Outdoor Toy Photography with My Son: Figma Skyward Sword Link
Join my son Isaac and me for our first outdoor toy photography adventure! We explore the park and capture the classic 2012 Figma Skyward Sword Link in nature.
A Special Outdoor Shoot with My Best Assistant
Today is a massive milestone here at FuryPixel because we are tackling our very first outdoor toy photography session. We spent the day at a park my son, Isaac, has been begging to visit, and we decided to bring some toys along for the adventure. The absolute best part of this entire shoot wasn’t the natural lighting or the woodland environment; it was having Isaac as my photography assistant.
Setting up the camera on a low tripod right in the dirt and watching him help dial in the shots was incredibly rewarding. Toy photography is usually a solitary pursuit in a studio, but seeing my son genuinely enjoy the things I love to do brings a whole new level of magic to this hobby. It shifts the perspective from just taking pictures of plastic to creating memories together.
A 10-Year-Old Classic: The Figma Skyward Sword Link
For this session, we focused solely on my absolute favorite character from my favorite gaming franchise: Link from The Legend of Zelda. I have had this Good Smile Company Figma #153 for 10 years now, and getting it out into the sunlight really highlights how well it was manufactured. It’s incredible to think that this specific mold, originally released back in October 2012, was planned and produced by Max Factory with the intricate sculpt work of Masaki Asai.
Figma is easily one of my favorite brands for anime and gaming toys because the figures are fully articulated and hold dynamic poses effortlessly. The engineering on this Link uses Figma’s signature smooth joints alongside flexible plastic in key areas. This meant Isaac and I could easily maneuver him into accurate, heroic proportions without losing any posability as we equipped him with his iconic Master Sword and Hylian Shield. A decade later, the joints are still tight enough to hold heavy poses on uneven outdoor terrain, which is a massive testament to Good Smile’s quality control.
Capturing the Hero of Time in the Wild
Skyward Sword represents the very first story in the Zelda chronology, but my favorite version of Link is actually from Ocarina of Time. To bridge that gap and give the photos that nostalgic Hero of Time energy, I edited the final images to include Navi hovering by his side. It is a small touch, but it completely transforms the vibe of the photos.
We kept the photography setups natural, utilizing the park’s real terrain. We posed Link standing just behind a moss-covered log, wielding his sword and holding up his shield, looking as if he’s actively exploring the depths of the Lost Woods. For a more relaxed aesthetic, Isaac and I set up a shot showing Link taking a well-deserved break, sitting casually on a branch with his gear leaning against the wood. Finally, we placed him next to a small stone on the lush green forest floor in a ready stance, showcasing the figure’s incredible natural balance on uneven ground.
The Magic of Sharing the Hobby
Getting out of the studio and into the actual dirt brings a whole new life to action figures, especially when you get to share that creative process with your kid. This Figma Link was the perfect subject for our first outdoor adventure, and it definitely won’t be our last.
What is your absolute favorite Zelda game, and have you ever tried taking your action figures outside for a practical photoshoot?
