I have a Wall of Awesome and I think everyone needs to have one too! What is a ‘wall of awesome’ you ask? It’s a place where I hang the toy photographs of my friends. All of these photos are either gifts or I purchased them.

Over six years of taking toy photographs I’ve had plenty of opportunity to support my friends and grow an amazing collection of toy photographs along the way. I’ve traded prints, books and purchased images as a way to connect and support my photographic friends. Now I have what I like to refer to as my Wall of Awesome and I’m here to encourage you to do the same.

The images that grace my wall include gifts from Kristina Alexanderson, Vesa Lehtimäki and Boris Vanrillaer. I also have two images I purchased from Paul S. and Jon Aiken to support their photo exhibitions. I have one more image to add to my wall of awesome – a recent gift from Brett Wilson. My Wall of Awesome reminds me of the amazing friendships I’ve made on this fantastic and crazy journey.

My Wall of Awesome! I think its time to make it bigger.

Not all the images I’ve collected over the years have made it onto the wall. I also have 25 photo books (with several more on the way) created by other toy photographers in a basket near my desk. One of my favorites is a two volume collection of  Benny’s Adventures in Space by Luigi Priori. (Luigi sent me this custom mini figure that he created to celebrate his own LUG group: Cremona Bricks.) Everyone of these books is a labor of love.

My Italian friend from Cremona Brick is taking a stroll on the Seattle waterfront.

In addition to the framed works and the books, I’ve also traded or purchased many photo prints over the years. I acquired many of them through the photo swaps that are a hallmark of the US Toy Photo Safaris. Next I will assemble these into photo books so that I can display them easily in my office. In my opinion, there’s nothing better than having a tangible example of the talent that pervades this community.

I encourage you to create your own Wall of Awesome. Your wall doesn’t have to resemble my wall. It can be a designated place on you book shelf, it can be a photo book you bring out to show your friends, it could simply be photos pinned to the wall; whatever style fits your budget and your space. Creating your wall of awesome is worth it because this tangible reminder of the incredible beauty of toy photography will bring joy into your life. If you don’t know where to start, ask a friend or a photographer you admire: “Would you like to trade photographs with me?”

You might be surprised who says: “Yes”.

~Shelly

If you have your own version of a Wall of Awesome, what does it look like? 

I hope you have an awesome, photography filled weekend!