My biggest take away from my photo practice is that toy photography is how I play.
Play isn't just for kids.
Traditionally play is what kids get to do. They have permission to horse around with friends, play games, dabble in the arts etc. All in the service of discovery and learning. But I’ve learned that play is just as good for me as well as those who join me in my workshops.
By setting aside dedicated time to practice toy photography, I get to engage in play and a world of my own creation. I’m always problem solving and exercising my creative muscles in the service of another delightful and whimsical image.
Like so many others before me, as I get older I’m reevaluating all the things I ‘should’ do. My time on this earth is short so I want to prioritize what I ‘want’ to do. The activities that are fun and bring me joy.
toys led me back to play
It’s pretty funny to me that I had to learn about the importance of play by actually playing. When I started on this toy photography journey thirteen years ago, I had no idea where it would lead. I simply enjoyed collecting, playing with and then photographing my toys. [And yes, these are my toys, not my kids. :D]
Meeting fun and like minded adults through Instagram was a bonus. I discovered that as a woman in my late 40’s playing with toys for the first time…I wasn’t alone!
The feedback loop of joy and camaraderie led me deeper into a world of make believe and storytelling. Along the way I wanted to understand why toy photography was so addictive.
toy photography is rewarding
Toy photography is addictive because it requires me to actively engage with my imagination on a regular basis. The process of choosing my subjects with intention, handling and posing them while devising silly scenarios for them to be in, is my version of play.
By intentionally thinking about childhood activities that brought me joy, I’m transported back to a seemingly simpler time. I want to bring that energy to my images.
Toy photography is rewarding because its become a delightful feedback loop of fun. Choose a toy to photograph > play with toy until an idea emerges > photograph the scene > feel joy in the process > enjoy the results. Repeat.
I’ve noticed this feeling of joy deepens when I share my work in person or online. Each image becomes a reminder to play and have fun. Maybe I will even inspire others to join me!
Keeping it fun
The biggest challenge for me as I’ve turned my hobby into a business is keeping it fun. How can I keep my sense of play while also creating images that others will enjoy?
I’ve learned over the years that creating images for other people through commissions or commercial work is a fast way to kill my joy.
Becoming a student of storytelling has opened my eyes to universal themes that connect us. Universal themes such as adventure, finding meaning, what is love, and who gets to be a family all seem to find their way into my work.
I enjoy exploring the ideas and experiences that we have in common even though we’re infinitely diverse.
My wish for you
I know that in this crazy, mixed up world, that keeping play front of mind is hard. I think its easier to engage in play if we cast a wider net than activities that kids engage in. Play can be defined as any activity that’s freely chosen, is enjoyable, requires some amount of imagination and creativity and that isn’t stressful.
Other creative acts that I engage in are gardening, cooking and expanding what’s possible when I combine photography with encaustic medium.
My wish for you is that you will be able to carve out time to bring more play into your life. Because play is a delightful pathway to joy.
If you have a creative practice that you want to share, feel free to do so in the comments. If you need help defining or engaging with your own play practice I can help through either one-on-one coaching or the Purpose Clarity program.
“What one loves in childhood
stays in the heart forever. ”
— Mary Jo Putney
6 Responses
Thanks for sharing your story – it’s a good reminder to us that play is for every age.
Thanks for reading Mary – And yeah, the kids and grandkids don’t get to have all the fun!
Thank you for making it “okay” to play with legos. I’m in an online challenge where we receive weekly prompts and share them on a private group. One of the prompts was a photographer that was an inspiration to us and using their work as inspiration, create our own work. I chose to create a Lego photo based on your amazing scenes…thank you!
Lisa Im happy that my journey helped you to give yourself permission to play with Lego! I love this for you! And I’m honored that you choose my work for your challenge. I hope you had fun creating your scene and image!
What a fun-filled story!
Thank you for reading and joining the adventure!