*Blogger’s Note: This article contains a lot of generalizations. It is not intended to offend, nor is it intended to sell anyone short. There are a lot of talented people out there in both cosplay and photography, and everyone’s journey is different. The intention of these generalizations is to point out the differences between having a professional cosplay photographer shoot your cosplay, and other photographers. Work with who you are most comfortable with, and gives you the best results.
Spend a few minutes on cosplay groups on your social media of choice, and you can find plenty of photographers with varying degrees of expertise. Although there are exceptions to every rule, most of these photographers fit under one of four categories…
Someone with a Cell Phone: This can be you with a high end phone and a ring light in your home studio, or a friend who has a few apps on their phone to make your photos “pop” a bit. The nice part to this is that you get your pictures back almost instantly (in mobile format), and you have more creative control over how the photos are edited. The downside is the technology. A phone camera has a very small sensor, and because of that cannot pick up the same fine details of a full-frame camera. It also does all of the post-processing immediately after taking the shot. Most of the “information” of the photo is edited before you even see it. Great for Snapchat, terrible for prints.
Amateur Photographer: This can be a friend who went to the local electronics store (or Online) and got a crop-frame camera and a “Kit lens”. They may also have a small home studio / lighting setup, and they haven’t been shooting for very long. The results are very hit or miss of the four types. There are times where you can get some of the best photos that have ever been taken. There are others where they are poorly lit, the pose/frame are messy, and it’s unlikely that they are doing any post-processing or composition (although possible). The greyest of grey areas however, is that they usually don’t have insurance and they do not have you sign a release. I wont go too great into details on either, as there are articles pertaining to both here and here. Getting prints is also a challenge, as they usually do not have a lab they work with that prints photos. If you go this route, make sure you both have the same expectations where timing is concerned. Also, make sure everything is documented, even if they do not have a release (more on that later).
Professional Photographer: Not to be confused with a professional Cosplay Photographer, this Pro Photographer does it all; Weddings, Senior Pictures, High School Seniors, Baby Pictures, and even occasionally does the local car show. They have seen the recent uptick in cosplay (despite not being much involved with the community) and are trying to profit… As you can imagine, you will get some really good pictures when it is all said and done. However, they don’t really understand cosplay. They treat your shoot like any other shoot they would do. They do the same poses, regardless of the character. They do not utilize the props you have (if they let you use them at all), and they spend a lot of time post-shoot trying to get you to buy a print package that is priced to the moon and back.
Professional Cosplay Photographer: This is where you are guaranteed to get the best results on your cosplay shoot. Cosplay photographers will have the commitment to photographing your cosplay correctly, while having the knowledge and background in the cosplay/pop-culture community. Working with you pre-shoot, they should work with you on creating photos specific to your cosplay. Using a combination of software, lighting, props, greebles, and an assortment of other equipment to make sure that your shoot is the best possible geared towards your cosplay. Once your shoot is completed, they should have the ability to utilize composition to create photos of you in environments that your cosplay would be in. Ideally, this is the route you want to go with as a cosplayer.
No matter what type of photographer you use, make sure you do the following…
-Communicate as much as possible your expectations, and make sure the photographer does the same of theirs. If possible, recap everything via e-mail or text to make sure everything is covered. In case anything happens, you can go back to the correspondence to follow up on any unmet expectations.
-Short of it being a close friend or family being the photographer, DO NOT COMISSION ANY SHOOT WITHOUT A RELEASE! I cannot stress this enough. If a photographer doesn’t have any sort of release they want you to sign before shooting, that is a good sign something fishy is going on (or they have no experience). Most Photographers are the opposite; they have a policy in place that states they will not shoot without a release. For more info, check out This Article
-Negotiate payment up front, and make sure that it is clarified in the release and contract. This will protect you from the photographer to ask for more money after the shoot for your photos. Also inquire about print costs, especially if you are looking for large quantities (for cons or social media)
-When you work with a Pro, inquire about who they use for a print lab. Getting good prints is just as much an art as the photography itself. Do your due diligence on the lab before you commit, most pros will provide you with several options.
-If you are planning on reselling your prints or distributing your digital copies to the masses (Pateron, Buymeacoffee, OnlyFans, Etc.) Communicate this with your Cosplay Photographer. There (can) be royalties associated with distribution. Although a lot of photographers are pretty cool about it, some don’t. There (can – I am not a lawyer, nor do I pretend to be one) be legal ramifications if you decide to distribute them without their permission first. Communication is key. As I said – most photographers are pretty cool about it, they just don’t like being surprised.
Today I want to talk about your first photoshoot with a Pro Cosplay Photographer. Everyone has a different level of experience with their cosplays. Some have already done some sort of photography work with their phone camera. Others have worked with amateur photographers. Some have their own studio in their houses for shoots. All is good, but none of them compare to a shoot with a professional.
I am going to outline all of the stops along this adventure, along with some of the questions that get raised frequently as a Cosplay Photographer. Hopefully, this alleviates some of the concerns along the way…
Remember, this is an adventure. The objective is to have a remarkable experience with a story to tell. Oh, and some really bad-ass pictures too.
Step one: Consultation
The beginning of our adventure always starts with a brief consultation. We use this to get to know everyone involved . This can be done in person, or via video/chat. The Cosplay Photographer’s goal is for you to tell them about your cosplay, your goals as a cosplayer (if any), and any special requests you may have during the shoot (any special props, specific poses you want to do, another cosplayer you want to bring in for specific poses, a specific place you want to shoot at, etc.) This helps us prep for the adventure. We try to do this at least three weeks before the shoot, so we can get
Step two: The posing workbook.
Once your photographer has an idea of what your objectives are with the shoot, they get to work. First, you should put together a posing workbook. Research your character to create a workbook that has a selection of poses that match your character. This will help you have a better grasp of what to do during the shoot. Make sure you are comfortable with the poses you decide upon. From there, start practicing. The more you practice your poses, the easier they are and the greater the results of your shoot. Once you are confident about your poses, make sure your cosplay is ready for the shoot. Have everything set aside the night before, so you have time to prepare.
Step Three: The shoot
Finally, we are at the shoot itself. All of the posing practice and cosplay repair comes to this. Prepare for the shoot as if you were preparing for a day trip at a con. Make sure you have all of your cosplay props, extra makeup, a wig brush (if applicable) and anything specific to your cosplay. Arrive to your shoot about fifteen to twenty minutes early so you can be completely ready come time to shoot. From there, the shoot will take anywhere from thirty minutes up to two hours depending upon your Cosplay Photographer. We recommend not having any big plans after the shoot (especially if it is your first one). Shoots can be very tiring, especially if you are not used to it. Despite that, a Professional Cosplay shoot is a very fun experience, and the results are definitely worth it.
Step Four: Development
Once the shoot is completed, your photographer will back up your photos, and start to develop them. Using software such as Adobe Photoshop or DarkTable, they will fine-tune the lighting, exposure, and color-correct your photo to make it the best photo possible. This can take a few weeks to handle, depending on your Cosplay Photographer’s workload.
Step five: Composite
Once your photos are developed, they can be sent into software such as Adobe Photoshop or GIMP to be edited further. This is where you will see special effects, new environments, and special adjustments take place. Cosplay Photographers call this compositing, where they add artistic flare and multiple images to edit your cosplay to make it fit into its own enviornment. This process can take several weeks to complete, so be patient when working with your Cosplay Photographer.
No matter what type of photographer you end up working with, make sure it’s an adventure in cosplay. With all of the time and money you invest in your cosplay, you deserve to have the best photos possible.
Have some more questions about cosplay photography? Schedule a thirty-minute consultation. We can help you get the best photos possible, no matter who you work with.
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