Hughes’ is a toy photographer and creative director. For over 30 years, I have worked in the entertainment and advertising industries in various capacities. During this time, I have worked on a variety of projects, including television commercials, theatrical trailers, blu-ray menus, trade show visuals, sizzle reels, and celebrity tribute reels for film festivals, to name a few.

In 2017, I began photographing toys for the first time. It all started when I bought a camera with a macro lens. I began photographing my son's diverse collection of toy cars, robots, space ships, and superheroes. It was not long before I discovered a special connection with Lego®. Its simple design, scale, detail, and bright color palette make it ideal for toy photography. So well, in fact, that I went out and bought a few more lenses as well as enough Lego® sets to open a small toy store, never looking back. Every great story, in my opinion, has a beginning, middle, and end. This same philosophy applies to a good photograph. The image must tell a compelling story that captures the viewer's attention and elicits some kind of response—a memory, a feeling of excitement, love, fear, joy, or simply a simple thought from your childhood.

Every image of mine is a window into another world, and it is through that window that we find a great toy story. I enjoy creating all of my effects in-camera and practically, whether it is throwing baking powder to simulate a winter blizzard on a mountainside or using a fire cracker to shower a scene with sparks to simulate an explosion. I hand-build my own sets and effects using common household items and old filmmaking techniques. This type of artisan photography adds realism, personality, and craftsmanship to a photograph, creating a stronger bond between the viewer and the image.