Whether you have antique dolls or modern BJDs, there are infinite possibilities when it comes to photographing them. Check out some of the fun images captured by fellow doll collectors.
Eva Siu said her Nora Briar (Sweetheart) doll by Forever Virginia is wearing a dress by Luby’s Wardrobe and “daydreaming at the playground about flying away with wind, like dandelion seeds.”
Ava, an 18-inch doll in caramel latte resin, was created by Anderson Art Dolls. Allison Hernandez said, “She’s an earthy girl and has been helping me in my Hobbit Garden.”
Jane Rank said, “I bought this 24-inch doll in a shop in old Gatlinburg, Tennessee. I knew she was not very old — not anywhere near antique — but something about her drew me. I had several old, old dress patterns and some costume patterns. I reduced the human pattern to fit this doll and made her open-seam pantaloons, slip, corset, hoop crinoline, and the two-piece dress. It is a very similar design (and fabric pattern) to my great-grandmother’s wedding dress of 1876.”
Lynda-Marie Hauptman said, “Ashlea (Poison Ivy by Robert Tonner) meets Bo, in a photo I call Beauty and the Cutie. Ashlea is wearing the bodysuit from her original outfit, also by Tonner. This is actually a bit of an optical illusion, since Ashlea was standing about 6 inches away, but it looks like Bo is really enjoying a nice scritch.”
Cheryl Medina said, “These two are my Kaye Wiggs mini Maurice and Gracie. They are on a cruise with me to the Bahamas/Virgin Islands on the Royal Caribbean Wonder of the Seas. I made their clothes especially for the cruise. I always take some dolls to photograph on cruises.”
Stacey Graves said, “These are the Smart Doll Pear Body dolls from Danny Choo of Culture Japan / Smart Doll. Their official names are Live and Let Live. I have named the redhead Elle and the brunette Ella. I made their outfits, and they are hanging out in New York City’s Manhattan.”
Monique Baa’s Mattel Christie, four Mattel Barbie Fashionistas, and Big Beautiful Dolls Dasia are wearing outfits she made. Baa said, “These dolls represent bamboula dancers commemorating the Coal Workers Strike of Sept. 12, 1892, on St. Thomas, Danish Virgin Islands, where protesters fought for and won their right to be paid in Danish coin instead of the devalued Mexican dollar. The larger doll, Dasia, represents the leader and is carrying a basket of coals on her head, as coal workers formerly did.”
This Tonner Evangeline Ghastly doll is wearing a custom spring outfit by Tess of Raccoon’s Rags. “Evangeline is taking the time to remember our fallen heroes on Memorial Day,” Ralph Gilson said.
Olga Borontova made an outfit and jewelry for her Iplehouse S.I.D. Harace doll.
Arylissia Nichols said her Brielle by Judy Porter “is enjoying a Sunday morning at her local farmers market with her little doll.”
Janice Wassmuth has a collection of original painted dolls. She said, “The doll in the middle is from the Dianna Effner personal collection auction, along with the baby it’s holding. The doll on the right is a recently commissioned doll made by Sonja Bryer. The doll on the left was made by Brenda Mize of Eyes of Texas Dolls. I love the hand-painted eyes on each of them!”
Kathy Barton’s Little Darling #5 dolls are ready for spring. From left, they are Beatrice by Wixana’s Doll House, Iris by Geri Uribe, Amberlee by Ashley Rose (dress by Mimi James), and Allison by Laura Corti.
Mae by Meadow Dolls belongs to Joan Robtison. Her outfit is by Darla’s Delights, and Michelle Olrich completed her face-up. She is relaxing at home.
Shara Smith said her Ardyn and Mae by Meadow Dolls are celebrating Easter in Savannah, Georgia, in smocked sister outfits she made. “They love modeling and posing!”
Nicole Brown said, “I have an eclectic collection of just about every type of doll, lots of them given to me, some I purchased myself. Two I have from my late Aunt’s collection.” She added, “My hope is to get my existing dolls into the hands of children who may be the next generation of doll collectors, including my granddaughters, so that in honor of my Great-Aunt Helen, every child will have a doll!”
Bonnie Davis’ vintage midcentury Terri Lee dolls have their original hair and are wearing vintage homemade, one-of-a-kind cotton dresses. Davis said, “The dolls are going shopping at the Town Shop for new shoes. The Town Shop was a real shop that closed many years ago in McMinnville, Tennessee. It specialized in women’s apparel. My artist husband, Steve Davis, hand painted the miniature sign using a vintage ad for inspiration.” The dolls were all cleaned, restrung, and had their hair restyled and set at Sherry’s Terri Lee Doll Clinic in Kansas.
“Marie Therese is all ready to spend spring days with her friends,” said Emma Gribben. Her doll was made by Alice Leverett for UFDC’s 2010 convention. Her new outfit was made by Gribben, who used a pattern by Mary Shandor.
Jeanne DeLarm-Neri said, “Madge is a 24-inch cloth baby doll passed down through generations of little girls until at last she was sold to me. A full wardrobe came with her, some of which she’s wearing. Though not marked or labeled, she bears a resemblance to a Martha Wellington doll, and I believe that’s who made her. She’s exactly in the condition in which I found her, band-aids and all.”
Carol Frosco said, “These are my Barbie and Ken dolls (and one Marx doll) in airline uniforms: American, Pan Am, and Braniff. All are in original Mattel and Marx Airline clothing, except the light blue and raspberry Braniff uniforms are reproductions.”
Pictured is one of two curio cabinets containing Patricia Curtis’ vintage 1950s Ginny doll collection. She said, “There are a total of 98 dolls.”
Created by Goldie Wilson, Spring and Her Dolls is a trio of one-of-a-kind painted cloth dolls belonging to Debbie Garrett.
Kathleen Hansen said, “This lovely doll was designed based on an original doll by Vera Scholz. Her name is Svantje. I purchased her in 1997. She is 233/500 of a limited addition. She is dressed as if it’s her first day of school!”
Julie Mattern said, “This doll originally was a Quick Curl Kelley. I rebodied her on a TNT body; her hair and added lashes were done by another ‘Kelly’ — Kelly Nichole Chavez. Kelley’s dress was done by Sharon Parkin. Kelley is standing on my computer desk; by her expression, she could be hoping I don’t need to use the printer!”
This 16-inch Brenda Starr doll is part of Nancy Ruth’s collection. Ruth sewed the blue satin gown and added embroidered lace appliques to both the dress and shawl.
Kathy Bergen said, “This is one of my Nancy Ann Storybook dolls. She is Tuesday’s Child. I purchased her because I love the Nancy Ann Dolls and because I was born on a Tuesday. As a child, we could not afford to buy the popular dolls, so as an older adult, I have been collecting some of them.”
Elizabeth Wadsworth handmade this Titanic ensemble for her doll, which has a Shugo Fairy head and a Popovy Sisters recast body.
Jay B. Searle’s Triffony Artwork Avelin is enjoying spring and wisteria. Searle made her outfit and wig and completed her face-up.
Mother’s Day tea is enjoyed by Gene (doll by Mel Odom / Ashton-Drake), Ellowyne Wilde (Robert Tonner doll wearing a Jodie Joseph creation), Carmela (Robert Tonner doll for Metro Doll Club 2015, wearing Copper Penny by Virginia Harwood), and other dolls in Dorothy Miley’s collection.
Anita Smitherman said her Mattel Barbie Signature Looks dolls are hanging out on a New York City fire escape.
Joseph Coloff’s Betty and Judy Haynes dolls from Tonner Doll Company are wearing the Sisters dresses he made using the Prom Night fashion by Designs By Jude. He said he made a few adjustments to get the right look. The dolls are performing their annual Christmas Show.
Sophie Rose Azurina is one of Cheryl Handelman’s small BJDs. She is approximately 6.3 inches tall and made of ABS plastic. For the Passover Seder this year, Handelman put the doll in a dress, sweater, and hat outfit by dolly couturier Inna of Kamianets-Podilskyi, Ukraine; coordinating tights made by dolly couturier Marie of Oxon, England; and matching handmade leather boots from an online shop located in Guangdong, China. Her kitty, Baby Silkie (named after Handelman’s childhood cat), was made by World of Miniature Bears.
Susan Anderson said, “Three new Connie Lowe ball-jointed dolls joined my ever-growing collection. They are enjoying some together time in front of the fireplace in their new home. Little Beatrice is trying to get her pet fawn down before she falls. Sleeping Stella, in real girl resin, is being watched over by her sister, Stella, who is also in real girl resin. They are completely made by the artist. These dolls are spectacular and I am very happy and blessed to be able to have them in my collection.”
