LEGO Photography with a Phone

Learn how I create great photos of my LEGO toys with my phone, simple lighting, and free editing apps.
I'll show you two different setups that took about 10 minutes per photo session from shooting to editing.
ABOUT ME
I'm Four Bricks Tall, and I'm a toy photographer and LEGO Ambassador.
I love showing people how to take creative photos that bring toys to life. I share behind the scenes, toy photography tutorials, gear reviews, and LEGO set reviews.
I run BrickCentral, a community of LEGO photographers on Instagram where we feature photos of LEGO, share photography tips, and run contests with LEGO prizes.
I also write a newsletter about toy photography, workflows, mindsets and attitudes for people who want to play seriously with their cameras and toys:
fourbrickstall...
Find me on Instagram at / fourbrickstall​
#lego #toyphotography #behindthescenes

[@shannonsproule6069]

Love this video Anna! So many really helpful hints, tricks and techniques and all explained in a clear and professional way. Very inspiring too! Also the Snapseed app looks wicked, I haven't come across it before. I will look into getting that so that I can ditch my silly Adobe subscription potentially!

[@FourBricksTall]

Thanks Shannon! I would love to get together to get more advanced tips for building sets for phone photography. You're so good at it! Also, look into Affinity Photo if you prefer desktop editing. Not free, but cheap and one off.

[@shannonsproule6069]

@@FourBricksTall I don't know how advanced my tips are but it would be cool to take a look at it. I will check out that Affinity program too, thanks for all the great tips!

[@deirdreharger7258]

"I just like shooting." I love this! Thanks so much for all of your informative, clear instruction. Your videos are helping me a lot and inspiring me to try things out.

[@FourBricksTall]

Ha, yes, I just like to shoot! I have a newsletter topic about that coming up because I think social media has made photographers forget where the joy is in our work. If it's in the likes, you're doing it wrong 😂

[@Ilome]

Oh I love these videos! So I personally have a camera but I like to hear new tips and tricks. What do you use for the mist (sorry I am a german and didn‘t understand the word.😅)

[@FourBricksTall]

A phone camera *IS* a camera too 😉 I think you mean you have a dedicated camera as do I-- three of them. My mister is also shown in a few videos but you'll see it more prominently in the Creating Atmosphere video I made.

[@Ilome]

@@FourBricksTall Oh right my mistake 😅

[@birdie399]

The first photo is very effective. Thanks for all the handy hints.

[@yalborap]

A great video as always! While we all enjoy the depth and control of a dedicated camera, doing a whole elaborate setup with situating pieces in nature or in a complex diorama, there really is a lot to be said for the raw simplicity of just grabbing a phone and a bit of LEGO. The bit of water on that first shot, especially, *completely* sold it as a shot with far more complexity than just being at your desk with a couple kinds of spray bottles!

[@FourBricksTall]

The real point as always is: know your gear. If you understand the strengths of your gear and play to them, you can turn out great work regardless. I know photographers with dedicated cameras and $$$ macro lenses who hike an hour or so to a beautiful location only to f1.8 it into oblivion.

[@benignoyni]

Thanks for this. Been looking for simple to follow tutorials using an android phone

[@umutardaozker2355]

Every video you post helps me improve myself thank you very much

[@FourBricksTall]

Thanks for telling me that! That motivates me!

[@bricksandwheels]

Amazing video as always. bravo!

[@lego4virgo]

This was great! I didn't know that Photoshop Express and Snapseed were a thing (I downloaded them onto my Moto G, as I was watching this). I was wondering if you have any tutorials on how to use two small lights, with a blue and a red plastic filter, to enhance a night scene?

[@FourBricksTall]

I have a tutorial about creating night scenes coming up. As usual, I need time 😂

[@lego4virgo]

@@FourBricksTall Awesome! I'll def be there for it!

[@malcyL]

Great video. Thank you for sharing.

[@jacobroebuck5648]

Super helpful. Do you have a camera app you recommend for iPhone?

[@FourBricksTall]

I don't use iPhone but I think Halide or Camera+ 2 have manual controls.

[@editor0range]

this channel is great! subscribed ^_^

[@FourBricksTall]

Thanks for the sub!

[@electricwave8710]

thanks so much for sharing!

[@tmgj5000]

Loved the video, so many useful tips!! Where can I get tiny LEDs like the ones you used?

[@FourBricksTall]

Oh I have so many of these kinds of LEDs and I'm not really loving any in particular, so you can just search for "LEGO LED". My previous video talks a bit about the fragility of these.

[@studbricks9481]

This is my favourite video from you! Many thanks! :)

[@FourBricksTall]

Thanks! I expect to see your improved phone photos 😉

[@studbricks9481]

@@FourBricksTall will try to do my best! I got a lot motivation! :)

[@tomnicholas7585]

This looks amazing! What camera app are you using? I'm struggling to find one that lets me change camera settings manually on Google Pixel (Android) :/

[@FourBricksTall]

This is the stock camera app on the Samsung Galaxy S20. Check yours for a "pro" setting. Lightroom Mobile (also with a great editor!) is free. But just search for manual camera and you should find something.

[@luccabrammer2266]

Hi,where did you buy those lights?

[@dubldeqr]

Great video! How could I find one of those mist projectors? (Just a cheap one off of amazon or something) Thanks!

[@FourBricksTall]

Thanks! See my video about Creating Atmosphere

[@dubldeqr]

Thank you, I have found it!@@FourBricksTall

[@alexandremoreira599]

where can I buy that mist?

[@mefisbautas8041]

guess the camera in phone also does a lot :) always trying to use a tripod, because of shaking hands :D

[@FourBricksTall]

Me too with the unsteady hands but I wanted to shoot like how most phone photographers shoot. Any time you introduce some gear to using a phone, the phone loses some of its appeal.

[@ndn_warroir]

What phone u use

[@wajahatkhan-9004]

Do such videos and photos require license copy right sir

[@motions_king]

First thing, what are you talking about? Second, it’s a woman. 🤦‍♂️

[@OrAnGEHOodXD]

What phone do you use

[@FourBricksTall]

Samsung Galaxy S20