The Art of Toy Portraiture
Updated: 1 day ago
How Jay Khaled uses lighting, composition and close-up photography to bring collectible figures to life.
Collector Spotlight - JAY KHALED
A great collectible already carries the likeness, costume and personality of a character. But through the right lens, thoughtful lighting and a little experimentation, it can become something more — an image that feels like a frame pulled directly from a film.
For toy photographer Jay Khaled (@jaykhaled_m), that transformation is the most exciting part of the process.
Jay was initially drawn to figure photography by the creative challenge of bringing collectibles to life through storytelling and lighting. Portrait photography quickly became a natural fit, giving him a way to focus on expression, personality and the small details that make a sculpt feel like a character rather than simply a product.
It Starts With the Face
When Jay looks at a figure for the first time, his attention goes straight to the face. A sculpt with strong character or expression immediately gives him something to build around.
For him, the expression usually comes first. Once that works, the pose, lighting and composition begin to fall into place naturally.
“For me, it usually starts with the expression.”
Lighting Creates the Character
Lighting is central to Jay’s photography. A small change in direction or intensity can completely change the mood of a portrait — from natural and understated to dramatic or mysterious.
Rather than relying heavily on editing, Jay prefers to create as much as possible in-camera using real lighting, angles and practical setups. Most of the final look is already established during the shoot, with only small adjustments made later in Lightroom.
Behind the scenes: Jay builds much of the lighting, environment and mood practically before taking the final photograph.
Don’t Be Afraid of the Shadows
One of the biggest lessons Jay has learned is not to be afraid of darkness.
When he first started photographing figures, he wanted everything brightly lit. Over time, he realised that shadows add mood, depth and drama — and can often be what makes a photograph feel cinematic.
“Don’t be scared of shadows.”
Finding the Portrait Through the Lens
For his close-up portraits, Jay mainly uses an 85mm macro lens. It suits the way he works, allowing him to capture the small sculpted details while framing tightly around the face.
Depth of field also plays an important role, helping keep the viewer’s attention on the expression while softly separating the figure from the background.
But Jay rarely plans every detail of a photograph beforehand. He prefers to experiment with the figure, lighting and camera angles until something clicks. Some of his favourite images have come simply from trying different ideas and allowing the session to develop naturally.
Making a Collectible Feel Alive
For Jay, the goal is to make the viewer see a character rather than a collectible. A natural pose, the right lighting and a sense of personality can turn a straightforward figure photograph into something that tells a story.
That approach is especially visible in his more cinematic images, where the environment, framing and shadows become just as important as the figure itself.
Simple, Dramatic and Cinematic
Jay describes his photographic style as “simple but dramatic.” He prefers clean compositions and uses lighting and framing to create atmosphere rather than overcomplicating the image.
The aim is always to keep the character as the focus while giving the photograph a cinematic feeling.
Batman and movie characters in general are among his favourite subjects, particularly when a sculpt already carries a strong personality or presence.
A Favourite Frame
One image Jay is especially proud of is a silhouette photograph of the JND Joker, taken from behind.
What makes the photograph special to him is how little it needs to reveal. The silhouette, posture and atmosphere communicate the character without showing everything — something Jay feels gives the image a particularly cinematic quality.
One of Jay’s favourite images — a JND Joker portrait using silhouette and negative space to create a cinematic frame.
Finding Your Own Style
For collectors interested in trying figure photography themselves, Jay’s advice is simple: have fun and don’t compare yourself to everyone else.
Keep experimenting, try new ideas and focus on what you genuinely enjoy. Photography is an ongoing learning process, and over time your own style will begin to develop naturally.
Two collectors can own exactly the same figure, but through lighting, composition and imagination, they can create completely different images.
The collectible may be the starting point. What happens through the lens is personal.
Follow Jay Khaled
See more of Jay’s latest toy photography, portraits and continuing creative journey on Instagram. Jay uses Instagram as his main photography page, where he shares new work and connects with other collectors.
Collector Spotlight by Fusion Reactors
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