Black is Blue

Here are some pictures of the characters for my final project this year. It is going to be stop-motion. I don't really like watching stop-motion but I didn't want to direct actors.

I am having a hard time making the walk look good without my fingers in the picture. Pressure has to be put on the shoe to cause the crease before the toes leave the ground. I have 2 sets of shoelaces so I can control the lace with wire in it but test things with the regular lace so I can be as close to natural as possible.

If anyone has ideas about how to get the crease without getting fingers in the pictures I would like to hear it!