Lighting: The Only Thing That Really Matters
Natural window light is the default winner — set your figure on a table near a window on an overcast day (diffused light, no harsh shadows) and you're 80% of the way there. Direct sun creates blown highlights on the hand-finished surface and harsh shadows behind the figure. Overcast or shaded window light is ideal.
If you shoot at night or in a dark room: a single LED panel light or even a desk lamp with a white diffuser (a piece of paper or tissue taped over the lamp works) gives you soft directional light. Point it at 45 degrees from the figure, slightly above. This creates the same look as window light without waiting for daylight.
Phone Camera Settings
Use portrait mode only if the figure is isolated — it blurs the background, which works for solo figure shots but looks wrong in a shelf context. For shelf displays, use standard photo mode at the widest main lens (not the ultrawide — it distorts edges).
Manual focus: tap on the figure to set focus, not the background. Lock focus and exposure on the figure's face or most detailed area. Avoid digital zoom — step closer physically instead. Shoot in the highest resolution your phone supports; you can always crop down.
Background Choices
Solid colour: a sheet of white, light grey, or beige card stock behind the figure gives a clean, editorial look. Cheap and fast to set up. Best for product-style shots that read clearly as thumbnails.
Shelf context: shoot the figure in its actual display setting with soft props around it (books, a small plant, a candle). This performs well on Instagram because it shows real-life context — viewers can imagine it on their own shelf. Keep the background tidy; visual clutter competes with the figure.
Avoid: busy patterned fabric, bright coloured walls that overpower the figure's colourway, or anything that makes the Labubu hard to spot at thumbnail size.
Composition Tips
Eye level: shoot at the figure's eye level or slightly below — looking up at a figure makes it more imposing; looking down makes it feel smaller. For a 18cm figure on a table, that usually means holding the camera at table height.
Leave breathing room: don't crop the figure tightly. Leave 20-30% empty space around it. Instagram crops to a square or portrait ratio — compose knowing the edges may get clipped.
For Reels or Stories: a slow pan around the figure, stopping at the front and side, performs well for introducing a new piece to your feed.