As someone who is fairly new to the world of BJDs, I'm just now beginning to understand the true depths of this addictive hobby, and what goes on behind the curtain, or photo if you will. BJD owners are a truly talented, creative and inspiring group of people. I'm always impressed with the beautiful photography, but what delights and amazes me the most is their ability to convey emotion and bring these little resin darlings to life.

But from what I've learned so far, the photography aspect is only a small part of the hobby. What some people might not know, or realize, is just how much these dolls are loved and cherished by their owners, and how much time, effort and thought goes into picking the right name, creating personalities, families, relationships, histories and stories for them, and all of the hands-on customizing that is done to make each one a unique individual.

And there are so many ways in which BJD owners express their artistic talents through customization. Some make their own clothing, wigs and accessories. Others paint faces or do body art and blushing. The really brave ones wield drills, knives, sandpaper and epoxy for permanent modifications. Some make eyes or sculpt detachable horns, ears, wings and other fanciful appendages. And of course, we can't forget the talented artists who actually create all of these wonderful head and body molds, which is an extremely involved and skilled art in itself.

So the next time you stop to admire a photograph of a BJD, which should be in just a few seconds (*points at the thumbnails below*), maybe take a little more time to think about what actually went into the creation of that character long before the artist snapped the photo. Read their comments, journal and BJD bios and FAQ. It just might make you appreciate that beautiful photograph even more.

Here are some of my favourites from my BJD collection. I hope you enjoy them as much as I do!



ZaoNeS




gardenofmoons




yenna-photo




MidknightRealm




SDink




BlackRoosje




Naiara-photobook




Arashiek




oki-oki




Arsenic-Spider




SchizoCheese




ThyStoryTeller




hiritai




Y-n-Y