Camera Settings: What I Use
I shoot with a Nikon D810 at ISO 64 for maximum detail and zero noise. Always shoot RAW — miniatures have tiny details that JPEG compression will destroy. ISO 64 on the D810 gives you incredible dynamic range for those deep shadows and bright metallic highlights.
Resolution Matters: 3600W Pixels
The D810 shoots at 36 megapixels (3600W). This means you can crop aggressively and still have a sharp image. For Instagram, you only need 1080px wide — with 36MP you can zoom into a single shoulder pad and it still looks crisp.
Lens Choice
For miniature photography, a macro lens is essential. I use a 105mm f/2.8 macro. At f/8 to f/11 you get enough depth of field to keep the entire model sharp while throwing the background out of focus. For larger models, f/5.6 gives beautiful bokeh.
Lighting Setup
Two softboxes at 45 degrees from the front, one LED panel directly above. The key is diffused light — hard shadows on miniatures look terrible. I use a 580EX II speedlight with a softbox modifier for the key light and a reflector card on the opposite side for fill.
The iPhone Alternative
No DSLR? Your iPhone works surprisingly well. Use portrait mode for the background blur effect. Get a cheap ring light from Amazon ($20) and a phone tripod ($15). Shoot in good natural light near a window. The latest iPhones even let you lock ISO and shutter speed in third-party camera apps.
Post-Processing Tips
Lightroom: bump clarity +15, sharpen at 40/1.0/25, add a subtle vignette. Never over-sharpen — miniature paint jobs look fake when the edges are too crisp. A tiny warmth adjustment (+5 temp) makes NMM gold pop naturally.
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