LEGO minifigures might be just a few centimeters tall, but with the right angle, light, and creativity, they can look like epic heroes straight out of a movie. To learn how to capture them in the most dynamic way, I chatted with Kenny, a Belgian toy photographer who shares his work on Instagram at @k.c.legos.
Interestingly, LEGO wasn’t a big part of Kenny’s childhood. “I was more into action figures,” he says. “That’s probably why I love photos where you can feel the action.”
He discovered LEGO and LEGO photography on Instagram and decided to give it a try with nothing more than his iPhone 11.
“I hardly consider myself a photographer—especially compared to the people who’ve been published before me—so it’s a great honor to share a few tips,” Kenny adds with a laugh.
Here are his best tricks for making minifigures come alive on camera.
Use angles to add power
“The most flattering way to photograph a minifigure is from a low, upward angle,” Kenny explains. “It makes them look imposing, like you’re at their eye level. That angle really brings them to life.”
This is pretty easy to do with a phone because you can simply turn it upside down so the lens is closer to the ground. A slight tilt backwards creates that upward angle.
Natural light beats artificial
Kenny prefers natural light over indoor lighting. “Artificial light can cast harsh shadows or create shiny glares on minifigures,” he says. “Natural light is just easier to work with.”
Knowing when the light falls is equally important. Kenny often shoots during the golden hour, just before sunset. “The light is still good enough to capture detail but also creates atmosphere,” he says.
Think about scale
Props play a huge role in Kenny’s photos. Bonsai trees become forests, sticks turn into branches, and pond stones transform into rocky cliffs.
“You just have to frame carefully,” he says. “If you let the top of a stick show, the whole illusion falls apart.”
Pose for composition
Kenny also pays close attention to posing. “I always try to focus on the main character so I can keep them sharp,” he explains. “In reality, the minifigures are placed much closer together than they appear in the photo… in my opinion, this creates a better composition.”
That can be much harder than it looks. He uses lightsaber hilts on minifig’s feet to plant them into sand and pose them more easily.
Use props, water, and light for atmosphere
Kenny loves creating mood with simple tricks:
- A spray bottle on mist mode can look like rain.
- Spraying from the side can simulate a windy storm.
- A desk lamp can add drama, especially when paired with transparent LEGO bricks to mimic stained glass.
- Everyday objects can become dioramas—“an old pipe in my garage became a tunnel,” Kenny says.
Build depth into the scene
Flat backdrops make toy photography look staged, so Kenny layers his scenes instead.
“I like to place elements in front, beside, and behind the figure,” he says. “That way you create real depth.”
Storytelling makes it stronger
At the heart of Kenny’s photography is storytelling.
“I’m a big fan of fantasy and pop culture, and I read a lot of books,” he says. “Sometimes I find a character very interesting—often not even the main one—and then I imagine a story for them within the original tale.”
He believes story is essential in toy photography: “A good story intensifies the atmosphere, sparks the viewer’s imagination, and maybe even inspires them to experiment with that character themselves. I’ve always had plenty of imagination, ever since I was a kid.”
Stay creative and resourceful
Perhaps Kenny’s biggest advice is to use what’s around you. Whether it’s moss from a garden, a pipe from the garage, or LEGO bricks transformed into stained glass, everyday items can help craft worlds in miniature.
It’s not the gear
Kenny proves that you don’t need a professional studio or expensive gear to create powerful toy photography. With just an iPhone 11, natural light, and a strong sense of imagination, he transforms small minifigures into larger-than-life characters.
For more inspiration, check out his work on Instagram at @k.c.legos