Dusty Strutton
Greenville, South Carolina
@funko_dusty

When did you first become a Funko fan? What drew you to Funko products?
I became a fan during the summer of 2014. Pops! were definitely the first thing to draw me into Funko as I really liked their simple but still detailed design and how there seemed to be a line for every fandom.

Do you remember the first Funko piece you collected and where you got it?
My first Pop! was Kratos from God of War that I got from a shop in my local mall.

When did you first start photographing your collection and sharing the photos on Instagram? What was your motivation?
I really started photographing and posting on Instagram in earnest about a year ago. For most of my life I've been interested in photography, but had never really found a subject that kept me invested and sparked my creativity like Pops! I really enjoy getting out and trying to find the best locations for each figure and setting up dioramas for shots. Nothing quite beats the feeling of getting a new Pop! and knowing exactly the shot I want to get with it.

How do you choose which characters to photograph and how do you set about choosing a concept, location, props, etc.?
Sometimes it will be as simple as what my newest Pop! is and what I think would make a good shot and other times I'll see something I've had in my collection for years and suddenly know the exact shot I want to get with it. There are some days that I'll pack some Pops! and head to my local park with no real ideas to see what I can come up with on the fly.

Do you have any tips to share with Funko fans who like to photograph their collection?
All you've got to do is get out there and do it. You have the complete freedom to decide your own style and theme and the only limit is your imagination.

What are your favorite fandoms and characters, and why?
So many fandoms! My favorites are probably Star Wars, Lord of the Rings and Doctor Who. I'm a sucker for anything science fiction or fantasy really. My favorite characters always seem to be the heroes from humble beginnings that end up saving the day like Sam and Frodo.

What does being a fan mean to you?
For me, being a fan has always been about being a part of a community. I enjoy coordinating with other collectors to trade or help each other track down Pops! we've been looking for.

Do you have any special Funko memories?
Seeing my nephew light up when I gave him his first Pop!

Are there any movies/television shows/podcasts/books/albums you're watching or listening to right now?
I've been really into The Good Place on NBC lately and Mindhunter on Netflix.

How do you display or store your collection at home? Are you an in the box or out of the box collector?
I've got bookshelves and hanging shelves along my walls for them and have them organized by type (movie Pops! in one bookshelf, video game Pops! along one wall, television along another) and franchise (Star Wars in a section, Harry Potter in another). I'm almost exclusively an out of box collector as it takes up significantly less space and I can appreciate details of the sculpts that the boxes would hide.

What are your other hobbies outside of collecting?
Reading comics and video games.