Every month, we pick a LEGO photographer active in our community and share some of their work and a little about themselves. This month we flight to Serbia to meet bricktoygrapher.
Hi everyone! My name is Zoran, and I’m from Serbia. I currently work at a university and for a small startup. My work mainly involves digital marketing, content creation, community management, customer support, and event photography.
I’ve been a LEGO fan since childhood. While I had many smaller sets growing up, I always dreamed of owning a pirate ship. That dream finally came true in February 2021 when I got the Pirates of Barracuda Bay set. Building it was both fun and deeply relaxing. Soon after, I decided to start an Instagram account to connect with fellow enthusiasts. I was surprised by the size and creativity of the AFOL and toy photography communities. Engaging with people from around the world and seeing their incredible work—photos that seemed to bring toys to life—inspired me to give this hobby a try.
For most of my photos, I use a Nikon Z50 paired with a Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8 G2 lens, and occasionally a Nikon Z 40mm f/2. At the time of writing, I’ve just added a full-frame Nikon Z5II to my gear, though I haven’t used it for toy photography yet as I’m still getting familiar with it. Additionally, I use several Ulanzi LED lights, a facial mister, a few grass mats, and some Pico LED lights from Brickstuff.
The majority of my subjects are LEGO collectable and BAM minifigures. Some of my favorite themes are City and Medieval Fantasy, but also Ninjago, Pirates, and Space. Recently, inspired by other toy photographers, I’ve also started experimenting with different toys and action figures.
While I’m not particularly adept at building MOCs, I find that official LEGO sets provide excellent backdrops and scenes for my photography. However, when the weather is nice, I prefer taking my minifigures out into nature for photoshoots.
Taking part in weekly and monthly challenges from LEGO and toy photography communities has become a regular part of my routine. These challenges spark new ideas, push me out of my comfort zone, and help me grow creatively. While some themes come easily, others require careful thought—considering the scene, story, characters, expressions, and emotions I want to convey. There are also moments when inspiration comes naturally. A single glance at a minifigure can spark a complete scene in my mind.
Photographing toys has taught me a lot about photography itself. When I started this hobby, I would simply arrange the minifigures and take a quick shot. Today, I pay much more attention to framing, composition, lighting, and storytelling.
Before building a scene, I first choose the right camera angle, then carefully arrange the figures and surrounding elements. I consider their positioning, where they’re looking, what they’re interacting with, and the emotions on their faces—small details that make a big difference in creating a compelling image.
The exclusive photo
What if alien tourists visited Earth back in the Middle Ages? I originally planned a photo for May’s Timeless Companions theme, but the idea evolved into a meeting between the inhabitants of a medieval kingdom and strange visitors from a distant land—as they like to call it.
The scene was set using the Lion Knight’s Castle as a backdrop. I laid down a few grass mats and placed the three main minifigures—a villager and two alien tourists—on CMF stands hidden beneath the grass, for extra stability.
After that, I added a curious child eager to see what was going on, along with his frightened mother pulling him by the hand, a passerby who found the whole scene amusing, and a “brave” soldier hiding behind a bush. The wall on the left side felt a bit empty, so I added a tree in front of it using sticky tack, along with a wagon.
In the upper right corner, part of the room’s wall was visible, so I added a poster of a sky to cover it. To create a sense of depth and further conceal that corner, I placed a tree in front of the camera. I also had to pay attention to small details, such as making sure the flags were all waving in the same direction.
Lighting came from natural light on the left and a Ulanzi VL120 LED on the right. One of the biggest challenges I face in LEGO photography is the glare that appears on buildings and minifigures, especially on their faces. It’s a constant struggle to find the right balance between illuminating their faces and avoiding light reflections, all while maintaining a visually appealing scene.
To manage the lighting, I shot multiple frames with the LED angled differently. It took some trial and error, but I eventually captured everything as envisioned. In the end, I combined the best parts into one final image, cleaned up unnecessary elements, and adjusted the colors and tones until I was happy with the result.
Thank you for reading. I’d also like to thank the BrickCentral team for inviting me to introduce myself and share my work with the community.