Learn about figurine photography
Figurine photography is an art that combines creativity, technical skills, and storytelling. Whether capturing dynamic performance scenes or subtle, intimate moments, the right perspective, lighting, and composition can bring your figurines to life. From unique angles inspired by stage photography to meticulously controlled lighting setups, these techniques help create depth, emotion, and a sense of realism. In this guide, I will use an example to explore how to apply these methods to elevate your figurine photography and transform your work into captivating visual stories.
Example
The concept for this image is as follows: when looking at the setting, we can tell that this might be a frozen moment from a performance. Imagine this scene in real life—it’s a moment captured by a behind-the-scenes photographer. The situation was recreated as it would have been: the musician performing on stage, with the photographer typically positioned in the media area between the stage and the audience. If the distance allows, the photographer would crouch and shoot from a low angle, looking up at the musician to capture the shot. This approach not only creates an upward perspective, making the musician appear more stylish, but also ensures that the photographer doesn’t interfere with the audience or live broadcast cameras.
Additionally, for these reasons, flash photography is usually avoided. Instead, the photographer waits for the lighting technician to turn on the front lights before capturing the shot. This gives us the lighting setup: a hard light source placed above the stage, shining diagonally downward. As a result, you can see that Kasumi’s head and upper body are well-lit, while the lower body remains relatively dark. Even with post-processing adjustments, the underexposure is still noticeable. For on-site photography, such imperfections are acceptable. The background uses a foldable photography tent designed for product shoots, resulting in a very uniform black backdrop. In a real stage setting, there would likely be moving lights and ambient lighting in the background, which we can enhance during post-processing.
This shot has a rather unique perspective. Only the face is in sharp focus, while the raised right hand is blurred, creating a sense of depth and layering. In the corner, the headstock of the RS guitar is faintly visible, suggesting a moment at the end of a performance during the curtain call when a pick is tossed into the audience. Many musicians enjoy doing this—though it might seem wasteful, it’s undeniably cool. Moreover, that pick becomes a treasured item for fans to scramble for, helping to build a closer connection with them.
Now, let’s dive into the thought process behind this image. The inspiration for this angle comes from a stage-front camera crane, which is lifted high and shoots diagonally downward, focusing on the face. This perspective offers a vantage point that ground-level cameras simply can’t achieve. The diagonal composition fills the frame with the subject, while the telephoto lens used by the crane compresses the depth of field, giving the image a clean and polished look.
Since this is imagined as a live shoot, the lighting remains unchanged, following the setup of front stage lights. It’s worth noting that the front lights should be strong enough to allow the camera to capture a clear image without needing to boost the ISO. The girl’s skin is smooth and fair, and if not photographed carefully, it could lose its texture and detail.
