Little info +FAQ

A small info package on my (doll) photo account. I'd appreciate reading this before asking about my dolls.

Photo-account summary
I'm an amateur photographer that doesn't know much about photography itself. Everything I do know is self-learned by trial and error. I'm not attempting to be a professional either, I do this for my own enjoyment only.
I mostly photograph my dolls. Sometimes something else when opportunity arises, but I enjoy doll photography the most.

Dolls?
The dolls I own are (Asian) Ball-Jointed Dolls (no, I do not make them). They're made of resin and are each individually hand-crafted, and thus very expensive. They're also fully customizable, so you can do pretty much anything you want with them.
If you wish to know more, google "BJD" or "Ball-jointed doll" and/or visit Den of Angels.

My doll hobby
This hobby is like it was made for me. I love every aspect of it from getting 'an unfinished' doll to photographing it when it's finished.
I normally order all my dolls blank and nude, and customize them to fit my views; I love making them into unique pieces of art. Yes, I consider these dolls art, even though I don't make them myself. It takes time and skill to fully customize a doll. I even consider posing a doll it's own art form: it's harder than it looks. I never buy company defaults as I find them too bland most of the time. Same with face ups that are too perfect. I prefer there to be some personality in the doll and that usually comes from small flaws.

For more info on my face ups and customizing, visit my work journal.

I also sew for the dolls, especially the mini's, females and the fantasy crew. Not every piece of clothing in my photos is made by me, though. I'd say roughly about half of the clothes my dolls wear are sewn by me. If you're wondering about a particular piece of clothing, you're free to ask me about it.
I began as a self-learned seamstress but in 2010 I entered a seamstress school and graduated in spring 2012 as a seamstress with skill in human sized clothing as well.

Basically, this account isn't for (doll) photography only, it's also for my painting/customizing/sewing work on the dolls.

My dolls:(in order of arrival)
Yen - Dream of Doll Tender Yen (head)
Miy - Dream of Doll Mir / DIM Happy body  
Reiji - Elysium Ban / Luts SDF body
Sebille - Angel Region Diana
Shige - Dream of Doll Too / DZ body  
Fenrir - Elysium Lud-N (head)
Null - DollShe IM-Hound (mod.)  
Somnion - Luts/CP Na-Nu-Ri 2007  
Lin Xiang - K-doll Karon & Kamyu / CP body
Muu -  Elfdoll Catsy  
Cin - Dollzone Mo  
Khepre - Luts/CP Lu-Wen vp / B&G body  
Kilbas/Kay - Soom Sard
Seere - Soom Onyx  
Camille - MsDoll Pan
Enki - Soom Glati  
Llyr - Soom Chrom 
Demyan - Dollshe Rosen
Prisca - Withdoll Priscilla
Avis - Bimong Narae 404/406
Delmia - Withdoll Nana
Larissa - Withdoll Rachel vampire (head)
Lilya - Iplehouse Isar (mod.)
Sigrun - Souldoll Paratiisi 
Min Ki - Withdoll Taren
Sindri - Dollshe SA Rosen (head)
Sigurd - Dollshe SA Rosen (head)
Yami - Souldoll Shiva
Sooty- Cuartos Darkhorn
Eris-  Soom Asis
Ea- Doll Chateau Russel
Snake- Cuartos Darkhorn
Iria- Souldoll Uha
Noxnion- Migidoll vampire Ell (head)
Sayaka-Volks DDdy DDH-07
Yuyuka-Volks DDS DDH-09
Prisca- Withdolll Margery
Maylis-Dollzone Ivy
Kiyori-Volks DD Kirika


+guest stars from fuyuhime

Sold dolls:
Avis - Tinyfairy May V
Skoll - Dollzone Floy
Ea - Soom Nor
Chieko - Dream of Doll Tender Zen
Lilya - MNF Lishe
Yen - Dream of Doll Yen
Tanith - Soom Cuprit
Hati - Luts/CP ss-Lishe (mod.)



FAQ

- Do you make these dolls?
No, I do not. I buy them from their respective companies or second hand from other hobbyists.

- What are these dolls called?
Asian Ball-Jointed Dolls, ABJD (or BJD) for short.

- Where can I get one?
From any of the dozens of companies or official dealers. For starters go browse the selection from dealers such as Mint on Card and Alice's Collections (google them) and/or google company names you've heard of. To be on the safe side, only order from official dealers (a quick google will give you answers) and the official companies themselves. Other sources such as Ebay and recast (bootleg) sites run the risk of bootlegs, inferior quality and getting scammed. If you want more inexpensive dolls, google "under $300 bjds" or similar, and I'd check out companies such as impldoll and resinsoul to start with.

- Where do you buy these dolls from?


There are tons and tons of companies to get these dolls from. Google is your friend.

- How much do they cost?
They can cost anything from $100 to $2000 and over, depending on the mold&make of the doll and whether it's a standard doll, a limited or if it's been painted/modified by someone popular. And even if you get a blank doll that you paint yourself, you'll probably end up paying at least $60 more for a decent wig, eyes and shoes. Plus more for clothes.

- They're so expensive! How do you afford them?
I'm not rich but I save up and compromise with my other interests to be able to afford them. This is no different from collecting cars or playing hockey. Everything requires money and management is the key. Sometimes saving up can take months.

- How big are they?
Their size varies anywhere from 5cm to 90cm. I have one two about 14cm dolls and the rest are 27cm, ~45cm, ~60cm, 65cm and 70cm tall.

- What are these dolls with hooves/horns/tails? Are they custom?
They're SOOM monthly dolls www.dollsoom.com/, available only a couple of weeks per month and then never sold again. Each one comes with some special parts. As for them being custom; depends how you define the word. All my dolls are custom, because I order them blank and paint them myself. No defaults in my lot. But I haven't made the hooves/tails myself. Some of the horns though, are handmade.

- Are you pro/anti-recast?
Anti. I do not tolerate recasts nor their owners. They do not belong in this hobby and if I find someone owning them (on purpose), they will be put on my ignore list. There are no excuses to buying recasts as they're slowly destroying this hobby and putting artists out of business.

- What are recasts?
Recasts are bootlegged dolls. Basically a recaster buys an official, legit doll, makes molds of it, casts it and sells it for a fraction of the cost. They market their dolls are company X and Y products (using their photos, too) but in reality they're illegal copies. They don't have the same level of quality control as legit dolls either. The community as a whole also does not accept them and a recast owner can get shunned, banned and bullied out of communities/events.

- Did you paint _______ yourself?
Yes.

- May I draw ________?
Yes, you may. And do link me to the finished picture. :3

- What camera do you use?
All my photos should have the exif info visible, so you can see the camera model there. I had my Canon EOS 50D since May 2009 until Summer 2014, and used it for that time period. After that I've mostly been using my 7D. But that's just the body; the lenses I use most often are Canon 50mm f/2.5 compact macro for most doll/macro photos and Canon 50mm f/1.8 for when I want more bokeh and/or fast autofocus.


- Do you take clothing commissions?
Yes, when I'm not busy. I only sew for models I own and things I can make (aka. have/can access fabrics for). You're welcome to ask me, but depending on how busy I am and what you want, I won't say yes every time.


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Thank you for reading. ^^

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