Portrait of Tina, one of Dieter's 52 companion dolls.

This image is a collage of screenshots of conversations with doll owner. Most of the people that I got to know, I met online. As mentioned before, the internet is a great source for the doll community, they often exchange tips online on how to care properly for their dolls. Many dolls have their own Instagram profile, they are socially awake and post often different contents about their self, life and relationships, creating a fantasy world where they all interact with other dolls from different countries.

In the photo Marc and Marina share a kiss in the kitchen. Marc’s two adults sons, and his best friends, know about his relationship with Marina, when I was there he told me a funny story. At the beginning he wasn’t sure about telling his friends about his new relationship, so he kept it a secret for a while. Marc loves taking photos of Marina around the house and she has her own Instagram profile where she posts pictures almost daily. One day, Marc (whom has his own private instagram account and manages Marina’s account) thought he was posting a photo of him and Marina on her account, he instead mistakenly posted it on his own personal account. By the time he figured out how to cancel the post, the compromising photo had already been seen by his friends, at which point they began jokingly to ask him “So? New girlfriend I see.” Many of the people that own companion dolls keep their relationship a secret and hide their dolls when friends and family are visiting. Later on, Marc opened up with his friends and his kids, which, when they go visit him, hang around the house with Marina.

I met S. for the first time in November 2023. He lives in Switzerland and shares his house with his wife, two kids, and 7 dolls. Whilst they all share the same home, the dolls have their private room where S. enjoys bonding with them, watching TV and cuddling. Whenever he can, he takes his dolls on car rides and enjoys taking outdoor photoshoots with them. In this image Sonia is standing outside S.'s house. Many doll owners are forced by social prejudice to keep their dolls and relationships hidden, S. is one of the few people I met that takes his dolls outside.

The names of every dolls are decided by their doll owner, the factory sends them a necklace with the decided name written on it.

Dieter lives in Germany and shares his home with his 80-year-old mother and his 52 companion dolls. Every morning before work and every night after work, Dieter gives each of them a kiss. His house reflects his dedication to care and attention to his dolls. Known as 'the doctor' in his community, he repairs 'hurt' dolls at no cost, redirecting any tips towards the girls's wardrobe and accessories. In the image you see the entrance of Dieter' apartment.

J. and Paula having breakfast together. J. Is divorced with a daughter and lives in the province of Frankfurt, he has 4 dolls living in his studio apartment. Most people purchase a love doll for sexual purposes, but when the doll arrives something changes fast. The doll owner develops an emotional attachment, and for them, what was something intended for sexual pleasure, turned into someone that keeps them company and that they can care for.

Two dolls holding hands.

Angie posing for a photoshoot the last time i was at S.'s house.

Dieter and S. are close friends, and S. often drives four hours from Switzerland to Germany to visit him. When they meet, S. usually brings one of his dolls along, and together they spend their time discussing new dolls and collaborating on themed photoshoots. In the front seat of S.’s car, you can see Sonia, one of his seven dolls, accompanying him on the journey.

In this photo, (that looks like a doll party), you see some of the 52 companion dolls that Dieter owns in his apartment. Dieter is very active in the community, has many friends that live nearby, and often organises parties where friends bring their own dolls. He loves having people over and introducing them to all his "girls".

Karsten is the first doll owner I ever met. I drove for 14 hours to reach his village in Bavaria, where he lives with his synthetic companion Anastasia. Initially, when I reached out to Karsten, he harboured doubts about meeting in person and being photographed. However, after several months of engaging in online conversations, he eventually warmed up to the idea and welcomed me into his home, we soon became friends.. During the course of the photoshoot, Karsten became much more comfortable, so much so, that he was inspired to share with his best friend the existence of Anastasia. Up until then, he had always kept her a secret. I took this image in Karsten's tavern located in his backyard. For the occasion they both dressed in Bavarian costumes and shared a pint of beer.

Here is a collage of some of the love dolls I’ve met during the past year and a half. Each doll's features are entirely chosen by their owners - from the colour of their eyes and hair, to the shape of their faces and bodies. As a result, they exhibit a wide range of appearances.

In the photo M. Is taking off Iris' shos before positioning her on the bed. Part of owning a doll is commiting to its care. The dolls are delicate and very hard to move around ( because of their weight). Washing them in the wrong way or leaving them in the same positions for too long can cause permanent damage, which its something every doll owner wants to avoid. Companion dolls often have more clothes, products and accessories than their human owners, taking up most of the space in the house.

Marina sits on the living room table, ready for a thorough cleaning. Caring for a doll requires dedication, and washing is a meticulous part of a routine that can take hours to complete.

On the last day of their holiday, Harry and Sicily are enjoying the sunset together.

Barbara lying on D.'s bed

The first male doll I encountered during this project lives with Lulu in the UK, along with five other dolls. Male dolls, though they exist, are far less common than female dolls. The demand for male dolls is significantly lower, making them harder to find, with fewer aesthetic options available compared to their female counterparts.

D. taking a shower with Barbara.

Two doll heads stacked on top of each other.

Marc and Marina are cuddling in bed, often appearing lost in the moment as if they’ve forgotten about my presence entirely.

The lake near S.' s house.

M. is buttoning up Iris's dress in their apartment.

Karsten hugs Anastasia tightly on a cold winter day.

This is Karsten's house the first time I visited him, I took this image in his bedroom. In the photo, he and Anastasia are cuddling in bed during a snow storm. When I met Karsten I was curious of what drove him to explore the possibility of having a relationship with a doll. Karsten's written introduction : Anastasia has been living with me in the house for 3 years now. She is made of silicone with realistic skin markings and implanted hair. I am 36 years old and have never been in a relationship with a woman before. Often, I felt lonely as my family lives far away from me. To escape this loneliness somewhat, I eventually decided to get a Lovedoll. For me, it's about physical closeness and spending time together. We enjoy cuddling with each other, and Anastasia loves to model for me. "

This is still S.'s house, but this time in his living room. Rose, one of his 7 dolls, is standing at the dining table. I took this image last November, the first time I visited S.

Portrait of a doll.

Harry is from Germany, he is a sensitive and gentile guy. After several failed relationships and a divorce he chose to share his life with a doll instead of a human woman. I chatted with Harry for a few months before to meet him, usually I travel to their houses and once I arrive, we rarely leave the house, but this time was different. This time, I followed Harry and Sicily on their holiday in the East Frisian Islands. Harry loves to holiday there, he has been going there since he was little and takes Sicily with him 2-3 times per year. They travel by public transportation and Sicily gets carried in a wheelie as it would be impossible to carry her around in any other way. The village is very quiet and surrounded by nature. Harry loves to walk with Sicily and arrive at the beach right in time to enjoy sunset together. One day he hopes to move there. He couldn’t be happier to share his life with Sicily and that is why he decided not to hide her, he is one of the few who speaks about and shows her around openly.

Marc and Marina chilling on the sofa in one of Marc's favourite positions.