Cosplay Photography Etiquette

By Figment_Of_Orange. 30/03/09, 11:13 pm

From a cosplayer's point of view and opinion; what makes a good cosplay photographer?

By KotoneVersus. 30/03/09, 11:13 pm

A good camera. 8|

By **Duckeh**. 30/03/09, 11:16 pm

Someone who'll tell you when somethings not looking quite right, whether it's the wigs slightly mucked up or your pose isn't all that flattering or something's falling off~ Atleast I know they're trying their best to make the photo worth it.
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By Rikki-Leigh. 30/03/09, 11:35 pm

Someone assertive and attentive, yet understanding. I'd hate to work with a photographer (or ever be the type of photographer) who is controlling and demanding and never asks for the cosplayers input.

When I'm doing cosplay photos, the first thing I ask the cosplayer is, "What do you want for your photos?" By this I mean things like poses, backgrounds, feelings. All that sort of thing. From there, I help them to get what they want in their photos, pointing out things like adjusting a part of their pose, where their standing, wigs/outfit muck-ups (creases or boofy bits where they shouldn't be) and stuff like that, whilst still trying to keep to the cosplayers original idea.

Also, I hate photographers who just take a photo and leave it at that. The good photographers, even just passers-by in cons, should take the photo and share it with the cosplayer and ask for their opinion of it. That way the cosplayer can decide if they can do a better photo (i.e. if the original one wasn't flattering or there were people in the background where they shouldn't have been or someone was pulling faces or all those other photo screw ups)

**Guest** Guest

A good cosplay photographer is one that isn't obviously angling to get a shot up your skirt Very Happy

And that makes sure you're ready for it. Sneak attack photos never look any good.

By **jpwise**. 31/03/09, 09:21 am

oops.. fail on my part for most of those so far. ;P I just take lots of photos. Mostly casual ones, but some posed too. :)

**Guest** Guest

hmmm Maybe I should go into Cosplay Photography...I seem to lose motivation with making costumes...maybe I should go into taking photos of them...I got told good things when I took control of my Aunt's Camera at my Cousin's Wedding last year...lol

SS

**Guest** Guest

By Kitten Slave. 31/03/09, 09:58 am

Best Photographer:
Must be slightly unshaven, smell slightly of alcohol, have a trench coat and unkept hair. Lying on their back, so they can take close up~~skirts~~ at close distance and upside down?

lulz Razz

Ok, Ill try and take note of some of these points nodnod

By Suixelo. 31/03/09, 11:15 am

Hmm well... To have the time and focus for proper photography, you either need to be not at a con, or at least away from the crowds.

With con photography though, like JP said, I take as many as I can. In my view, it is different than cosplay photography because you have less time, and less focus with your subject. I may be only a beginner photographer with no training, but I read and research a lot. I think it's a problem =P
Anyway, for a good photo, you need a connection with the subject. So that's either by knowing them already and having the trust there, or by being nice and friendly, making them trust you enough to get a good shot. With con photography, it is harder to make the photo rather than just taking it, because most of the photos you take are either not posed, or you are unable to make the photo because your subject is just walking past when you ask for a photo.

Frr now I'm just ranting XD

By Static. 31/03/09, 11:28 am

Depends on whether they're dong a shoot with a cosplayer/cosplay group or just doing event photos. I try to get more "arty" shots, because I know there are people like Jp ( Razz

) who take ALL THE PHOTOS IN THE WORLD EVER and make them available for download. I prefer to go for the photos that nobody else is taking - usally candid closeups, but yeah...putting up awful horrible my-mouth-is-full-and-I-am-crosseyed photos is a pretty cunty thing to do.

With all photographers, you need some professionalism - and according to a recent survey I conducted (on these forums, hehe) the manner and personality of the photographer is a pretty big thing. Good photos can also be taken on cheapo cameras - if you don't know how to use a big fancy one, then they'll probably turn out worse!

**Guest** Guest

I rule at landscape Shots...(or shots of old buildings, as I walk past them following JP and Static..lol) But I want to try my hand at cosplay shots: Convention and Photoshoots...

SS

By neimhaille. 31/03/09, 12:31 pm

Not taking a photo when someone is clearly adjusting a costume or about to speak... So annoying.

I know sometimes people are too shy to want to make you wait for them to get a good picture- my big failure in taking photos of people right there- but when people are clearly there for a while, then just be patient and get the good pics ;)

By Figment_Of_Orange. 31/03/09, 04:11 pm

Woah, these are quick responses. (Heheh, damn newbie)

Another question: After securing the photos, is photo editing preferred?

(Photo editing as in changing the contrast of colours to touching up the actual cosplayer/s themselves).

By Suixelo. 31/03/09, 04:17 pm

I never put photos online until they have been sharpened and colour corrected. I see it as part of the photo, a neccesity. It does take a long time if you take as many photos as I tend to though, so I forgive people who don't =P

Other parts of editing, such as airbrushing etc, I will only do if I have been asked to and I can see their reasoning. I may do something spiffy with a photo if I take a liking to it, but generally I don't have time ;__;