Doll's eyes w/o software tweaking - photography tips?

You won't be able to replicate completely the amazing "pop" quality of eyes that are photoshopped to that degree, but as with all good photography - the more you can do in-camera, the better final image you're going to be making. And lighting and photographing the eyes properly is a HUGE part of a successful portrait. Although photographing dolls is really akin to still life photography, the fun part is giving that spark of life to our dolls and much of that is done through a "catchlight" in the doll's eyes. There are several ways to achieve this when using artificial lighting - studio lights, fill flash, ring lights. But it can also be done when using natural light with use of a reflector to bounce the light back into the doll's face and the eyes. An aluminum covered piece of cardboard works, a piece of white paper, a piece of white foamcore, or even the windscreen heat deflectors work! The trick is to set up your subject then angle your "reflector" until you see the light brightening the doll's face. You also want to make sure you're focussing exactly on the doll's eye that is closest to you. Practice with a reflector can really make a difference!

 

I second the motion on using reflective pieces for brightening faces and eyes. Aluminum foil on cardboard used to be the cheapest and most useful accessory for the mobile photographer! (During my more masochistic era, I used to take pix of people's pets, in their homes-- lightweight, simple, and who cares if the dog bites it were the guidelines!)

Another old trick is using a penlight or other small sharp light source, held by a helper, just to get that point of highlight into the eyes.

(But there's nothing like using the cloning stamp afterwards to remove that single strand of hair right in front of the eye, that you just didn't notice in time!)

 

I know for me, I am at school, so I don't have the room for so many lights and reflectors and stuff (though at home, this is an awesome idea that I am totally going to try lol). So, in my case, I have to usually rely on flash to properly illuminate my dolls' eyes. But, flash can also wash everything else out. So, there is always the (DIY) flash diffuser method shown in this thread:

http://www.denofangels.com/forums/showthread.php?t=273955

I am still perfecting it, but as you can see in the thread, there is still that little "light" caught in the eyes, but the dolls aren't completely washed out. And, this method is super cheap. It only cost as much as the foam. (My foam was like 50 cents).

Good luck!

 

it is seriously all in the lighting. I always have a hard time trying to get my k-doll karon's eyes to not be black holes XD.. not even photoshop can save him without the proper type of lighting. Sunlight is your friend~, definitely use a reflectors (umbrellas are love ,) but you can always just use some aluminum foil or our choice is a piece of silver posterboard haha. with these you can really direct where you want the light to be.. it can make the eyes really pop even without photoshop. Also it depends on the type of eyes your dolls has, from personal experience, my boys with glass eyes catch more light naturally than acrylics or silicons but this is also situationally dependant as well.

my camera has a built in spot light meter, so I can pick where exactly I want it to read the light.. which is really super handy x_x

 

Mirrors work, but tend to make much sharper points of reflection. Your best bet is plain white cardboard, foamcore board, or even white paper taped to cardboard. That way you get reflection/lightening, but no unwanted "bright spots".

 

Diffuse the light from your flash with a little greasproof paper over the light, it allows light through but it spreads it around rather than concentrating the flash in one area. If you get coloured paper you can add a coloured light too which can look pretty if you're creating a night scene in a casino or church with stained glass windows etc. Just playing with your camera settings is the best thing to do, mess with lighting and what your camera can do with it. Even if you had the same camera that I have you'll find differences between the two that we would both have to work around so each camera is as individual as the photographer that's using it. Just play around and discover your camera's personal quirks, you'll find your own style by doing this too.