An interview with @duggeedad

 In Interviews

By @beermanphotography

Q: How long have you been a toy photographer? 

A: I’ve been a toy photographer for just a year – didn’t even know what it was before then.

IG @duggeedad

Q: What got you started in toy photography? 

A: I took my first toy pics to use as background images on a website I created, Duggeepedia.com. I posted them to Instagram, showed them to my daughters who thought it was hilarious what their toys were doing when they weren’t there, and it kind of went from there! My only rule is that I have to use the toys that my daughters have – I can’t buy anything unless it’s for them, otherwise I could see this being a very expensive hobby! Also, by keeping it focused around the show Hey Duggee, it sets specific parameters about what I shoot.

IG @duggeedad

Q: What is your favorite figure to shoot and why?

A: My shots are focused around the TV show Hey Duggee, so I’m limited to the figures available! It’s great to shoot with Duggee himself, as for a non-expressive piece of plastic it’s all about surroundings and accessories, and how you can convey action with them. In which case, Lego and Playmobil accessories are the same scale and invaluable (I have some lego pieces stretching back 35+ years to when I was a kid!)

Q: What is your favorite place to take photos? 

A: I prefer to keep my backgrounds simple, and as such have consistently used the IKEA Kallax unit in our lounge to shoot on. It (usually) has great daylight, and I can set up shots quickly on it.

IG @duggeedad

Q: What’s the weirdest thing that has ever happened during a photo shoot?

A: Not weird as such, but if I shoot when the kids are around, I always find myself embroiled in a negotiation with a 2-year-old over whether I can use her toys or not – she’s quite right, they are her toys, and Daddy just needs to use them for a minute. I’m not above bribery when this happens – the negotiation can take longer than the shoot!

Q: If you could have any superpower what would it be and why? 

A: At first it was the ability to control time (speed it up or slow it down), but I think really the power to heal. Mr Miyagi style healing hands or magic Rapunzel hair. Would save a fortune in sticking plasters!

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