7 Reasons Every Cosplayer Needs a Professional Portrait Session | Victorville Photographer
You’ve created the perfect cosplay. You wear it to the event and get tons of compliments on it. You thought it looked good, but you didn’t realize it looked that good.
Your friend took some photos of you with their phone, you got a few selfies, and you’re happy, but not over the moon excited with how they turned out.
This is why you need an actual portrait session.
You spent endless hours sewing, glueing, forming, adding crystals, and so much more on your cosplay. You deserve to give it some spotlight attention.
I am diving into the why. Follow me down the rabbit hole, won’t you?
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1. A Handmade Cosplay Deserves More Than a Convention Hallway Shot
Yes, your convention is fun and full of great people, including the friends that you went with. But that hallway photo really doesn’t do your cosplay the justice it deserves.
If you’re creating something with a Star Wars theme, an outdoor area with rocks or sand would make a much better backdrop than those front steps outside the convention building.
If you’re cosplaying as a woodland fairy, wouldn’t you want to have a portrait session in the woods? Not in the middle of the convention with vendor booths and tables behind you.
I want you to find a photographer who admires the attention to detail and time that it takes to create a cosplay.
Location will be a major part of your portrait session agenda. What backdrop works perfectly with your cosplay? Rocks, a forest, solid red paper, nighttime, or a little creek?
Basically, anything will be better than the convention hallway.
2. Capturing the Details You Spent Hours Creating
I sew most of my own clothing and have a deep love for the time and effort that goes into creating. Whether it’s clothing, headpieces, gloves, or accessories. You bet your booty, I’m going to capture every little detail.
From the buttons to the stitching to the foam-molded cuffs, I will grab it all.
And, of course, you will be the main character, in character. Ha!
Makeup and props are part of telling your whole story as well.
3. Lighting Can Make or Break Your Work
This is one that most don’t think about. Lighting isn’t top of mind unless you’re a photographer.
You don’t want to be out in harsh daylight if you’re dressed as a spooky witch. And, if you’re a bubbly character, a dark, drab forest just won’t do. These are examples of locations and lighting.
Just like a backdrop, the lighting will help tell your story. And, convince the viewer of who you really are, figuratively speaking.
This is something a professional photographer will have locked in. Even most amateur photographers know lighting.
Southern California has great lighting from San Diego to the High Desert, where I’m located.
I have a studio where I can control the lighting for studio portraits. Or we can venture outside around my property, where there are large junipers, Joshua trees, sand, and hills for a more themed outdoor style session.
4. You Become the Character, Not Just Someone in Costume
Having the location, fun details, time spent creating, lighting, and backdrops will really make or break the look and feel you’re going for.
You don’t simply want to look like the character or blend of characters. You want to be the character! Think of it as being an actor and playing the part. As a former theater kid, this hits home! I want you to become the tree.
When you’re dressed up and in character, it feels like you’re in another world. You’re in a location that feels right, and you can really get into playing the part.
I pull out the camera, and we get to play! It’s your time to shine!
5. Artwork that Celebrates Your Passion and Artistry
This is a big one. HUGE!
You spend time researching, scouting items, creating, and finishing little details that take your cosplay from blah to Huzzah!!
Not to mention deciding who you want to be, or a compilation of characters.
Your cosplay deserves a whole portrait session dedicated to it.
Artwork of your cosplay hanging on a wall is the chef’s kiss! It’s the cherry on top. It’s the proof that you created something big and fabulous. I’m sure there are cosplay outfits you look back on and wish you had taken better photos to remember them by.
You deserve artwork
6. A Keepsake of This Version of You
This is your chance to get keepsake photos. Book a photographer who is passionate about printing artwork.
Albums are a fun way to remember the cosplay. If you have a few cosplays, your photographer can put a whole album together. Bring them all, and depending on time constraints, he or she may love photographing each cosplay. Then, making a whole album for you to have.
You can also ask for different printed items instead, if you’re on a tight budget.
A small photo book, even smaller prints that are of your cosplay on fancier papers, would be nice for you to look back on.
Metal or acrylic artwork always looks gorgeous if your budget is more forgiving. Metal is my personal favorite. It elevates the photo and makes it feel 3D in a way.
A keepsake is just an elevated version for you to remember who you were for a day.
7. The Craft is Real, the Artwork Should Be Too
Back to deserving it. Yes, you do deserve a portrait session dedicated to your cosplay. Some people think conventions and cosplay are childish or weird. And, those people live sad, uncolorful lives, I’m sure.
I say if you love creating and fashioning cosplays, you deserve artwork that shows them off year-round!
Yes, hiring a photographer can be an investment. But so is creating something out of this world, awesome!
You can ask for a gift certificate from friends and family to put towards your future session and artwork.
Your outfit and character took time to create. Don’t just have a friend snap a phone pic in the convention hallway and call it a day. Don’t simply hang up your outfit in the closet and move on to the next. Yes, some cosplays are better than others, and vice versa.
I’m not saying you need a portrait session for each one. But, I am saying, you need a portrait session for that one very special cosplay. The one you spent hours on. The one you have a glue gun scar from, the one you cried over because it wasn’t coming together as you imagined.
THAT one deserves a professional portrait session. And THAT one deserves to get turned into artwork. YOU deserve to be turned into artwork.
If you’d love to book me as your photographer, schedule a call below. I’d love to geek out with you!
