Taking Indoor Photographs of Your Doll

Shiny objects are the most difficult to photograph, and the resin and plastic used for making ball jointed dolls are no exception. Blythes, in particular, arrive with very shiny faces, and when we love a doll, we want to photograph the doll. Here are some tips on taking indoor photographs of your favorite dolls.

LAMPS

The best solution for getting the right kind of lighting without spending a tremendous amount of money is to buy two lights that have clamps that attach to a table/desk or two small tabletop/desk lamps. The kind to buy are those that can be bent to point in various directions.

BULBS

Then go to the pet store where they sell supplies for reptiles. Purchase two full-spectrum light bulbs. These are light bulbs that replicate true sunshine without having to be outside. They look almost identical to standard light bulbs, but you need to check the label on the box to make sure it says “Full Spectrum.” They are about $10 USD each.
 

PLACING THE LAMPS

Place one lamp on each side of the doll (left and right) to help minimize shadows. Place a piece of white fabric or paper between the doll and each of the lights to defuse the brightness.

The whole project, lamps and bulbs, shouldn’t cost more than $50 USD. You will see a huge improvement in the quality of your photos than you would with standard house lamps.

MAKE A LIGHT BOX

Here is a link to create your own light box, which is similar to what I use to photograph my dolls. It shows you how to set up your photo shoot so that you get good quality photos (provided you have a decent camera).

TIPS

Turn off your camera flash, and if possible, play with your manual settings to get the best amount of brightness and color. You’ll probably need to read up on this in the manual that came with your camera. If you don’t have it, the manual may be available online through the manufacturer.

Use a tripod to minimize any shaking. What you might have seen in your photos wasn’t a problem with lighting or focus, but just enough of a shake to your camera to make the photo look distorted. Even better, use a shutter cable – the cable that attaches to the camera and allows you to snap the photo without actually touching the camera. This also keeps the camera from shaking or moving and gives you the clearest photos.

Enjoy taking pictures of your dolls!