Meet-Up Talk: My Creative Process from Concept to Final Image
Dave drops some knowledge in his talk about creating an image, diorama and all, from the 2021 Toy Photographers Virtual Meet-up.
Fantastic Tanks: Tiny War Machines Roll into Battle
Each unique creation offers a very different look from its counterparts, yet together they clearly come from the same creative mind. But how did Fantastic Tanks capture so much attention from the toy photography community?
Behind the Scenes: Shooting a Model Tank at Night
Making models, like this Tamiya tank, for use in toy photography opens a whole new avenue for finding subject matter to shoot.
Why Deadpool?
Sometimes Deadpool is a good guy with a good heart. Sometimes he just kills for money. Often he is somewhere in-between.
Boba Fett Lives On! A Mandalorian Toy Photo Collaboration
To celebrate the return of Boba Fett, I wanted to make a couple images to recreate the scene in The Mandalorian Episode 9.
Photoshop or In-Camera? The Search for Superman
Dave tackles the death of Superman with two different toy photography approaches: 100% in-camera and with all the Photoshop bells and whistles.
‘The Art of X’ – A Book Genre Review
Dave explores the "Art of" book series—perfect for toy photographers, geeks and fans of Star Wars and Marvel films.
LEGO Review: The Razor Crest (75292)
The Razor Crest by LEGO (75292) is put through its paces in an in-depth review. Let's see how it rated for playability and toy photography.
Thoughts On This Marwencol Photo and Mental Illness
Mark Hogancamp used his mental illness to create real works of art, and touched a lot of lives by doing so—including my own.
Deadpool and the Anti-Heroes
Celebrate the wonders of Rock 'n' Roll with a six-image narrative with Deadpool recreating some classic rock-god poses.
Reflector: Your Enlightened Friend
Learn how to use reflectors to turn flat images into well-lit masterpiece, all without the need for additional artificial lights.
Making Use of Toy Box Detritus
Everyone has those little bits from toys they don't really want or need. Sometimes this detritus become useful. This is one of those times.
Learn to Light Your Toy Photography, Part 2: Modifiers
Light can be daunting for the beginner to understand. This post offers Dave's advice for beginners to help remove the mystery of lighting.
Learn to Light Your Toy Photography, Part 1: Angles
Light can be daunting for the beginner to understand. Enjoy this essential guide to lighting for new toy photographers.
BAAM! Create Practical Sand Effects in Your Toy Photos
Practical effects can be fun. The BAAM! drain cleaner is useful for adding a burst of compressed air to energize your toy photography.
The Salty Death of My Trusted Camera
Our cameras take a real beating, and sometimes they give the ultimate sacrifice for our art. This time my camera got a fitting send off.
Quick Tips: Shooting Toys in the Snow
Toy photography in the snow is a great deal of fun. These tips will help make the most out of your next winter shoot.
Hockey: How I Got the Shot
Follow along as Dave builds his own hockey rink, including a net, to celebrate the return of the NHL playoffs with toy photography.
Hiding the Joints: My Answer to an Existential Toy Photography Question
When I started shooting action figures, I quickly came across an existential question that I needed to solve for myself: Should I hide the joints in the figures when I post-process the photos, or should I leave them as is?
Toy Photography Studio Tour: Studio Dave
Dave does most of his creative and toy photography work in his basement, aka "Studio Dave." Enjoy a no-holds-barred tour of his creative home.