Make Your Models Look As Good As They Actually Are
Ever spent months on a perfect build only to have your photos look like they were shot with a potato? Or tried selling a model online but nobody’s interested because your pics make it look like rubbish? Maybe you need proper documentation for insurance or a competition entry?
Our photo studio might be small, but what we lack in space we make up for with proper gear and years of shooting tiny detailed objects.
What We Can Do For You:
Professional Model Photography
Let’s be honest – most model photos are just awful. Bad lighting, weird shadows, focus all wrong, or that classic “taken on my kitchen table with the wife’s cooking stuff in the background” look. We’ll shoot your model with proper lighting, correct depth of field, and backgrounds that make sense. Your 1/72 Spitfire will actually look like a Spitfire, not a plastic toy.
Detailed Build Documentation
Entering IPMS competitions or just want to show off your work process? We’ll document your build step-by-step with consistent lighting and angles. Perfect for online forums, competition entries, or just showing your mates exactly how you pulled off that complicated camo pattern.
Collection Cataloguing
Got dozens (or hundreds) of models and need proper records? We’ll photograph your entire collection with consistent style, create a database with all the details, and provide both high-res master files and web-optimized images. Brilliant for insurance purposes or just keeping track of what you’ve actually got.
Technical Breakdowns
Sometimes you need to show exactly how something was built – especially for teaching or articles. We’ll do cutaway shots, exploded views, and detail macro photography that reveals construction techniques. We’ve documented everything from 1/700 ship rigging to interior detailing in 1/24 cars.
Sales Listing Photography
Selling your models? Good photos make all the difference. We’ll show your model from the critical angles buyers want to see, highlight the details that add value, and help you avoid the common mistakes that make models look worse than they are. Proper photos typically mean faster sales and better prices.
Our Setup:
Nothing fancy here – just the right tools for the job:
- A couple of decent DSLR bodies (Canon) with proper macro lenses
- Light tent setups in various sizes (from tiny for 1/144 aircraft to larger for 1/16 tanks)
- LED lighting with proper color temperatures and diffusers
- A range of background options including plain colors, scale-appropriate scenery, and chroma key
- Turntable for 360° documentation
- Tripods and focusing rails for precise control
- Basic video capability for rotating views
Honestly, most of this was cobbled together over the years as needed – no posh studio here, just practical gear that works for model photography.
Our Approach to Model Photography:
- Proper Scale Consideration – We adjust lighting and depth of field based on the scale of your model. What works for 1/35 tanks is all wrong for 1/700 ships.
- Detail Emphasis – We’ll highlight the areas where you’ve put in extra work, using lighting angles that show off panel lines, weathering, and fine details.
- True Color Reproduction – We use color calibration to ensure your subtle paint variations actually show up correctly. No more “I swear it’s Dark Sea Grey, not light blue” problems.
- Clean Processing – Basic dust removal and minor fixes included, but we don’t over-process. Your model should look like your model, not a CGI version of it.
- Appropriate Files – High-res originals for your archives, plus properly sized versions for whatever you need – web, print, competition entry, etc.
Special Requirements We Handle:
- Reflective Surfaces – Natural metal finishes and glossy cars are notoriously difficult to photograph well. We’ve developed techniques to show these properly without weird reflections.
- Extreme Detail – For 1/144 and smaller scales, we use focus stacking to ensure that tiny details are crisp and clear.
- Large Dioramas – Complex scenes need special treatment to maintain perspective and lighting consistency throughout. We’ve shot dioramas up to 1 meter square.
- Weathering Documentation – Special lighting techniques to show subtle weathering effects that often get lost in standard photos.
- Before & After – Matching angles and lighting for restoration projects to show the transformation clearly.
What You Get:
- Master Files – Full resolution, color-corrected images with minimal processing
- Optimized Images – Resized versions ready for your specific needs
- Image Rights – Full usage rights for personal, competitive, or sales purposes
- Basic Organization – Files named logically and organized by model/project
- Delivery – Digital download, USB drive, or cloud storage link
Client Comments:
“Their photos of my Tamiya King Tiger actually show all the zimmerit detail I spent weeks on. My own photos made it look like a blob.” – Heinrich R.
“Used their service to document my entire 1/72 RAF collection for insurance. When we had the water leak, the insurance company accepted their photos without question.” – Malcolm S.
“The photos they took of my ship models for sale doubled my usual asking prices – buyers could finally see what they were getting.” – Jean-Pierre D.