LEGO Friends Minidoll tier list, from a photographer's perspective
Interested in minidoll photography? After a year of testing it out, I've made a tier list on my favorite minidolls for photos. Each character's graded on their ease of expression, like how many faces they have or how far they can rotate their heads. This doesn't include characters exclusive to the sets, but if you read my justifications below, you'll probably know where I'd put them.
Of course, you can also mix and match various parts to make new characters - I do that with minifigs all the time - but it's just a preference of mine to use established characters in minidoll photos. You don't have to do that.
Below each character, I've also provided the sets that give them different faces. Please let me know if I missed any. I won't list any default expressions.
Top tier
Autumn's big advantage is her myoelectric arm, letting her rotate one of her wrists freely. This doesn't sound like a big deal, but it gives her unparalleled versatility, especially in outdoor scenes. Sometimes you just need a minidoll to hold a twig or grab onto something in a certain way. Expressions: Concerned (Heartlake Hospital), Squinting (Archery Range), Hyped (Mermaid Coaster), Relaxed with Sunglasses (Costume Party). Somewhat compatible with Anna (Disney), but her eyes are a different color, as well as Mia's 3D glasses head.
You may not expect Nova to have some of the most versatile expressions of the minidolls, but it's true! She can talk, she can sing, she can feel happy or sad - in other words, she's a great fit for whatever slice-of-life photo I want. Her personality also makes a good contrast to the other characters'. Expressions: Sad (Dog Rescue), Wink (Smoothie Stand), Laughing (Beach Amusement Park), Talking (Stargazing Camper or Karaoke Music Party). Most compatible with Sky and Savannah. Somewhat compatible with Sara's "yum!" expression from Cooking School, although she has freckles whereas Nova doesn't.
High tier
Liann's lively personality comes through in her expressions and she's deceptively compatible with other minidoll heads, but her default hairstyle limits her head rotation. I recommend buying her hat from Fashion Show to compensate. Expressions: Singing (Karaoke Music Party), Scared (Ferris Wheel), Relaxed with Sunglasses (Pool Party), Domino Mask (Comic Shop). Most compatible with Peter, Victoria, Niko, Luna and Nessarose (Wicked).
Aliya used to be much lower on the tier list because she only had four alt expressions, all of which were too similar or too specific. However, one of the newest sets gave her an excited head which also works well for talking or singing. Funny how one new head can make all the difference! Expressions: Surprised (Stargazing Camper), Determined (News Van), Disgusted (Cooking School), Laughing (Spinning Flowers), Smiling with Face Paint (Comic Shop). Most compatible with Elsa D, Tiana (Disney), Ariel (Disney) and Antonio (Disney), with some mild differences.
Sky can use all of Nova's expressions, although her eyes and eyebrows are a tad different.
Mid tier
Niko may only have one alt expression but it's versatile enough to show him tired, scared or crying, depending on the angle. Having a common eye color and skin tone helps him share heads. However, being an athlete in a theme where you can't move your legs hurts him. Expressions: Tired (Sports Center). Most compatible with Peter.
Low tier
Leo's tied for the least amount of alt expressions, but at least his default smile's good enough for most photos, and he can turn his head freely. It's hard to show him playing soccer when he can't move his legs. Expressions: Scared (Tree House). Most compatible with Nabil and Melody (TLM2).
Olly's glasses and blue eyes mean that he's sadly not compatible with a lot of the warm tan heads that Liann and Niko reap the benefits of. Still, what he has is good enough. Expressions: Smile without Teeth (Advent '24), Confused (Tree House). Most compatible with Alexander.
It's hard to tier Paisley. On one hand, her skin tone and eye color are common, so she can share expressions with a surprising amount of minidolls. On the other hand, many of those expressions are similar and her default hairstyle limits her head rotation the most. Expressions: Smile with Teeth (Advent '24), Surprised (Hair Salon), Smile with Face Paint (Costume Party), Relaxed with Sunglasses as Ley-La (two different ones from the Ley-La sets). Most compatible with Ella, Rose, Dione, Matilde, Tinker Bell (Disney), Cinderella (Disney) and Wonder Woman (DCSHG). Also compatible with Elsa's closed-eye smile and Ariel's closed-eye smile from Disney.
Bottom tier
Zac's rare color and lack of alt expressions make him the hardest main minidoll to work with. It's just his standard Dreamworks face or him screaming. At least he can freely rotate his head. Expressions: Scared (Tree House).
Candi's olive eyes mean that she's not compatible with a lot of warm tan heads. Her most compatible head, Ivana, has a similar expression to her default. I imagine most background characters would end up in this spot.
Every microdoll is at the bottom. They can't move their limbs at all and rarely have alt expressions.
Hope this helps in your minidoll photography journey!
