Personal questions

What's your favorite aspect of shooting cosplayers?

The skill and fabrication of costumes.  This art is not easy and to see some characters "come to life", that's really cool.  So when taking pictures, I try to make them look even cooler for the site that is dedicated to promoting the fan conventions.

How many conventions are you averaging a year?

About 25.

What type of shots do you prefer to take? (candids, group shots, stages shots, etc )

It's a report, so I've done them all accordingly.  Candids for panels/events/workshops/artists alley.  Group and face-to-face shots for cosplay.  Stage for concerts, events, etc.

Did you go to school for photography?

Nope.  I started as a fan artist and then moved into professional art and design.  I actually have an extensive artist history so photography is just an extension of that.  I prefer a good shot rather than just documenting for the sake of documentation.  I actually have no idea about all the advanced photo features, I'm just an artist.  hehe

Are you a big anime fan? List some favorites.

Yeah, favorites are: Silent Mobius, Megazone 23, BubbleGum Crisis, Video Girl Ai, Kimagure Orange Road, Macross, Gundam...  mostly stuff from the 80's and early 90's.

What's your typical con-going camera setup? (camera, lenses, battery count, laptop, etc)

Camera, maybe 2 batteries, and laptop.

Are you shooting full resolution?

All the time.

What cameras have been sacrificed to the cause?

2.0MP Epson 850
2.5MP Olympus 2500L
3.1MP Epson 3000Z
5.0MP Olympus C-5050
4.0MP Canon Powershot
G2 4.0MP Canon Powershot G3
6.0MP Canon EOS Digital Rebel (private photoshoots only)
And I hope to soon grab the new 7.0MP Canon Powershot G6

Do you make any money as a result of shooting cosplayer photos?

Nope.

How many poses should a cosplayer have for any given outfit?

1-2.  Sometimes I just direct the cosplayer to help "fill the frame" with peace poses or hand-on-waist shots instead of "standing blank" shots.

Peace sign. Good, bad, or indifferent?

If the cosplayer can't think of any good shots and the hand-on-waist shot is not feasible for the costume, the peace sign is perfectly fine.  I just want a happy photo that makes the cosplay gallery look good.

What's the best way to get a nervous cosplayer to relax for the camera?

I always compliment the costume and sometimes chat a bit about the particular costume, where it's from, etc.  We're all human, so it's okay to be nervous.  I'd be nervous, too if someone I don't know asks me for a photo.

Any costume construction tips as they relate to photography?

Always show the front and smile!  Show off what you worked on the most.  You did an excellent job on the costume, so please show off the very best pose with lots of smiles!

The perfect cosplay photo is...

...one with excellent lighting and uninterrupted scenic background.  Anything that compliments the cosplayer is perfect.  That makes the exclusive 500x370 shots in the reports.

How long should a cosplayer hold their pose while on stage during contests?

Skits being what they are with people taking appropriate positions for various performances, I can't really say.  Skits often involve complex dancing and acting, so holding a pose doesn't really apply.

Where should a cosplayer look while posing on stage?

Always look forward unless the skit requires you to pose backward (dancing performances).

What type of poses give poor results?

Standing straight with no action.

What's the best way to use a flash?

All flash units are different, so can't really say.  Using flash outdoors removes shadows in sunlight, so that's cool.  Using flash indoors is always a must, so not much else really to say.

How should one choose the setting for their portrait?

Against the wall or a good background out of the con traffic.

What are some best-practices when it comes to taking pictures of cosplayers at conventions?

Don't be freaky and always compliment the costume.

What types of pictures should be avoided?

Some people like candids, some people like moody shots, some people like happy ones, so I don't really know.  Whatever makes the costume and cosplayer look really cool is pretty much what everyone should be doing.  Of course, I think people should generally avoid taking pictures of cosplayers while they are busy eating, chatting on the phone, or hurriedly on their way to Masquerade judging sessions.

How do you go about asking a cosplayer to take their photo?

Asking them if I can take their photo, compliment the costume, and then asking them to go towards a wall and not block con traffic.  Sometimes the area is wide open, so I just have them turn towards the best lighting condition or walk them over to an area with best possible lighting.  The lighting part is probably the most difficult thing.

Include cosplayers' footwear in the shot?

Difficult depending on if the camera view can capture everything and what type of photo you're trying to get.  My reports are your standard yearbook-like shots, but I'm sure someone will want to see everything.

Tips on sunlight...

Face the sunlight and smile!