Cosplayers: How to Help Photographers Get the Best Pics of You

The Melbourne Anime Festival is just around the corner, and all around the world there are conventions throughout the year. As a photographer, I love cosplayers. The outfits are interesting to look at, the people are usually outgoing and happy to be photographed, and at conventions, there are so many photo opportunities. Cosplay competitions are especially great, as you get a parade of fantastic costumes to photograph, all standing in the same spot!

If you are a cosplayer, you’ve put a lot of work into your outfit, and you’ll want to have great photos of them. I’ve compiled a list of tips and suggestions for you to follow if you want to help photographers get the best possible photos of your work. Some of these tips apply specifically to the cosplay competition, but many are helpful wherever you are in your costume.

Tips for Cosplayers

• Dress to Impress – Colourful and intricate costumes will make me go “wow” every time. The huge Soul Calibur group at Manifest last year took my breath away! The stage was glittering and shining with lots of colour and movement. I couldn’t shoot fast enough!
• Bland is Bad – On the other hand, simple or bland costumes are far less fun to look at. I’m not a fan of Bleach cosplays simply because they all look so simple and similar. If I’d seen Bleach I’m sure I’d enjoy it more, but from a costume perspective only, I find them bland.
• Get Expressive – If the character you love does has a simple outfit, you can compensate for that by being very expressive with your movements. Think theatrically. Exaggerate your movements and expressions. Go for physical comedy if it suits your character. Even the simplest ‘anime school girl’ costume will be memorable and photogenic if you know how to pose.

• Know How to Pose – There are few things more frustrating than when a cosplayer has made a gorgeous costume, but doesn’t show it off enough. Some first time cosplayers are so timid, it seems like they can’t get off stage fast enough. Others strike a pose, and hold it rock steady for the whole time they’re on stage. If you happen to be standing side-on to me, I can’t get a good photo of your costume unless you move! Please have at least two, preferably three different poses, and change your angle so we can see the hard work you put into your costume.
• Hold It – On the topic of poses, when you strike one, please hold it for at least three to five seconds. Some poses are great, but if you only stay like that for less than a second, it’s very easy to miss getting that shot.
• On Your Mark – Please try to stay near to the mark on the stage. I understand you need to move around for your skit, and that’s fine, but if half the action occurs behind the speaker or podium, I’m not gonna get any photos of that.
• Go Wireless – For the last couple of years at Manifest there has been a wireless mic available. That makes me very happy, because a mic cord, or worse, mic stand, can ruin an otherwise great photo. If you are offered the wireless mic, please take it.
• Lose the Mic – Regarding mic use, if you need it for your skit, please pass it back before you do your poses. A mic in shot isn’t as nice as one without the mic.

• Pose After a Skit – IF you have time after your skit, please take a few seconds to take a few poses for us. Skits often move so fast it’s impossible to get a clear photo. Allowing us the time to get those photos will make us very happy, and probably make it easier for the judges to see your work, thus improving your chances of getting a good score.

These tips are obviously from my personal perspective, but many many people watching the cosplay comp are taking photos, and all photographers will appreciate it. I’m sure that you also want to have good photos of yourself in the competition as well, so helping photographers out also helps you to get the best photos possible.

I’ll follow up this post with another one with tips for photographers, revived from the archives.