Meet the artist

Hello and welcome.

I'm Paul Massey. the big kid behind the lens for Photoy72, a toy photographer driven by a lifelong love of pop culture, imagination, storytelling, and the simple fact that I just refused to grow up.

It began as a spark, a chance encounter my son’s toys scattered across the house. From those small, ordinary moments grew something deeper: an art form where tiny figures step into the real world, breathe its air, move through its light, and tell stories waiting just beyond the edges of imagination.

                         

Every image you see is created using real physical figures, photographed outdoors in real locations, using natural light and practical FX wherever possible. I only use traditional techniques, using my Wacom Pad in Photoshop with brushes and overlays to create my FX when needed, as well as colour toning and refining within Camera Raw and Lightroom to bring greater depth to each image.

Disclaimer: When using the latest removal brush tool in Photoshop and crop edge expansion, this can trigger a " Generated by AI " flag. Please rest assured my images are NOT AI generated.
Toy photography is about nostalgia, the characters that shaped us, the stories we grew up with, and the emotions we still carry into adulthood. But it’s also about re‑imagining those characters beyond the screen or page. By placing them into everyday streets and landscapes (mostly the beautiful, rugged coastlines and countryside), the adventures they take me on become endless.

I am very passionate about my hobby. I love every aspect of it, from scouting a location on long walks, posing the figures, shooting and editing. It's an escape from normality, a chance to bring my ideas to life.

Lying on a large frozen puddle in a farmers field was slightly uncomfortable but worth it. 

I capture everything with my ageing Nikon D810 partnered with a Sigma 105mm f2.8 macro lens. That is all I own. As much as I would love the latest gear, it serves me perfectly well, besides, your equipment should never be a barrier.

Almost every human ( or alien ) has a some form of camera these days, so encourage your young ones to take pictures of their toys. Throw a few toys into the case when you go on your holidays or day trips out, for a child's imagination is the most powerful place we ever lived.

Each photograph is my own interpretation. This is not product photography. I’m creating new moments, tiny cinematic daydreams that suggest bigger stories. Many of the images play with crossover ideas, blending worlds that would never officially meet, allowing imagination to take the lead and inviting the viewer to fill in the gaps.

My inspiration evolves from a love of the characters and worlds many of us grew up with, keeping imagination alive and reconnecting with the sense of wonder that we’re never meant to outgrow. It also benefits from having a restless mind, so I'll keep a notepad next to my bed for those midnight revelations.

NEVER STOP PLAYING.