When Nostalgic Toys Get a Little Creepy
For Snaptober Day 2, the prompt was Nostalgia! When I think of nostalgic toys, my mind goes straight to old-fashioned marionettes and puppets. There's something about them that is so nostalgic, but also a little creepy when you think about it. Someone else is controlling every movement, and the second you give them a spooky twist, they become the perfect inspiration for a creative photoshoot!
I also immediately thought of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, specifically the scene where the characters dress up as giant toys. This concept gave me that same theatrical, larger-than-life feeling, but with a slightly darker twist. Because why make something simply cute and nostalgic when you can make it a little unsettling, too?
For this shoot, we wanted to bring a living marionette to life, with an aerialist acting as the puppet master and a dancer dressed as a clown marionette. The result was creepy, whimsical, and theatrical, which felt perfect for the Snaptober prompt!
Bringing the Marionette to Life
This photoshoot was actually part of a much bigger branding shoot for Aura Entertainment Arts, a company showcasing all the different entertainers they have. We had already done a huge circus-themed photoshoot to show off the company's performers, and this marionette concept grew out of that creative collaboration.
The marionette performer came to me with the beginnings of an idea for something in this style, and we worked together to bring it to life. We cut ribbons to act as the puppet strings, put the owner of the company in a lyre, and had her play the puppet master.
I love when a photoshoot starts with a simple idea and turns into something we can build together! I can help bring a client's vision to life, but I also love adding my own creative ideas to see how far we can take a concept. Sometimes those collaborations lead to some of my favorite images.
For this shoot, we combined aerial performance with posed shots, using the performers' positions, body language, and camera angles to help sell the illusion of a puppet being controlled. The ribbons helped complete the marionette look, while the lyra gave the puppet master a way to tower over her creation.
Getting the Right Angle
One of my favorite parts of this shoot was figuring out how to make the puppet master look even more intimidating. And by figuring out, I mean I was literally lying on my back on the floor and shooting upward!
Shooting from below made the puppet master feel bigger and more powerful, which was exactly the look we wanted. I love experimenting with camera angles like this because they can completely change how a photo feels. You're not just documenting a performer or their costume; you're helping tell the story through the composition itself.
This shoot was so much fun to create because everyone was working together to bring a slightly strange idea to life. Between the ribbons, the aerial performance, and the creepy clown marionette, we were able to create something that felt like it belonged in a theatrical production rather than an ordinary portrait session.
And that's one of the things I love most about creative photography: you can take an idea that starts in your imagination and turn it into a photograph that makes people stop and look twice.
Looking for Creative Photoshoots in Arizona?
If you're an aerialist, dancer, circus performer, or other entertainer looking for photos that show off more than just what you do onstage, I'd love to help you create something unique!
Creative photoshoots are also great for anyone who loves alternative portraits, unusual concepts, fantasy-inspired imagery, or simply wants photos that feel a little different from the usual. You don't need to arrive with a perfectly planned idea. We can collaborate on a concept, build on something you've been imagining, and figure out how to bring it to life together.
As a Phoenix, Arizona-based photographer, I love working with performers and creative people who want to experiment with storytelling, interesting poses, and imaginative concepts. Whether you have a specific vision in mind or just a small idea you'd like to explore, there's plenty of room to get creative.
This was only Day 2 of Snaptober, and I'm excited to keep sharing what happens when I take a daily prompt and turn it into a photoshoot. Follow along throughout October for more creative photography, unexpected concepts, and a little bit of spooky-season weirdness!
Happy Snaptober!
