactive critique of some of my actual work so I can learn faster.
The reality is you may get little constructive feedback at times on here from your pics... (Sorry, not trying to be rude in any way... )

I give you my photo shoot and you advise in a professional opinion what could be better from a specific doll photography standpoint....(like paying a tax expert)
Maybe the price could be used as voucher (discount) at an approved TDF vendor on a full size doll...
Oh yeah...I also totally do the "pose like a doll" for a photo...it is extremely helpful....

Cifer wrote: ↑Sun Mar 05, 2023 9:41 pm I agree there are courses on YT that I have seen and tried my best to model setups.
I would be more interested in an interactive critique of some of my actual work so I can learn faster.
The reality is you may get little constructive feedback at times on here from your pics... (Sorry, not trying to be rude in any way... )

I give you my photo shoot and you advise in a professional opinion what could be better from a specific doll photography standpoint....(like paying a tax expert)
Maybe the price could be used as voucher (discount) at an approved TDF vendor on a full size doll...
Oh yeah...I also totally do the "pose like a doll" for a photo...it is extremely helpful....

Thats easy, no more karate-chop hands, or hands on thighs. No full, direct light, look for angled light that causes shadows.
Done have her loot full straight into the camera, tilt her head and keep her eyes off of dead center.
Make it look like she was caught doing something.