Hi! I’m Reisha living in Trinidad and Tobago. I work in intensive care and specialize anesthesia. With respect to photography, I’m self (YouTube) taught! I’ve been a toy photographer “officially” for about 4 years. I first started my Instagram in 2018 when my son was born but have been shooting fun pics with my toys for years prior. I love the ability to create our own stories and create interactions with characters who normally would never meet up. The ability to build my own story is amazing!  

Inspiration

Sirdork (Jared) has been a huge inspiration for me. Also, observing other’s work in the community – Brick Panda, Rendy Toys, Plastic Action, Jason b Michael (to name a few).
Most of my ideas happen spontaneously. not sure why or where they come from. Sometimes when I’m doing the most random of things, thoughts just pop into my head and I feel this compulsion almost, to create! Photo challenges by the various toy photography groups/creators also helps to “force” creativity when I’m in a rut.  

Equipment and Processing

I’m pretty basic with my set up and tend not to vary too much (time is always a factor in my life lol). I use the Sony a7iii, canon 100mm 2.8 lens and a Manfrotto tripod. This allows me to simply and easily create my shots.  Most of my special tools were recommended by other toy photographers to be honest. I love the reptile mist creator to give the natural fog effect. I use both Lightroom for the basic photography touch ups and then photoshop for my “heavier editing” like stitching photos or adding in photoshopped elements.

Gear

I’m pretty basic with my set up and tend not to vary too much (time is always a factor in my life lol). I use the Sony a7iii, canon 100mm 2.8 lens and a Manfrotto tripod. This allows me to create my shots simply and easily. Most of my “special” tools were recommended by other toy photographers to be honest. I love the reptile mist creator to give the natural fog effect. 

Indoors or Outdoors & Subject Choice

I love the outdoors. I think it helps create my favorite aesthetic. Indoors are fun sometimes to have better control of lighting etc., but outdoors adds a certain random/serendipitous element that just adds to the scene.

My subjects of choice are characters from my childhood – Mario, TMNT, Pokémon, Disney characters….these bring back the nostalgia for me!

Advice for Beginners

One tip I would share is to understand how to pose your figures – maybe start with less articulated ones and work your way up. Learn the ideal angles to photograph your characters and try to always tell a story. Also, lighting is essential. It’s important to understand light and shadow.  Lastly, don’t be afraid to just shoot and post and even ask for constructive criticism from photographers you trust and respect. Reach out – it’s a very warm, welcoming community!

Advice for My Younger Self

One thing I would tell my younger self is to focus on lighting and world building. Don’t be afraid to try to create props. Less is more. Soft goods and accessories definitely help to tie scenes together beautifully.

Challenges

One challenge I see is getting people to take your work seriously – especially where I’m from. It’s hard. Toy photography isn’t an art form that is well known in Trinidad. I have had the honor of actually hosting an exhibition at an art gallery last year in August. This was a real eye opening experience not only for myself, but for viewers. Being able to chat with viewers and explain how I did my photos was amazing and I’d like to think, gained some traction and respect within the community.

Benefits & Next Steps

By profession, I’m a doctor in anesthesia and intensive care. Creativity helps to keep me sane almost, and help me de-stress.

My next steps might be eventually creating a photo book and hosting another toy photography photo walk. I would hope this encourages other photographers including the younger generation, to start toy photography.

You can check out more of Reisha’s amazing work at Instagram: @triniphotoygrapher

And don’t forget to check out other wonderful photographers who’ve already participated in our Feature Friday showcase.