Shopping Guide
Like figures? You know we love ‘em!
And we're always looking for ways to help spread the love.
That’s why we have so many listed on the TOM Shop.
And that's what motivated us to begin hosting figure photo contests.
This time, as part of TOM’s 10th anniversary celebrations, we’re adding an additional tier of prizes that will be awarded based on YOUR votes.
We hope these new bonus prizes will make it more fun than ever for all figure fans to follow along as the contest unfolds!
Need inspiration before submitting one of your creations? Try checking out our past contest results (linked below).
The TOM Instagram account also showcases examples of stunning figure photography from all over the world.
One minor change to keep in mind: the judging process will be a bit longer than in previous contests.
This is both to accommodate voting for the fan-awarded prizes, and also to ensure that TOM’s judges have more than enough time to carefully consider all submissions, no matter how many come in.
Please look forward to future updates—and please know that we’re more excited than ever to see your entries!
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Come explore hashtag #tomphotocon5 on Twitter and Instagram to see all the entries!
A panel of TOM staff who absolutely love figures (and photos of them!).
HaraPhotographer
MorisawaDesigner
CueDesigner
TajimaDesigner
RachelIllustrator
- Jonathan Tolnay
- Submitted via Google Forms
- @captaindangerous
- Submitted via Instagram
- Hara Photographer
There is no fault to be found in this photo. The lighting, the detailed staging, and the story are all of very high quality. I wouldn't have been surprised if this piece won the Grand Prix.
Yet, why did it come in second? Personally, I think it is because it was hard to tell what the author was trying to convey with this photo. That’s the only reason for the difference between the Grand Prix and the first place. If an image of this quality had been imbued with a “photographic intent,” I feel that an incredible piece would have been born.
I’m looking forward to seeing your next work. Congratulations on first place!
- Morisawa Designer
This photo expressed the charm of the non-battle parts of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, which anyone who has played the game will know: getting ingredients, cooking them, eating, and sleeping.
The picture’s vignette effect, paired with the trees placed around the figure, makes for an interesting work that looks like a drone photographed it. I was worried that Link would catch a cold, even though he’s beside the fire, but I’m sure he’s drunk the Spicy Elixir! Congratulations on first place.
- Cue Designer
This work makes me picture seeing a light as I wander in the forest, taking a look at it and seeing Link taking a nice nap after falling asleep in the middle of his meal.
The work put into creating the snow and the background is impressive, and the warm glow of the fire shining on them warms the viewers’ hearts. Congratulations on first place!
- Tajima Designer
The detailed background, the positioning of the props, the focus, the editing… This photo is complete, down to the smallest details.
It also gives the viewer space to enjoy guessing what is going on. Did Link fall asleep in the middle of his meal? Won’t he catch a cold?
This photo is pretty, fun, and adorable. Congratulations on first place!
- Rachel Illustrator
I love how laid-back this picture of Link, who has fallen asleep with a peaceful face, is. The warmth of the flames, the way the meat and apples look yummy, the way it makes you wonder if he isn’t cold sleeping on the snow, and so on… The viewer unconsciously starts to observe a lot of things about this photo.
I like how the surroundings are blurry. It makes you feel as if you found him by chance while wandering in a deep forest. Congratulations on first place!
- @mikusfigurecollection
- Submitted via Instagram
- Hara Photographer
The things this photographer intends to show in their photo come across very clearly. They used upper lighting to make the eyes go to the figure’s thigh and used black in its surroundings to make the skin stand out. Plus, since humans are wired to look at faces, they made her look sideways so as not to attract the viewer’s glance.
This is a perfect piece in that it does all it can to make the thigh its focal point. The colors of the scenery outside the window and the amber-colored lights that suggest the photo is set in a classroom at dusk convey a certain eroticism.
I personally think that this was one of the best photos, even among the high quality of the works submitted to this photo contest. I’m looking forward to seeing your next work.
- @greenisyelllow
- Submitted via Instagram
- Morisawa Designer
This piece has a space western atmosphere. The Mandalorian, who has just landed at the camp, and the mob around him, slightly blurred to give him life, feel very real.
The posing calculates the load of each figure, whether walking or standing, and is finely tuned to make the best of the action figures’ characteristics, which is no easy feat. It really feels as if the author breathed life into these figures. Amazing work!
- @emmatea23
- Submitted via Instagram
- Cue Designer
Most works picturing Rin Shima from Laid-Back Camp are set outdoors, but this one looks like a candid shot of Rin shopping at an antique shop.
The top part of the photo is dark, and the lighting from the floor makes Rin stand out. It makes me feel as if she’s saying, “Hello, would you like to come home with me?”
Did you make her clothes? I think this is a beautiful picture.
- @wynfrith17
- Submitted via Instagram
- Tajima Designer
In this impressive photo, Gengar doesn’t feel out of place against a backdrop that seems to come out of a movie. The composition looks as though we had escaped to a back alley and Gengar found us, giving the photo an even stronger feeling of reality.
The contrast between the brightness in the right background and the dark foreground clearly tells us that this simple setting is a backstreet. The author’s descriptive powers are really something!
- @_mirai_ticket
- Submitted via Instagram
- Rachel Illustrator
I personally really love this photo. So many pictures are taken of figures living in the world of their character, so I was impressed with this image of a figure existing as part of our everyday lives. Is she waiting for the person who lives there to come home? The orange spots of the curiously shaped plant expanding next to her match the color of her scarf and look very pretty.
The simple palette consists of subdued hues of white, green, orange, and brown, and the balance of her sitting position and the plant, plus the composition, all turned out exceptionally well. It’s great!
- rankfers
- Submitted via Google Forms
- Nick Glo
- Submitted via Google Forms
- @nano.ovalle
- Submitted via Instagram
- @mugens.anime
- Submitted via Instagram
- @sodiefizz
- Submitted via Instagram
- @benkhor2
- Submitted via Instagram
- @_phototoys
- Submitted via Instagram
- @alecguinn
- Submitted via Instagram
- @riky_2701
- Submitted via Instagram
- @peking25
- Submitted via Instagram
- Jonathan Tolnay
- Submitted via Google Forms
- @shadows_figurecollection
- Submitted via Instagram
- @jugaflug
- Submitted via Instagram
- @stomachofchaos
- Submitted via Instagram
- @small.world.official
- Submitted via Instagram
- @altifuse
- Submitted via Instagram
- @toys.r.life
- Submitted via Instagram
- @zir02
- Submitted via Twitter
- @Gale_XV
- Submitted via Twitter
- @magicalcattime
- Submitted via Twitter
A Special Message from the Contest Judges
Thank you for participating in TOM's 5th figure photo contest.
We started this contest because we wanted to let more people know how great figures are, and we are already on our fifth edition. Once again, we received even more amazing pictures than we did in past years, and while the panel of judges always shudders (in more than one way) to think how hard it will be to select the winners, the joy at fresh surprises and discoveries never changes, no matter how many times we encounter your works and your creativity.
We are proud of you fellow otaku who can express your love for your favorite characters, works, and figures without the language barrier issue, and we are delighted to have the chance to connect with you.
We are looking forward to seeing how you will keep on letting people know how fun figures can be.
This year, Tokyo Otaku Mode celebrates its tenth anniversary. On this occasion, we decided to add a special event and let fans vote for the first time because we wanted more and more people to see your works. We are grateful to have received many votes and that a lot of people have participated in different capacities. This photo contest is different than usual, and we hope you enjoy it.
We plan on having our 6th photo contest in Fall 2022.
We will announce it on TOM’s social media, such as Instagram and Twitter, so look forward to it!
Let’s meet again for TOM's 6th figure photo contest!
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On TOM’s Instagram, we introduce great figure photos from all over the world.
We also decide each month’s MVP, so check it out!
Browse contest entries on
Contest Guidelines
- Multiple entries permitted (go for it!)
- Photos must be your own original work
- Photos that have been submitted or posted anywhere in the past are ineligible
- Previous contest winners are permitted to enter again (with different photos)
- Photos must feature officially licensed figures—no bootlegs
- No photos that include identifiable people
- No photos that others might find disturbing or derogratory
- Post-contest, entries may be reposted (w/ credit) on TOM social media
- Tokyo Otaku Mode has unlimited permission to use submission photos on otakumode.com and/or across contest announcement materials
- Your photo may be cropped or edited for display purposes on otakumode.com
- Note: $5 TOM Points were granted to each eligible Fan Voting participant on May 12 (JST). Thank you for voting!
Violation of the above guidelines will result in immediate disqualification at any stage of the contest.
See which entries took home the big prizes in prior Figure Photo Contests!
Need more ideas to get you started? Follow us on Instagram!
Tokyo Otaku Mode Instagram
We showcase stunning figure photos from all over the world (only with permission, of course).
Every month, the photographer behind one featured image is selected to win $10 in TOM Points.
Once the Figure Photo Contest results have been announced, your entries could get specially featured & win points, too.
Follow our account and keep tagging your figure photos with #tomsenpainoticeme for more chances to get featured in the future, even after the 5th TOM Figure Photo Contest officially comes to an end!
Itching to improve your figure photo-taking skills?
Get a leg up with expert advice from TOM’s staff photographers!
Plus, for TOM Premium members only:
enjoy a special peek behind the scenes of a previous figure photo contest,
including a Q&A with one of our judges, as well as a few special words from the Grand Prize winner!
Premium Exclusive Article
Let's Talk about the 2nd Figure Photo Contest!
A look back at the stories behind the TOM's second ever Figure Photo Contest!
Learn a few tips on what it takes to produce a winning submission!
I was rooting for another piece when we were selecting the Grand Prix winner, but in the very end, I got sucked in by Rem’s eyes as she gazes at Ram and voted for this photo.
That is proof of how high the level of the works submitted for this photo contest was; the winner snatched the Grand Prix by a small margin. This photo has many qualities, but what attracted my glance was its clever trimming. Many works had perfect lighting and staging, but their inaccurate trimming, one of the basics of photography, stands out and ruins the quality of the entire photo. However, this photo adopts bold trimming, such as cutting the figures’ heads, yet it looks very natural and not strange at all.
I think it comes from the photographer knowing exactly what they wanted to show and tell. Another point worth praising is how it incorporates the latest photography trend with its use of blue and magenta in its staging. I was impressed at how the author treated this picture of figure toys as photographic art and gave it my vote.
Lastly, just one piece of advice from me, TOM’s photographer: it would have been an even more perfect picture if you had tried being a little more particular about composition. Thank you for this wonderful photo. I’m looking forward to seeing your next work.
This photo gives a distinctly different impression from that of the original figures. One of the reasons is that its bold trimming gave birth to a wonderful photo because the photographer was clearly aware of what sort of image they were trying to create. The lighting, matching each of the characters, is wonderful. In particular, lighting up Rem’s bangs, cheeks, nose, and shoulders strongly and beautifully emphasizes that figures are tridimensional objects. I can also tell that they are very skilled as a photographer by how perfectly they can control focusing and blurring.
Congratulations on winning the Grand Prix! I want to see more of your works.
This photo draws viewers to it with its gorgeous lighting, respectively matching Rem and Ram, and its jet black background that requires excellent technique. Regarding the composition, the trimming that doesn't let the viewers realize they are bunny figures and the layout that places Rem’s eyes right in the middle charmed me. Congratulations on winning the Grand Prix!
The contrast between the jet-black background and the bright color gradation is stunning. I was sucked in by the eyes of the figure looking this way.
The pink and blue gradation matches the original colors of the figures and gives them an even prettier hue.
The balance between these cute figures and the dramatic composition is also charming.
This piece was very solid and impressive and stood out amongst the many amazing works submitted to this contest. Congratulations on winning the Grand Prix!
Not only is the lighting very well made, shining on Rem and Ram with their respective colors, but it is also full of beautiful points that attract the viewer’s eye.
I particularly like how gorgeously Ram’s side profile is portrayed, how their bangs overlapping are clearly separated by their contrasting colors, and how powerful Rem’s eyes look. Plus, the silhouette is painstakingly designed so that each part doesn’t get in the way of the other elements and creates wonderful lines—that’s amazing!
I was especially surprised to find out that these were originally bunny figures. None of the judges had realized. Usually, one gets carried away by the figure’s characteristics when they take photos of them, but I am really impressed at how the author of this photo used the figures while having very clear in their mind the composition and charm points of the photo they wanted to take.
Congratulations on winning the Grand Prix!