Honey, I Shrunk Everything: A Tiny Trip to the Miniatures Convention

Throughout my photography career, I’ve found myself drawn to what brings people together, and I particularly love a convention or conference—anything that inspires people who are passionate about a certain topic to occupy the same space. This has taken me everywhere from the floor of the Republican National Convention in Ohio, to a cannabis trade show in Times Square. In 2020, I relocated to Carmel, IN, a quiet suburb of Indianapolis. While driving through the downtown area, I would frequently pass the headquarters of NAME, the National Association of Miniature Enthusiasts. The organization connects people from around the country who build miniature dioramas and scenes. I knew I had to find out more. 

This past Labor Day weekend, NAME held their 50th anniversary expo at a Marriott in Indianapolis. The event included workshops, kit assembly classes, and a lot of buying and selling of wares. This year’s theme was "Winter Wonderland," and finished miniatures devoted to it were featured in a specific room. I’ve never seen such beautiful, intricate detail, and engineering. Even at 1/144" scale, the model rooms looked so cozy and put together, I found myself wishing I could shrink down and take a nap in one of the mini beds.