Photographing Dolls

Recently I've had a few people ask about photographing dolls, which can be challenging because a doll's skin reflects light differently than a human's. I've been taking digital photos of my dolls for several years, but before that used my 35mm SLR. I love the instant gratification of digital photography, because it has enabled me to take step-by-step photos to include in my patterns or post on the web.

I use one of two digital cameras. The most expensive is a Nikon 5700 (about $750). It's fairly big, bulky and currently isn't working. So I'm using my little Fuji Finepix (under $200). It's small and takes great photos. It's the one I take on my bike trips, vacations, and keep in my purse at all times.

On weekends, I have a friend who stays with us and sleeps in my photo room during the day - so I can't take a photo of my setup right now. Having a "photo room" may sound excessive, but I got tired of repeatedly setting up and taking down photo lights and background in my sewing room (they just take too much room). Now that my kids have moved out, I have two spare bedrooms - one for my main studio, and one for taking photos.*

There are three issues on which I focus when photographing dolls:
Lighting
Shadow avoidance
Background

LIGHTING:
1. Never use a flash. It just washes out the doll.
2. Don't direct your lights directly toward the doll - this will wash out the doll, too. Aim the lights away from the doll and reflect the light off the ceiling or walls.
3. I used to take my dolls outside on overcast days in order to photograph them. Sunny days were just too bright, and washed out the dolls. If you do this, remember to keep the background plain.
4. Now I use 2-3 photo lights (very bright, hot, short lifespan), with one fluorescent light above and behind the doll for a backlight.

SHADOW AVOIDANCE:
1. Shining your lights directly toward your doll will increase shadows. Use reflected light.
2. Position your doll away from the back wall. Placing it close to the background increases shadows.
3. Move your lights around until shadows are minimized.

BACKGROUND:
1. I invested in a "seamless paper" photo background several years ago. I found the photo store on the Web and called the number to order it. I bought a "vinyl varitone graduated background." It was $45 in 2001. They come in a variety of colors and sizes. My taupe background is 42 X 62 inches. Using a seamless background eliminates the line where the back wall and surface on which your doll stands meet.
2. If you use a sheet or similar for your background, IRON it. You can see every little wrinkle in the photo, and it looks less than professional and is distracting.
3. Avoid clutter and unnecessary props. These just take the focus away from the doll.

Also, take LOTS of photos at different angles. Then you can weed out the bad ones. Use your macro setting if getting close to the doll.

Hope this helps. I'm sure real photographers out there have many more pearls of wisdom for you.

Too Many New Projects

I've had a bit of a rough spell, jumping from one project to another. I just can't seem to settle on one and finish it. I think it's because I've got all these ideas in my head, and want them ALL done NOW. So I work a little on one, then move to the next. You know, sometimes you just need a little break from a particular project.

One of my latest projects is a "Helen Pringle-Izannah Walker-Anne Adams" inspired doll. I'm really interested in the old-school dolls right now. She's a big girl, much bigger than my usual - about 26 inches tall. She still needs her arms.

In this photo, I've painted her head and upper chest in "Messy Mix," one-half modeling paste & one-half acrylic gel medium. This was followed by a couple coats of gesso, and then acrylic paint. Then (for the first time ever), I applied a crackle product. That was one of the hardest things for me to do. What if it doesn't work? What if it ruins the doll? Oh well, it's just fabric. When this coat is dry, I need to figure out what type of wash to apply - dilute acrylic paint (dark brown), or walnut ink, perhaps.

My first mistake was making her from Osnaburg fabric. This stuff was just too loosely woven, and tended to fray. It was also too nubbly for the smoother look that I wanted. The crackle stuff went on a little bubbly, too.

On the positive side, I found some Victorian/Edwardian button-up boots on eBay, and I'm building this doll to fit into them. I still need to finish her arms (and paint & crackle them) and design her bloomers and old-fashioned dress. I have an old worn-out Victorian blouse that I'll use for parts of her dress. It's not really good for anything else, as so much of the fabric is damaged or stained.

Lydia

Lydia's vintage style dress and pantaloons are finished (no pattern yet for them, but the doll is made from Aletha "Ike" Putney's pattern in the January issue of Soft Dolls & Animals).
The skirt-overlay is an old hankie, cut in half and gathered. While Lydia's clothing is not removable, if I make another, I will make all the clothes removable.

I'm pleased with her face. This was a direct sculpt over cloth, and I'm still very much a novice. The first three or four layers of paperclay were applied with a paintbrush, thinned down to the consistence of baby food. Then I built up the nose, cheeks, lips and chin.

One of these days (soon, I hope), I will develop a pattern for an all-cloth Izannah Walker inspired doll. I've always loved the IW dolls. I recently got a videotape on eBay, documenting some of the early American dollmakers. Very inspiring, and I can't wait to get started!

SD&A Challenge Doll

The January 2008 issue of Soft Dolls & Animals magazine has an Interpretive Doll Challenge with a pattern by Aletha "Ike" Putney. The due date is March 1, so I spent all day yesterday sculpting and painting her face.

This is a simple doll, with lots of opportunity for imagination. The entries I've seen so far have been wonderful. They are on the Yahoo group vintageclothdollmaking, as Ike is a member.

This is my doll "Lydia" so far. She just needs her costuming, and hopefully that will be completed today.

New Addition

Well I can hardly believe it's been over a month since I last posted. Where did the time go? It's been a productive month. I've been busy with the release of a new pattern and mold. We went skiing at Mt. Hood. We helped our boys with downpayments on new cars (the cheapest car on the market - Chevy Aveo), so they can make really low car payments and establish credit. And work, of course.

I also had a booth at a doll show at the beginning of the month. While there I saw a Helen Pringle doll, which I just had to have. She's in great shape. Her dress is a little faded, but that just adds to her charm. Her tag says she was made in 1985, No. 31.

It's starting to look like Spring around here. The daffodils are coming up, and we've actually seen the sun.

Class in Auburn

I had the opportunity to teach my Viola Ruth (Alabama Baby inspired) doll class in Auburn this past weekend, and had a great time. While the doll is a simple one, making the clay heads and covering them with fabric and multiple layers of paint takes time and patience. Photos are starting to come in, so check the link below from time to time:
www.picturetrail.com/blueherondolls

Preparing for Viola Ruth Class

I've spent the day getting ready for my "Viola Ruth" class (I'm teaching this weekend in Auburn, Washington). I hope to have a couple sample torso/heads in various stages of completion, in addition to three completed dolls. I'm afraid I'm going to forget something crucial.

We had snow this past weekend en route to Hillsboro to celebrate Christmas with the family. We rarely have snow the coast. Misty loved it, as you can see. There were quite a few cars off the road on the way home.

Celebrating Christmas this weekend

We are celebrating the holiday this weekend since we worked Christmas (the down-side of being nurses). The up-side - it allowed me a little more time to finish shopping and sewing.

I wrote the pattern instructions for my newest Santa as I designed him. Of course, this means it takes longer to finish the doll. Here's the final (third) prototype. The first two will go to my siblings and their spouses. I'm almost done with the pattern publishing process, but won't release it until a little later in 2008.

December Storm

The Oregon Coast (and SW Washington) was hit by two back-to-back storms, the second of which was record-breaking. Sustained hurricane force winds knocked down thousands of trees, snapped power poles in half, ripped off roofs and caused general devastation. We were without power, telephone, cell service, 911, etc. for five days.
Monday after work, having no way to contact my mother-in-law and check in on her, we tried to reach her house. One route was littered with downed power and phone lines. The other was completely blocked with downed trees. We chose to hike down through the trees.
These are photos of Williamsport Road. The hike down was about 1 1/2 miles, but seemed much longer. That's husband Chris in the yellow pants in the top photo. The wind had died down a little by this time. Common sense said to stay at home, but we had to know that Chris' mom was alright. We had to climb over trees, assuming we were still following the road, as it was completely obscured with trees and branches. It was getting dark, so we had to move quickly.

Reassured Mom was ok, we headed for home. It was too dark to return home along the same route, so we had to walk a different route home, dodging downed lines in the dark and pouring rain.
The next day we went down to the marina to check on the boat. Many were damaged; ours did alright. Check out these photos by one of the boat owners who stayed near the marina during the storm. Scroll down for video of the marina. http://redhare.org/log/index.php

Homeland Security?

So, three days ago we head out for a leisurely sail on the Columbia River, only to find ourselves immediately accosted by the US Coast Guard. Why? Something to do with Homeland Security. We're guessing it had to do with the huge cruise ship moored right outside the only entrance to the mooring basin where we keep our boat.

The Coast Guard boat approached our sailboat very rapidly, came right up next to it, and demanded the IDs of everyone on board, along with the boat registration. These items we passed over the water to one of the CG crew, and they kept them for a good 30 to 45 minutes while doing background checks. I hope this was just a drill, but I sure didn't like the looks of the large gun mounted on the bow of the CG boat.

The next day, I headed back to the mooring basin after work to go for another sail. Deja vu. There's another cruise ship parked in the same darn place. Another Coast Guard encounter to look forward to? Not this time.