Pirate girls at the beach

[Alliecat]

I find the hardest bit is getting a doll to look at you. ... my favourite photos are nearly always the ones where the doll appears to be looking into the camera.

This! The least little difference in the angle & they're not looking at the camera, and then they either look like "toys" or it's that bad family photo where someone's not looking XD.
I remember school photos when I was little. The photographer had a string on the camera that he pulled out to touch your chin & then told you to hold your head still. I guess that wouldn't work with a doll, because their eyes could still be aimed elsewhere. And yeah, group shots are hard!