A Practical Guide to Bokeh: Part 1 – Blur Control
Learn about how controlling blur levels affects bokeh in your toy photography, how to do it and some basic rules for the way cameras work.
If Rembrandt Painted Spaceships
Try using Rembrandt-style photography lighting, not on portraits but on miniature models to recreate a certain galaxy far, far away.
Expanding Depth of Field with Focus Stacking
Getting close to toys for that epic shot means fighting a narrow depth of field. Learn focus stacking for a handy way to widen your focus.
In the Cabinet of Dutch Angles: LEGO On Tilt
Exploring the use of Dutch angles or tilt with LEGO photographer Tomek Lasek.
Using Lens Compression to Control Your Backgrounds
Lens compression is a useful side effect of a narrow focal length. Learn how to use it for more impactful toy photography compositions.
The Not So Negative Space
An exploration of using negative space in toy photography and how it affects narrative, using action figures and LEGO minifigures.
Using Depth of Field to Tell Different Toy Photo Stories
A quick tutorial on controlling depth of field, an important part of a photographer's tool box that affects how viewers see our images.
How to Use Leading Lines to Improve Your Toy Photography
Learn how to use leading lines to instantly improve the composition and narrative flow of your toy photography.
LEGO How To: Headlights on Headless Horseman
Enjoy our little tutorial on how to light the head of the LEGO Headless Horseman. We hope you'll laugh your head off while reading!
Making a Tombstone Prop for LEGO & 6-Inch Scale
Learn how to make a tombstone for your LEGO and/or 6-inch (1:12 scale) action figure toy photography projects, just in time for Halloween.
Building a Six-Image Narrative
Toy photographer Tobias M. Schiel explains how narratives can be constructed using pictures as building blocks.
Using Smoke as a Light Diffuser
Dave uses smoke to diffuse light and create an epic image of Deadpool with glowing eyes.
How to Make Ancient Scrolls at a Small Scale
Realistic props help sell a scene. Dave offers a tutorial for making properly scaled ancient scrolls for your action figures and dioramas.
Planning, Improvising and Juggling Lights
Photographer Tobias Schiel shares some helpful insights into his process and how he gets such effective lighting in his famous Noir Suites.
Framing Your Toy Photography Subject
Framing your subject is an important photo skill to master. It tells your viewer where to look and what is important to you the photographer.
Get Packing: Enhance Your Toy Photos with Everyday Materials
Learn to recycle packing materials as toy photography scenery, creating cinematic shots with cardboard bits and pieces.
Film Noir or Not Film Noir: That Is the Question, Bub
Taking film noir-style toy photographs with the help of Marvel Legends Hugh Jackman. Action figure photography with behind the scenes insight.
You’ll Believe a Man Can Fly: How to Use Intentional Camera Movement
Tom Milton shows us how to use intentional camera movement to make his One:12 Collective Christopher Reeve Superman fly.
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.
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.