How to Photograph Crybaby Toys for Instagram (Even With Your Phone)

You can make your Crybaby toys look Instagram worthy without a studio setup a DSLR. With the correct lighting angles, and a little bit of styling you can capture the soft emotional charm of the toys using just your phone.

1. Use Natural Light

The best free tool you have available to you is natural light Soft window light will work wonders for Crybaby figures, especially for the pastel-themed releases from POP MART. Placing a figure near a window with indirect lighting will help you avoid the harsh midday sun which can wash out the colors of the figures and create strong shadows, Lighting in the morning or late afternoon can create a soft pale glow that will work wonders for capturing the figures teary-eyed expressions.

2. Shoot at Eye Level

The toys have been crafted to capture certain emotions so standing above the toys and looking down at them is the wrong approach. Instead bring your phone down to the level of the toy so you can take a picture from their eye level. This is a great way to establish a connection and can help a toy’s expression appear more intimate and relatable to viewers.

3. Keep Backgrounds Simple

In most cases more is not always better When taking pictures, especially when photographing toys try and keep your backdrop as simple as possible. Using soft fabrics neutral or pastel colors or just plain paper can work wonders to create a more appealing photo.

4. Only Use Portrait Mode If Necessary.

Use portrait mode when you want to capture people when they’re in motion. Use portrait mode sparingly If portrait mode is used too often certain aspects will appear too unnatural Portrait mode focuses on the face That means when you take a portrait mode photo the face must remain in focus.

5. For a Dreamy Look, Always Edit Lightly.

To keep your aesthetic lighten shadows lower contrast and lower clarity. Overly used filters should be avoided. The exemplary emotion in Crybaby should not be accompanied by harsh color grading.

Bonus Tip: Tell a Mini Story.

Do not take a photo of a figure in front of a wall Instead create a mini scene Construct a mini scene for a rainy day bedtime or quiet at home vibes. With the right emotion in the caption it can enhance engagement.

A little thought put into styling and lighting will help turn your phone into a camera and capture moments with your little Crybaby figures.