Lately, I've been gravitating towards more affordable toys. Inexpensive figures are fantastic for photography – they're posable, fun, and durable enough to handle repeated shoots!
The long-awaited "What If...?" Disney+ series figures have finally arrived, and I was genuinely surprised by their intricate detail. Hasbro has truly stepped up their game; they're no longer just a budget brand with subpar craftsmanship. That's why I decided to photograph every single figure for a complete unboxing experience. 
My absolute favorite is probably Doctor Strange Supreme. His "darkened" storyline is particularly tragic, but this figure's sculpt and paintwork are truly exceptional. I used purple lighting with a darker exposure to create a mysterious ambiance. 
I took quite a few shots of Captain Carter, but my favorite is definitely this one with the Hydra Stomper. Captain Carter herself boasts a superb head sculpt and physique, while the Hydra Stomper delivers both impressive heft and fantastic design. Despite a slight issue with ground clearance, it doesn't diminish my love for it. 
I even paired Captain Carter with a short-haired Black Widow from a previous series to recreate their on-screen team-up. The comparison clearly highlights Hasbro's significant improvements.
Zombie Captain America is arguably the most distinctive figure in this wave, with his tattered uniform and bloodstains looking absolutely fantastic!
I shot both a dynamic running pose and a more static, "staring" version, but I definitely prefer the wild intensity of the running shot.
Star-Lord T'Challa's story is my favorite mini-arc, partly because I genuinely adore the Black Panther character, and partly because the narrative offers so much room for imagination. The figure itself is bursting with quality, and I posed him with Nebula to capture that Guardians of the Galaxy vibe. 
Spider-Man, for me, was one of the less distinctive characters in the series, even with Doctor Strange's Cloak of Levitation, which looks pretty cool. But I felt like he didn't really get to do much, haha. 
Finally, a must-have cover group shot! My method for photographing The Watcher was a bit unconventional. Before pressing the shutter, I positioned his large head in front of the lens, then quickly pulled it away the moment I clicked, creating a ghostly, ethereal effect. As for the rest of the figures, it was just a matter of spending time arranging them perfectly – and picking them up countless times after they toppled over – until the shot was complete!
If you're interested in toy photography, feel free to follow my Instagram! Let's enjoy the fun of shooting toys together!
Instagram https://instagram.com/shadowfrontier_toyphotography/