About

Hue Hughes (he/him)

Hughes is a toy photographer and creative director. For over 25 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.

A good artist imitates the work that inspires them before developing their own style. A great artist influences others.

Photo credit Michael Hrizuk

  • I look for inspiration in nature. I love sunsets, the desert, and anything colorful. I also enjoy wide landscapes where the environment is expansive and dramatic, along with subject matter that is backlit with a lot of negative space. Ultra-wide photography triggers positive emotions along with heavily color-saturated imagery. Imagery with a high contrast between light and shadow where a subject is partially lit that creates drama is one of my favorites.

  • The largest challenge when photographing toys is creating a sense of scale, realism, and story. I strive to create realistic environments that fit the theme of the set and characters. My set pieces are large, detailed, and extend way outside of the frame. I want the viewer's eye to have room to roam around an image while still keeping the main focus on the toy. I don't want the viewer to become distracted by secondary elements. But I also don't want them to lose interest. Maintaining a balance of both is key.

  • We all learn from experience. We learn from what challenges us and from our mistakes. What continues to hold my interest in toy photography is keeping the experience fun. I like to challenge myself and, at the same time, hone in more on my unique style. Starting out at the beginning involved a lot of trial and error. Some things worked, while many others did not. Developing a look that was unique in toy photography, which was unique to me, took time. But after many photos, a look began to take shape. I still shoot and edit the same way now as I did when I started. I am inspired by others, as all artists should be. A good artist emulates the work that inspires them and later develops their own style over time.