Photo Series-Human Dolls

A Human Doll is really a reference to real people who have gone to great lengths in order to look like dolls. Mostly females trying to resemble a Barbie but in recent times even some men have gotten into the act.

The most in the news one is Ukrainian born Model Valeria Lukyanova. She has been labeled the living Barbie doll due to her remarkable resemblance to the famous Barbie girl's toy dolls.

The make up, the routines and the surgical procedures (in most cases) have made some of these actors/models really look like living dolls and in turn have led some of them to get very lucrative contracts for modeling and so on.

Here is a link for another Human Doll actress/model; Anastasiya Shpagina

Before you even try to do such a project you really need to do your research and find models willing to undergo probably hours of make up work by a very talented makeup artist who will make these models look like living dolls.

Even if you use make for the face area and nowhere else, this can get expensive for not only will the make up artist require a fee, but the models will too.

Using make up artists who are not talented in this type of work will probably not render the desired effects and you also need models who somehow fit the "stereotype doll persona/body and face type".

This may seem strange to many of us, after all who would want to go to the extreme (in most cases) just to look like a doll? However the photographer's concern is not to judge but to take the opportunity of taking photos of people who have undergone these "changes" to the point that they have achieved a doll like appearance.

If you find it hard to get the services of a good make up artists who can do this type of make up, then an easier alternative is to simply use models and dress them up in doll like attire with make up that is similar to what you would find on regular dolls.

This is less expensive that the make up expert route but you have to still contend with costumes and the prices for good ones can get high but they are nevertheless easier to find.

Another alternative is to look for themes from your favorite folk tales like Red Riding Hood and apply the same concept. This is already being done but you can still purse it and make it a successful project.

One of the best ways to utilize this theme is to adapt it to personal use when a client wants something special. Instead of doing just plain portraits or regular events, you can suggest that they become "human dolls" and do a session around it.

The best method to follow is perhaps to use a variation of the two themes; good costumes and good "doll like" make up.

Many make up artists can do a decent job around the eye, complete the look by getting larger than life contact lenses and you have a very good "doll" look.

If you can't do anything else at least shooting the face area will fit the theme.

Your images are very applicable to be used by photography related publications and for parties, and other similar themed events.

If you are savvy enough you can use them for an eBook relating how to do photographic themes and so on.

Do not overlook offering the theme to use in model's portfolios. Many models may be drawn to it as a way of gaining an edge on their competition and with their ranks growing daily this may actually open opportunities for models willing to include these types of pictures in their professional portfolios.