Valzuji

Alexandra is from France, just outside of Paris. She studied to become a graphic designer and she work in the digital communication department of a big entertainment company. And toy photographer since January 2019.

What led you into toy photography?

Art and toys. The latter have always been very important to me, growing up and as an adult. They are a constant reminder of the universes I love. They also keep me grounded and remind me where I come from : a family of geeks, when geek wasn’t "cool". And I have a passion for art, for pop culture and fantastic movies.

I discovered Toy Photography in 2017 and it is a perfect mix of the above. Something clicked. I started just for fun and it became "official" in January 2019 when I created a dedicated Instagram account. It is now a big part of my life.

What's your motivation?

Staging a scene. I want to make the figurine sublime and tell a story in one single photo. I think that a lot of it has to do with the atmosphere. Therefore, I pay a lot of attention to ambiance in my work : framing, lighting and "sweat". I try to spill my guts out for each photoshoot.

And I am very close to #ToyPhotoFrenchForce a group of French toy photographers. They share their point of view, they give me some advice and their support. They really help to keep me motivated. You should check their accounts.

What's your gear?

I use a Sigma 105mm F2.8 Macro lens in July last year. It changed the way I was taking a photo shoot and how I was staging my photos. Besides this lens, I don’t have much. I use an Ulanzi Pro 1 spotlight with a colour filter, a Philips Living Color mood light and a coloured Christmas tree light.

I got Photoshop and a drawing tablet a few weeks ago. I am trying to edit my work keeping it true to the original photo.

What does a typical photo shooting look like?

I am not a big fan of outdoor shooting and the first thing I do is close the blinds of the room I take the photos in.

Then, I start developing the idea I have in mind and, once the idea is defined and refined, I work on the shooting set-up. I create my own set, add accessories and the figurine. Once this is done, I move on to the angle and the lights.

Depending on how you frame a photo, it will look completely different: I try to stick to my idea, but I try a lot of different angles to be sure I have the best one. And the same goes for lighting. I try a lot of different settings, but I have a favourite one : a bright but cold light with an oversaturated warm colour.

Once I feel good with the staging, the lights and the frame, I add some smoke for the ambiance — I use an e-cig — and I take the final photo.

Any advice for a beginner?

Go for it, have fun doing it, don’t compare yourself to others. Watching tutorials or BTS online does help, whether you are a beginner or not.

Who is your favorite toy photographer at the moment, or the one who inspires you the most?

It is hard to pick only one as there are a lot of talented toy photographers out there. But I would have to say jasonbmichael. Our universes are far apart but I am amazed by every photo he releases. He creates his own dioramas and his set-ups are fantastic : there is an atmosphere, it is dynamic and often funny. His work is complete, and he make BTS for everything, it is great to learn new tricks.

Finally, If you had to keep only one toy, which one would you choose?

It would really be hard to only keep 5, but one!?! I would have to go for my latest purchase: Nosferatu One:Twelve by Mezco. I love the character and it is a perfect figurine to create creepy atmospheres.

Cheers 🤘