This dataset contains original unaltered top-view and cross-section photographs of 4 crustal-scale analogue models. Top-view photographs were taken at a regular time interval from the beginning until the end of each experiment (for details see below). Cross-section photographs were taken at the end of each experiment. Top-view photographs were used to analyse surface deformation through time and space, while in cross-sections vertical deformation was studied. The dataset is arranged in 4 folders, each containing the data for the individual models (model1 to model4). The folder numbering corresponds to the model numbers as described in Krstekanić et al. (in prep.). Each folder contains two sub-folders named m#-cross-sections and m#-top-views where m stands for the model and # for the number of the model (i.e., the same number as the parent folder). The m#-cross-sections sub-folder contains one top-view photograph showing the locations of the cross-sections as well as the corresponding cross-section photographs. A number in each cross-section photograph is the same as the number next to the cross-section location in the top-view. The m#-top-views sub-folder contains all top-view photographs of that particular model, from its initial, undeformed state to the end of the experiment, showing the surface of the model at the moment of the photo acquisition. All photographs in this dataset are in .jpg format and their names are original generic names created by the camera software at the moment of acquisition. Detailed information about the files as well as information on how the data is processed is given in the explanatory file krstekanic-et-al-2021-data-documentation.docx. Contact person is Nemanja Krstekanić - PhD Candidate - n.krstekanic@uu.nl - https://www.uu.nl/staff/nkrstekanic