Toy Photographers Podcast

A conversation with Empire Toy Works with Oliver

Oliver talks toys with Chris Shaylor of Empire Toy Works, a toy maker, customizer and photographer who is doing amazing things in Rotgut Station Spaceport, a fully realized, room-filling world he continues to build and evolve above his garage.

As always the full show notes and images referenced in this episode can be found on the Toy Photographers Blog. You can also find more articles on creativity and toy photography on our website, toyphotographers.com. Find us on Facebook, Twitter, MeWe and Instagram. Subscribe to our weekly email roundup so that you never miss a post, and join our communities on MeWe and Flickr. 

I am Spiderman

What does a self-portrait mean when you use a toy as a stand-in for yourself? In a sea of the same object, how can someone’s image stand out? When there are multiple versions of a toy/identity, which one do we claim as our own? Do we leave a little bit of ourselves in our photos? Sounds like an existential crisis waiting to happen, right? If you agree, then rest assured: you’re not alone! 

 

In this episode of the Toy Photographerspodcast, Shelly Corbett welcomes back member of the Toy Photographers team Sabrina Perry (@theperrylegoadventures) for a discussion of the I am Spider-Man self-portrait challenge (#tp_iamspiderman). Over the course of 30 days, Sabrina journeyed with Spidey to create not one but multiple identities—because, after all, aren’t we all more than just one identity—and came to a profound realization: we are all Spider-Man. 

We hope you’re inspired to take on the challenge and consider your own “I am Spider-Man” image. Or, perhaps you’d choose another toy to capture your true self—who/what would you choose? We’d love to hear your thoughts after listening to the episode! Leave a comment below or join our communities on MeWe,Facebook, or Instagram!

A conversation with F-Stop Rebel

If you read Scott Metzger’s post on the Toy Photographers blog, you’ll find this description under the “About the Author”: “I was a photographer. Then I wasn’t. Then I was again. Be present.” Beginnings, middles, and ends. We can apply that arc to just about anything—from a movie’s or book’s plot to where we find ourselves on this journey of life.

Scott Metzger is drawn to this arc, to trilogies, and to symphonic movements. He thinks in threes (or multiples of), as evidenced by his Instagram feed, where his past life curating art converges with his desire to offer not only a collection of photos but what he calls a “visual experience” for his followers/viewers. In this episode of the Toy Photographers Podcast, Scott and I dig into his journey to toy photography and what it means to follow one’s curiosity to see where it might lead. 

As always the full show notes and images referenced in this episode can be found on the Toy Photographers Blog. You can also find more articles on creativity and toy photography on our website, toyphotographers.com. Find us on Facebook, Twitter, MeWe and Instagram. Subscribe to our weekly email roundup so that you never miss a post, and join our communities on MeWe and Flickr. 

 

A conversation with Tobias Schiel

As the old saying goes, there are no original stories. Perhaps that’s true; however, what IS new and unique is the way in which a story is told. As toy photographers, we’re also storytellers. The toys might be our characters, but we, the photographers, create and tell those stories through our images just as authors and narrators might. But the relationship between story and image might be as confounding as the chicken and egg question: which comes first? Story and then images to match? Or images and a story created to fit? 

As always the full show notes and images referenced in this episode can be found on the Toy Photographers Blog. You can also find more articles on creativity and toy photography on our website, toyphotographers.com. Find us on Facebook, Twitter, MeWe and Instagram. Subscribe to our weekly email roundup so that you never miss a post, and join our communities on MeWe and Flickr. 

 

A Creativity roundtable with Alan, Trevor, Arielle and James

On this episode of the Toy Photographers Podcast, Alan Rappa hosts a roundtable featuring James Garcia (@thereelJames23), Arielle Nadel (@ariellenadel), and Trevor Williams (@onesix_shooter). The topic? All about creativity: Where to find it, how to harness it, and what to do when it gives you trouble.

Creativity is a pretty abstract concept. Can you define it? What does it look like? Is creativity something that’s tangible? Or you just know it when you feel it or see it? Does seeing others’ creativity inspire you or make you jealous? And does creativity only exist in artistic endeavors or can one express creativity through, say, spreadsheets? You might be surprised at the answer!

 

As always the full show notes and images referenced in this episode can be found on the Toy Photographers Blog. You can also find more articles on creativity and toy photography on our website, toyphotographers.com. Find us on Facebook, Twitter, MeWe and Instagram. Subscribe to our weekly email roundup so that you never miss a post, and join our communities on MeWe and Flickr. 

 

365 Photo Challenge

In this episode Shelly talks with Matthew Wyjad and Terri Greene Henning about their respective 365 toy photography projects. Why would anyone challenge themselves in such a way? What can be gained in this madness? Check out the episode and maybe you too will leave inspired to challenge yourself. Maybe not with a photo-a-day, but something more manageable like a 30 day challenge. Matthew and Terri have lots of great tips to keep you inspired! As always all the images talked about in this episode can be viewed on the blog. 

You can find articles on creativity and toy photography on our website, toyphotographers.com. Find us on Facebook, Twitter, MeWe and Instagram. Subscribe to our weekly email roundup so that you never miss a post, and join our communities on MeWe and Flickr. 

Surrealism: a conversation with Shelly and Sabrina

We're back!! After an extended break Shelly and Sabrina take a look at the intersection of toy photography and surrealism. Inspired by a recent photo challenge in our MeWe community, our hosts look at their images, as well as community images, through this unique lens. Do you think toy photography is surrealistic? Check out the conversation and let us know what you think on the blog. As always all the images talked about in this episode can be viewed on the blog. 

 

You can find articles on creativity and toy photography on our website, toyphotographers.com. Find us on Facebook, Twitter, MeWe and Instagram. Subscribe to our weekly email roundup so that you never miss a post, and join our communities on MeWe and Flickr. 

Favorite photo of 2020

In this marathon episode Kristina and Shelly talk about the images submitted from attendees of the 2021 Virtual Toy Photographers meet-up. With 23 images to get through, there isn't a lot of time to talk about the details of each image. But there are plenty of threads running through the group. Themes of loss, struggle, and hope are seen in many of the images. We invite you to stop by the blog (toyphotographers.com) and look at the slide show of all the images as your listening to this episode. 

 

You can find articles on creativity and toy photography on our website, toyphotographers.com. Find us on Facebook, Twitter, MeWe and Instagram. Subscribe to our weekly email roundup so that you never miss a post, and join our communities on MeWe and Flickr. 

A conversation with Chris Lynch

On this episode, Oliver Peterson chats with toy photographer Chris Lynch, aka @chezpics66, about Star Wars, shooting outdoors, fatherhood and much more

 

You can find articles on creativity and toy photography on our website, toyphotographers.com. Find us on Facebook, Twitter, MeWe and Instagram. Subscribe to our weekly email roundup so that you never miss a post, and join our communities on MeWe and Flickr. 

100 - Digital minimalism: a conversation with Janan and Shelly

In this episode of the Toy Photographers Podcast Janan Lee (@spideygoeshygge) and Shelly Corbett discuss Digital Minimalism by Cal Newport. Why? Because the new year is often accompanied by New Year's Resolutions. While new year's resolutions can be controversial, the chance of the years is a great time to examine certain habits. But what happens when Shelly's new year's goal to use social media less runs head long into her favorite high value activity: toy photography. We hope you enjoy the discussion! 

 

You can find articles on creativity and toy photography on our website, toyphotographers.com. Find us on Facebook, Twitter, MeWe and Instagram. Subscribe to our weekly email roundup so that you never miss a post, and join our communities on MeWe and Flickr.