/cgl/ - Cosplay & EGL

because anyone can have a camera

Some basic tips to be a better photographer (provided that you have some basic understanding of the functionality of a reflex camera):
>be observant (notice flaws and fix them /tell the model or stylist to fix them)
>be communicative and confident (make the model feel comfortable, better talk too much than too less, if you are insecure about something the model will be as well)
>have a concept in mind (have some basic knowledge about composition and perspective, if the model is making an awkward pose/expression, have a suggestion/find a way how it can be made better; always be flexible, if an angle doesn't work, drop it and try something else)
>Do nothing halfway. cutting off bits off the hands and feet usually looks bad. As a rule of thumb, either do a portrait, half portrait or full body shot. The sharpness (focus) should always lay in the eyes. If the background is not important to the shoot, consider it in the depth of focus (keep sharpness to the foreground and the background blurred, keep the aperture big/ f-number small).
>If you are not exercised in it, avoid using flash if you can. An exposure time of 1/60 is ideal, adjust the aperture and ISO-speed to that number. If there are lost of movements involved the exposure time can also be set higher.
>Your biggest worry will be light and exposure. Plan your shoot accordingly that you will always have a high amount of natural light while you shoot. When it's getting too dark you should stop or change for flash.
>overexposure is worse than underexposure (well, to a certain degree). You can fix a lot with your editing programm afterwards, but it's easier to fix a picture which came out slighly too dark than the other way round.
That's only about the photography. The editing part which will come afterwards is equally important. But that's another topic. I hope you guys will learn from it.

It's not a big deal.

Everyone once in a while I'll see photos from a photographer I'm acquainted with and I am honestly so upset for the cosplayer. If I had paid money for those pictures I'd fucking cry.

At that's part of why, even though I've had a lot of people tell me that my photography is pretty good, I'm scared to ask for more than like $5 for a photoshoot. Also because I'm really cheap and I assume a lot of other people are too.

i think this need to be bumped

because people don't recognize that anything simply done can also be expertly done

I will pay $20 for a photographer I know and I know he's good.

so why do people hire bad photographers. Its like going to AA and commissioning bad artwork from a bad artist. why would you do this?

where I live, really shitty photographers ask for 70 dollars for a 20pic photoshoot.... I want to move to another country, there's no good photographers here.

I've never had a real photoshoot myself and I don't know where to start. I'm pretty horrible in pictures usually and I feel like I'd be bad in a professional setting as well. How would I find photographers? Online, or at a con? I have a con in a few weeks if that helps.

Also, how much are they usually? I'd rather not spend a lot of money on it, especially if it's my first time meeting the person.

>>7409653
What nation?

>>7409657
What con?

>>7409670
Megacon.

>>7409676

Ive got a photog for ya. ( I stay away from FL or I do it myself ) find me on FB fang fox photos ill lead you the right way

>>7409683
Thanks, I'll send you a message.

>>7409670
Brazil. To get good pics we usually have to learn to take them by ourserves or pay a professional not related to anime or gaming... so it gets up to 150 dollars converted to reais... it gets around 500 reais.

>>7409694

BA GWAD!!

I may be doing a shoot in Chile in about a year if you want to go across South America...

$30 max for a 1-hour shoot. None of that 30-min crap or a limit on the amount of edited photos back (not like Anna's 3 photos for $100 shoot).

I don't know how photographers can charge $50 for a 30-minute shoot and only give 3-5 edited photos back. I'd get more pictures out of a self-timer if that were the case.

>shoot for free
>get photos to people within a day or two
>everyone's happy
>see people charging stupid amounts for shitty photographs which are photoshopped to hell and back
I don't get it. I mean my photos are average at most (and the people I shoot are happy with them) but I can't believe people pay for stuff that you could easily get for free.

I used to have no problems paying like 20, 30, even 40 bucks for a photoshoot if I knew the photographer and I knew I would get a good return on photos for my time. But all of that changed when I started waiting 6 to 8 months to get photos back from a paid shoot. Or in the case of two photogs I can think of off the top of my head, the photos I got back were so shitty I couldn't use any of them. I'm still waiting on some photos, now going on three years, even though I see the photographer is still doing shoots...and posting them on their page. And if you have a problem with your shoot, you can forget talking to them about it because they bitch and whine behind the scenes since they think they're perfect, and tell all their other photographer friends to blacklist you.
So after all that shit, I decided I wasn't paying a dime for cosplay photography anymore. There are plenty of photographers who are good and friendly and will shoot for free. So I go to them now, because most of the ones who charge nowadays are fucking scammers.

Speaking of overpriced cosplay photographers, Affliction Cosplay is back to having 1,257 likes in his Facebook page. He's been guilty of buying likes before on his old page, wouldn't be surprised if he's still doing it

Also, don't work with him. He over charges, his photoshop is shit, and is arrogant as shit for someone who is a dime a dozen at cons.
He also gets butthurt when he doesn't get his way and starts untrue rumors and crap about cons and people.

>>7414220

The main reason I feel comfortable charging as much as I do is because I get photos back within three weeks of the con and give around 20 edited shots per half hour I shoot with the person/group. I don't understand why people pay even more than I charge to photographers who don't deliver in time, and then they passively whine about it on their blog or whatever.

I'm a professional, I do weddings and I'm used to contracts, and while I don't feel the need to require contracts for con photoshoot work (yet I guess) I still work with a deadline and I would never go over. I'm getting Katsucon photos back to my clients today as soon as I go back to my Google Drive tab.

Who is the worst photographer in your area?

>>7417041
Affliction cosplay photography I guess. Or he's the one that just gets enough attention to be noticed.

What are your views on photographers as con guests? Chase complains that since there are cosplay guests, cosplay photographers should be guests too...and then he hassles cons in the area and when he doesn't get special treatment he spreads rumors and shit about the cons.

TL:DR I really hate Chase Lawrence of Affliction cosplay and think he's talentless scum.

>>7413939
Quality over quantity faggot.
Why buy 10 Nokias when you can get 1 iPhone? Go suck a dick.

>>7417535
Didn't BGZ and Beethy call him out on the buying likes?

And with that, nyone can be a model.

>>7417634
A real model?

heh i wish some of you would attempt to hire a professional photographer demanding the stuff you ask of a cosplay photographer

>>7417917
all i'm asking is, if you cant ground stuff, don't add random shit into the photo.

Girl and building, in crisp focus
tress between girl and building, horribly out of focused
why are some of those fish flying out of her ass?
where is the fucking sun? Girl has shadow in front of her, building has shadow behind it.
Girl has light against the side of her dress that the building has shadow on.

I'm willing to forgive the light/shadow thing, but no the out of focus tress, not when the building is that in focus.

>>7417535
>Affliction Cosplay
Does he still make peoplel sign exclusivity contract with him and make them an Affliction model?

>>7413939
I wouldn't take your job. A cheap job is several hundred.

I'd rather (and do) shoot with good cosplayers that I like what they cosplay, thats 99% of my shoots.

I'm not shooting something I've got no interest in for $30.

>>7418371
>cospaly

>>7418371
wow.....a contract to get a picture of your cosplay...I know this guy goes to a lot of cons around here

>>7409683
>fang fox photos

blegh. you shouldn't be trying to give advice. You have a ways to go. amateur at best

>>7418641
>Affliction cosplay

model releases should be signed by everybody. Get over yourself and sign a model release unless you want to be a little bitch or pay significantly.

Fax Fox thinks he's relevant because he hangs out with Anna Fischer.

>>7418395
This is what I'm used to with photographers honestly. It's sort of a lot asking someone who has equipment worth several hundred to thousands of dollars, who has (hopefully) years of experience and training, along with time spent on both the shoot and editing to do a photo shoot for $30/hour and expect nothing back but laughter.

But looking at the cosplay scene, a good 80% to 90% of people who cosplay and attend cons do so with a fairly conservative budget and a sizeable chunk don't exactly put 100% into their costumes. Using that, it's not surprising to find people who only want to pay $30-$50 for photos on their costume that only cost maybe $50-$400 instead of the several hundred for a photo shoot with a pro.

>>7418765
> But looking at the cosplay scene, a good 80% to 90% of people who cosplay and attend cons do so with a fairly conservative budget and a sizeable chunk don't exactly put 100% into their costumes. Using that, it's not surprising to find people who only want to pay $30-$50 for photos on their costume that only cost maybe $50-$400 instead of the several hundred for a photo shoot with a pro.

This is why Im not sure why any photog worth their salt would want to market so heavily to the cosplay crowd at con.

There are better places to make a living as a photographer and the cosplayers that want good photos will pay for shoots not at a convention center.

I think the exception to this would be something like Colossal Con where the surroundings and backdrops that the park offers are interesting and can be used for a lot of costumes.

>>7415632
He tried starting crap about a photog from my area that I know well. Vaguebooking statuses about how she shot things.

>>7417549
how does one "buy likes"

is he trading photos for likes on FB?

>>7418791
you can just go to a website and purchase them. they basically are just random people you've never met or talked to that are paid to like your page and since facebook doesn't tell you who it is that likes the page they look legit.

>>7418796
thats interesting, wonder if some cosplayers do that

would totally explain why pages go from 200 to 1500 overnight

>>7409676
>Megacon
See if the Papanotzzi still have room on their schedule. They're really solid and unless you want something elaborate, they'll usually shoot just for the fun of it.

>>7418743
>>7418733

>>7418796
>>7418791
You can also "Buy" likes from facebook which is essentially the same thing. Though they don't call it "buying likes" its "Extending the reach of your post".

>>7418860
You're just another cosplayer turned GWC #shotsfired

>>7417917
Wanting them to be actually good at taking photos and asking them to send you then photos in a reasonable time isn't exactly a lot to demand.

>>7418907
I should care what some person on 4chan say no one ever


Fine better bait bro

>pay 60 bucks for a photoshoot for two people in October
>wait. A lot.
>ask about photos in November
>guys says we'll have photos before Christmas
>actually receive photos in January
>Photos aren't even that great

SO PRO.

>>7418972

Sounds like you're fault for hiring a shitty photographer

>>7418940

wut

The solution to all of this is to just come to California because there's so many photographers they couldn't ask for money if they wanted to

>>7418985
Masamune Captures still in hiding since Jnig called him out?

>>7418860
Stop hugging Ken Morrill's nuts

>>7419004
is that the one who got mad a jnig for selling a print of a photo he took and editing out the watermark? and then her agent(?) got mad because he took a photo of her "unauthorized" (lol posing in a public place)

>>7419020

yup

>>7419007

hahahaha

>>7419020
That's him lol

>>7418934
People bitch at the prices that come with pros who do.

>>7418765
Paying for a photoshoot just ruins the fun. You go into the shoot having high expectations since you paid and if you arent satisfied youre mad, it just tenses both parties. Its difficult to get relaxed and natural shots if its paid

>>7419035
Like pro steadicam operators charge for video shooting a con, spent thousands on steadicam pilots, they do it for free

As a photog I just laugh at paid photoshoots, if you need to paid to get shots you're cosplay just sucks and isn't worthwhile shooting

If you're a good cosplayer you will get good photogs running to you for shots, period

>>7419042
This nigga gets it

>>7419042
who would pay for a cosplay video anyway? I mean, what would you do to make it worthwhile? there's too many things that can go wrong/go mediocre about it

>>7419042
Truth. It means your cosplay is not interesting no matter how great you think you are.

good cosplayers are a dime a dozen

also there are a lot of bad photogs out there

so yeah you will get photos. No promise on if they will be good or ever get posted

Guilty of the 8 month delay. The sad part that I was done 7 months ago

>>7419040
This is very true. More tension on both sides, and more room for mistakes.

>>7419040
>>7419042
>>7419044
>>7419059
>>7419127

These are just assumptions. If you do obscure, characters that aren't recognized in conversation then the likely hood that photographers will flock to you.
However, if you pay for a shoot and hire a photographer that knows what they are doing, you will get top notch results. Just do some research first.

If you want guaranteed exposure, show tits and ass, but at that point you aren't going to get the exposure that is appreciated in the cosplay community.

Sincerely, Professional photographer who also shoots cosplay.

>>7419155
>However, if you pay for a shoot and hire a photographer that knows what they are doing, you will get top notch results. Just do some research first.
>If you want guaranteed exposure, show tits and ass, but at that point you aren't going to get the exposure that is appreciated in the cosplay community.

"However, if you pay for a shoot and hire a photographer that knows what they are doing, you will get top notch results. Just do some research first."
Not true. If you do great cosplays and ask a cosplay photographer for shots, more than likely you will get free shots. Ask a wedding fagtog and you'll get shots but I guarantee that photoshoot won't be as fun and natural since there's two different interests. With that saved money from free shoots you can budget more into your costume/cosplay and make it much better

"If you want guaranteed exposure, show tits and ass, but at that point you aren't going to get the exposure that is appreciated in the cosplay community."
Not true... if you're cosplay is nice, you will get shots.

just stop making shitty cosplay

>>7419244
So if you have an accurate and well made Magic Knights Rayearth uniform cosplay, will that mean you'll get good shots taken by good photographers? What if people don't recognize the series but still a well done costume? For some people, that is the case and would like to hire a photographer to make sure they get decent looking pictures back

Unless you have a big dress, sword, armor, showing tits or ass, already popular, really pretty/handsome or doing a recent popular series or film, you won't get asked for pictures or asked to be in a video.

>>7419508
If it's their battle outfit, you will likely have some flock to you. If it's a school uniform, don't expect the same. Unless you have a lot of photographer friends.

>>7419530
That's the point, even if something is well-made but not containing armor, swords, large props and etc, the chances of getting a photographer to come to you is not that high. The cosplay can be nice and great quality but that doesn't mean that you'll get people wanting to shoot or film you.

>>7417539
>Quality over quantity faggot.
>Why buy 10 Nokias when you can get 1 iPhone? Go suck a dick
Quality is all fine and dandy, but if someone is charging $100 and you only get 5 edited photos, that's a fucking rip-off, period. Choke on horse cocks.

>>7419530
**this is a reply to >if you're cosplay is nice, you will get shots >>7419244

>>7409616
>why do people hire bad photographers

Obviously those people must think the photographers are good. The only other explanation is the cosplayer is so drama oriented and has burned enough bridges with enough photographers that they must pay someone to photograph them.

I know this might be a weird foreign concept to understand but not everyone has the exact same tastes or opinions of all photographers or their work. While you may think someone is a shitty photographer, another cosplayer might actually like their work.

>>7419543
Photographer takes photos for free and doesn't edit them, gets complained about.
Photographer takes photos and edits them for a price under minimum wage, gets complained about.

>>7419543
if they are pimp ass photos, might b ok

>>7419020
>is that the one who got mad a jnig for selling a print of a photo he took and editing out the watermark?
Sounds like he had every right to be pissed off. If he wanted to he could sue her for violating his copyright.

>>7419577
I thought that buying a photo sort of... gave you the rights to it.

If you buy a print of yourself, you should be able to have a photo unobstructed by a watermark.

>>7419047
>who would pay for a cosplay video anyway?
I can see a group who has a skit that they want to record paying for a videographer, or even a solo cosplayer who has a routine or an idea about a scene they'd like to carry out.

>>7419582
it doesn't
she didn't pay for it either. efamous people don't pay for photos, silly. you're getting the privilege to work with JNIG! JNIG!

you get whatever the photographer gives you and a lot of photographers are very iffy about giving away photo rights and giving away their raw camera files

>>7419572
>if they are pimp ass photos, might b ok
They would have to be amazing on a level that I'd literally fall out of my chair from being so overwhelmed by their beauty. (in other words - never happen)

>>7419582
>If you buy a print of yourself, you should be able to have a photo unobstructed by a watermark.
Really depends on the agreement. If the photographer agrees to provide someone with a watermark-free photo, then that's one thing. If the photo is watermarked and someone removes it, even if the subject in the photo did it, they are violating copyright. I know if someone did that to my photos I would be fucking pissed. I don't charge, so the least someone can do is keep my goddamn watermark on there so people know who took it.

>>7419593
if the dude took a while to composite or edit it'd make for a very cheap hourly rate. if it took him two minutes and all he did was export and resize, no edits, then yeah, $100 would be too much.

>>7419608
>if the dude took a while to composite or edit it'd make for a very cheap hourly rate.
If it takes that long to edit 5 photos, then that guy might want to take up a new hobby, or consider charging a lot less. I can rock out WAY more photos than that in an hour of editing.

>>7419582

Buying a physical print doesn't not mean you have the copyright of the original photo. It means you have ownership of a physical item.

The whole situation was that the photo was clearly edited to hide his watermark. He tried talking to her about it, he was ignored and went public. It kinda shows you just how little power of voice cosplayers give photographers until it is public.

I pay for my shots, I usually work with the same two photographers at every con. Both charge $20-$30 per half hour. I honestly don't mind paying, because after working with a large variety of photographers, both paid and free, I much prefer paying for those two. They are always willing to spend extra effort and care shooting my costumes, and will shoot at multiple locations, let me judge the photos as I go, help fix anything going wrong with my cosplay in the shot, and will edit and give back 15-20 shots within 2-3 weeks after a con. I've never gotten that same amount of care and attention to what they are shooting from a free photographer

That said, there are a lot of photographers that charge and are complete shit. It's all about researching and finding the photographers that are worth your money

>>7419616
And this is most likely why you aren't one of the talented photographers.

>>7419616
this is all hypothetical because i don't think anyone actually pays for $100 shoots
$30-50 is probably more realistic and that still makes for a cheap hourly if they guy is doing a lot of post work.

>>7419629
just out of curiosity, how much do you end up paying overall?

>>7419638
Usually $30-$60 per con. I normally debut at least one large, elaborate cosplay per con, and then any smaller casual cosplays I do I will just book with one the the okay free photographers I know, since I don't really need amazing photos of those

After spending $150- $300 on a costume, I don't mind spending money to get really good photos of it. I just consider it as part of the overall costume cost

>>7419677
oh, not that bad. i was thinking more because you mentioned multiple locations and shooting at one, moving, shooting some more, would add up

>>7419632
>And this is most likely why you aren't one of the talented photographers.
And being anon is why you will never know one way or the other.

>>7419635
>this is all hypothetical because i don't think anyone actually pays for $100 shoots
>$30-50 is probably more realistic and that still makes for a cheap hourly if they guy is doing a lot of post work.
I'd still feel bad only handing out 5 shots for a paid shoot. I think 10 would be a much better number. Any more than that and all the shots would start looking too similar anyway if they're all taken at the same location.

>>7419706
Nope. Well, the main one I work with, we've worked together for years, and she's normally willing to move around to get more interesting shots, even if it takes a bit longer. The other we normally do only 1-2 locations per shoot

>>7419711
Majority of any of the "good photographers" don't get on 4chan. It is always the dramafags that wanna talk shit about other photographers which I guess to help boost their own ego.

>>7419789
>Majority of any of the "good photographers" don't get on 4chan. It is always the dramafags that wanna talk shit about other photographers which I guess to help boost their own ego.
Judging by that other photog thread, I am inclined to agree. I am not like that, however. The only people taking pictures that I ever complain about are the dicks with their cell phones when they walk in front of me when I'm snapping pics. Other than that, I try to give good advice when I can, and sure as hell don't talk down to others. Since I don't charge, there is no competition, so I have nothing to lose by being supportive of other photographers.

>>7419629
You're probably a landwhale cosplayer... lmfao.

>>7419789

i come here for the asshole, pieces of shit who dog on everything. If I can handle this group of dicks criticizing my work, I can handle anybody.

Also, what would you consider "well known". Most people don't give a shit about photographers outside of their region.

>>7420273
Must be great when you are #sofamous

Anyone know a decent photographer for Colossalcon and Otakon?

>>7420596
Also curious about these and ACEN. Preferably looking for a well known photographer though, trying to get some of my cosplays to actually be seen by the general public so more photographers will seek me out. I had 2 come to me for katsucon and it's so much easier than trying to book multiple photographers, pay for it, and have like maybe 5 people see the picture when it goes on their facebook.

The Cosplay Fox apparently is also a photographer.
Go look her up on FB as Foxwithcamera

>>7420677
More Fang Fox faggotry

>>7420596
I'm decent but I ain't self-shaming myself here
Do your research

>>7420683

>>Learn2read

>>7420935
>Fang Fox
You took this photo? Damn, you're garbage...

>>7421113

Then why are you following me?

>>7421443
I'm not, someone mentioned your name in the thread and I looked you up

>>7421452

>>I'm not, someone mentioned your name in the thread and I looked you up

didn't think any of the other photos you past where bad enough to put up?

>>7421478

strange, my trip dropped. I wanna make sure you know its me

>>7421482
Stop that Adam Jay over dramatic garbage

>>7421988

you bumped this thread for that lame ass line. I legit had to look up who Adam Jay was

>>7420677
everything she does looks terrible

I got through a lot of the stuff when i came across the like thing. I honestly wish mine would go down :/...i gained 1200 and then a friend i made who has a very big page shared mine and over night i gained almost 4k likes....it makes me feel cheap becasue i know im not at the level that deserves it :/

>>7414065

I agree with you there Anon, I'm not a "professional", but I do enjoy photographing people at cons. I have had some pretty decent shots over the years and have been offered money after the shoot, which I typically turn down.

Personally, I really feel that a lot of these cosplayers put in effort, time, and resources into building their costumes, and if I happen to be a fan of the series they cosplay from/happen to like the design, I usually ask politely if I may have about 5~15 minutes of their time for a quick shoot. More likely than not, they typically are happy to pose for a few shots and sometimes even want to schedule longer shoots.

As a fellow fan, I don't feel like it's "work", but just a part of the convention experience which I look forward to, and in the process get to meet some rather interesting people. And of course, after the con, make sure to get these pictures done and sent to the cosplayers and collaborate on future shoots/concepts together down the line.

For those who want to turn it into something lucrative, it really isn't a good market in my opinion. It's already super saturated since it's so easy to grab a camera and declare yourself a professional and it's not like every cosplayer is loaded with cash money. But who knows, maybe there's a magic formula I'm missing out on.

Either way, as a fellow fan, I'm happy to photograph people in general, regardless of the potential for monetary gain, and honestly, I think this should be the base attitude, especially for those just starting out in photography that want to shoot cosplayers.

>>7422005
stop lying to yourself

>>7422201
4k likes overnight, sounds legit.... not.
I mean look at all the photogs Jnig, Yaya, and the other cosplayers on their coattails for likes. They share photographers before and those photographers never jumped even half that over night. I mean a 1.9 mil and a 600K page can't get a photographer 4k over night, I highly doubt your friend did.

Then again, rumor has it you have been buying likes and just trying to hit up girls to shoot nude shoots while also name dropping the shit out of other cosplayers.

>>7420572

>>7419004
That guy's a dick. He's only interesting in shooting cos "famous" people.

>>7419004
Tyron is pretty arrogant. All he seems to be interested now is his "after dark" series where he gets cosplayers in a hotel room and shoot lingerie.

>>7408998
Is it possible to get good photos in front of a green screen? A photographer offered to do a session and he wants to take pics of me in front of a screen.

>>7424370
depends on this persons shop skills. ask to see their work.

>>7422005
Fang Fox, how are you gonna be promoting yourself in this thread when you putting out garbage?

>>7424375
There's some good work and then there's some that's like, wtf happened here. I'm hoping that my photos turn out okay..

>>7424397
you can tell a person is really new to photography when they can't self-cull

>>7424413
Wow.

>>7424397
lol, do you even look at the photos you're watermarking your shit on?

>>7422005
Fang Fox here's a recent one you posted. You blind dawg?

>>7424472
>>7424397
>>7421113
wut

I hate to say this but anyone CAN be a photographer. It just doesnt look great. As a professional photographer I can say nothing we do is really that hard, and for most "con" photographers is just an excuse to creep up close.

>>7424776
also no idea who this Fang guy is but he clearly has no idea how to operate is camera.

>>7424779
Don't worry about him, he's just here for chubby white girl pussy.

>>7424791

me too, nigga

>>7424397

didnt know this thread was alive. Also why did you yank the EXIF when you edited the photo

also thanks for the added traffic ;)

>>7425731
Ain't nobody got time for that shit. That came straight from your fan page. You should check your portfolio. You probably couldn't find your ass with your own two hands.

>>7425731
>>7425927
It really is there on your page unedited

>>7425954

guess i didnt edit it then oh well

>>7425954
holy shit is this person a bad photographer, i hope they improve so that they can live up to their fucking ego

>>7426026
Burn! Go tell your friends on your podcast

>>7424364
Haha... wow. Confirms my and my friend's theory about him being a pervert.

>>7408998
>One of my biggest pet peeves is when part of my costume or wig isn't in the proper position, yet the photographer doesn't let me know until after the pictures are posted, resulting in a wasted shoot. Anyone else have this happen?

Happened several times and it's the most frustrating thing. I do not expect all photographers to know a series or be able to know the finer bits of a costume. But it's easy enough to tell if my skirt went out of order, or my wig has started to slip back during the shoot or maybe a strap shifted.

To all photographers tell your cosplayers if you're spotting a costume or wig malfunction, it's the worst seeing pictures after a con and realising they're all unuseable.

>>7426954
>wig isn't in the proper position
As a photog, that is what I spend the most of my time editing.
Fucking wigs, man. Just when you think you've taken all the precautions to make them stay how they should, they don't.

>I do not expect all photographers to know a series
Sometimes it's best if you do. I don't like shooting anything I don't know precisely because it makes me unsure of a lot more than just an out of place wig.

>>7426954
The photographer shouldn't be posting pics if they're unusable anyways...

>>7420677
does she have some kind of medical condition?
apparently these photos were taken one year apart

>>7433948
I don't even know who she is. How is this relevant to cosplay photographers?

>>7433948
That cut off elbow in the left picture...

I have a question. Why do cosplay "photographers" always edit their photos heavily? Real photographers don't do that shit as standard procedure.
Is it an american thing, or is it just to pad some self esteem into the cosplay community?

>>7433984
And the cut-off foot on the right one.

>>7433989
I do light photoshop. Mostly fix color temp, contrast/brightness, light transient blemish removal. I don't go beyond that for free pics, as I never charge at cons.

OP, generally speaking people lack the ability to view something they did in an objective manner. I was lucky in how I started my photo career, in that, I had someone constantly tell me everything I did was shit. I started shooting 135, so we would toss the negatives in the enlarger and make big prints. From a large print anything that you did wrong is immediately noticeable. I shoot mostly 6x6 now-a-days. But I think one of the major problems is how accessible photography is in the digital era; people just don't seem to have patience in the practice any more. They will stand there and open the shutter and monkey it "oh this ones alright" and repeat, they don't understand you should know if the photo is going to be good or bad when looking through the viewfinder. Also, prep work! I see people rolling their dials like crazy while shooting. You should have your ISO, Sv, and Av set before you ever start with a model, until you start changing lighting of course.

>>7433989
They probably don't understand why photographers edit or they lack direction in their editing.

>>7433989
>>7433989
>Real photographers don't do that shit as standard procedure.
don't be so sure about that one

>>7434019
fuck that shit, i'm gonna change my aperture on the fly

>>7433989
There are multiple types of editing for fucks sake
There is graphic design edit, that is when the photography doesn't matter anymore...
There is fashion editing, retouch the skin to fashion standards aka magazine cover standards (what I do)
And then there is light editing, which is minor exposure/contrast adjustments

The problem with light editing is that anyone with a DSLR shooting RAW and has a monkey brain can do it. How to differentiate yourself? Different types of lighting techniques, or editing in different styles. That is why you have photographers doing what they do. It isn't enough to snap pics anymore, anyone fagshit can do it

>>7434032
alright, you're like a teen photograph, I take it. When they want a new facebook profile or a graduation photo where they don't look shit. Your selling point is that you alter reality, rather than portray it.

>>7434065
considering he does fashion photo editing, i'm forced to agree
perfection in the face of imperfection is how they roll

>>7434065
If I wanted to portray reality, I can hand over my DSLR to my mom and work with the picture she took for me, that's the difference

>>7434065
No one said photography ever had to be reality
Art used to be about drawing what you see, now it's drawing whatever the fuck you want, it doesn't even have to make sense for it to be a piece of art displayed in paris

I'm right here.

>>7418985

Nope.

>>7434094
Don't confuse brushing up facebook photos for art.

>>7434347
Dont confuse simply taking a DSLR and press the button is art

>>7419004

I wasn't hiding.

>>7433989
Everyone wants to be Matin Wong now

>>7433989
>Real photographers

Any which well known photographers are you talking about. Russell James?

>>7436286
Who is Matin Wong and why would someone want to be him or her?

Any tips for starting a cosplay photography service (except for the "just do it")?

Tips on building reputation, how to appeal to cosplayers, etc. It'd be awesome to have some extra money come in during con-time (Toronto).

I've got directing experience so I know how to make people look good on camera but I'm worried cosplay photography is some beast with unexpected challenges.

Also, probably a big problem, I've never had model shoots before. All my good photos have been more action-shots and event shots. If I were to do a service, it'd be less posing and more moving/me shooting - is this recommended to be avoided for cosplayers?

Basically, what do you wish your photographers did? And yeah, I'm reading through the thread.

>>7436680
i'm slightly confused because you say you have directing experience but you don't have experience with posing people??
anyway you're gonna have to get over it and learn how to pose people because there are a lot of cosplayers who aren't going to know what to do with themselves and telling them to "just move" isn't going to be very helpful to them. also if you have never done this before and you have no previous experience working with any sort of models, don't expect to make money from this anytime soon. think about it from their perspective, would you pay actual money for a photographer when they don't have any sort of porfolio at all? no, you wouldn't. just go to conventions, take pictures, tell people where they can find them online, and if people like them, then they'll be more willing to pay you for the service.

>>7436693
I meant I was unfamiliar studio-like posing where models have to hold shape (which looks super dead in photos, anyways) I'm more experienced with movement.

I'm just kind of wondering how to begin doing photoshoots with cosplayers. I have literally no cosplaying friends. Do I just approach and be all "Hey, want a free photoshoot?" Or do I keep a page running and mention that I do free photoshoots?

I'm not expecting to make money until I know I'm good at what I do.

>>7436699
>Do I just approach and be all "Hey, want a free photoshoot?"
>Or do I keep a page running and mention that I do free photoshoots?
both. post online before the convention that you're offering free shoots. good places to post would be on the con's forum or in the con's tag on tumblr. if no one responds or if people do respond and you have plenty of time between shoots, just go up to people with cosplays you'd be interested in shooting and ask them if they'd like to do a shoot with you. even if they aren't interested in a full shoot, get a hallway shot and mention to them where they can find the photo after the con.

>>7436631
The poster of >>7436286 meant "Martin Wong"
He's obsessed about taking photos of e-famous female cosplayers and bumping saturation to the max, and that's just the tip of the iceberg

>source: googling "Martin Wong cosplay photography"

>>7436699
>"Hey, want a free photoshoot?" Or do I keep a page running and mention that I do free photoshoots?
both

>>7436680
>Tips on building reputation
don't be bad
be on time both for the shoot and in delivery
don't look like a jackass
to be a good model photographer you need to be a good talker. they need to be comfortable in order to get the best results. you need to get them there.

>If I were to do a service, it'd be less posing and more moving/me shooting
tough because a lot of people don't know how to move properly. you'd definitely be different though. whether or not that equals good results is another thing.

Don't expect to make money period. If it happens, it happens, and for the love of god be good at what you're doing when you're asking for money.

>>7426026
Where's this Google chat you keep telling everyone about?

>>7425954
holy fuck do you even review your own pictures

bump

>>7436720
>mfw not e-famous, don't have a facebook
>mfw "cosplayers that ONLY take pictures of e-famous girls!" still want my picture
maybe you butthurt subpars should try making better costumes and wear some makeup
>noface cause at work

Working as Photographer myself now for almost 3 years, both in and out of the convention scene, I can tell you some things you begin to notice pretty fast

>People with subpar equipment will either take some of the best shots at cons or the worst
>People that have high end equipment either take forever to upload their photos online/never see them again and or take great stuff you see within a few days after an event
> Most of us don't get paid shit at these events. Even if we charge, people complaint or they just go to someone who isn't charging at the moment
>Most cosplayers can be quite insulting of most photographers' work even to people that shoot them all the time
>Being asked to take a cell phone photo of someone with their phone rather then with my 1,500 dollar camera with high-end lens.
>"Photohgraphers" that don't know the different between RAW and JPG formats and also using their pop up flash all the time
>Losing friends over unpaid photoshoots, unpaid car rides to locations for shoots, becoming the "photo" guy to them and resenting it to the point where you just can't be friends anymore
>Decent Photographers that fuck up their photos by using photoshop too much
>Having to watermark all your photos because people will steal that shit otherwise even if you are just starting out (happened to me)

>>7424397
Someone doesn't understand how exposure works I can see

Are most (good) cosplay photogs self-taught or do they take classes? I've thought a lot about getting into photography but have no clue where to start. I've casually taken photos with a DSLR but I doubt I can produce anything decent if I don't know jack about settings etc.

>>7441007
Just read the manual and watch videos. The rest is having an eye for photography.

>>7440948
>>Being asked to take a cell phone photo of someone with their phone rather then with my 1,500 dollar camera with high-end lens.
God I have had this happen so many times. Standing there with $2k+ gear around my neck/in my hands, and someone hands their fucking iPhone to me and asks "can you take a quick picture?"

>>7441007
Taking classes is for retards who think they can do this as a job. Most are self-taught. Ansel Adams was self-taught.

>>7441438
People learn in different ways, dick.

>>7441423
Get over yourself. Shit, it takes just a moment and compared to the photos they'll get later it will look fantastic. Plus, your eye for photography will probably frame it up better then they would.

>>7440955
Looks like the flash didn't fire and he missed it in the batch. Not everybody are as dickish as cgl.

>>7440948
Losing friends through photography? You are doing it wrong.

>>7441423
>get photographed by people with rig sin the thousands
>so excited for pictures
>I never, ever find them, probably in some fap bank somewhere

>>7419616
I typically work with a professional print photographer who does my shoots for free. He spends at least a couple hours processing each photo, so I only get the best 5 back. I see the photos before/after editing and it's absolutely worth the time he spends on them.

The photographers I've worked with that give me 10+ photos usually just throw a filter on all of them in lightroom and that's it. I much prefer the former personally.

>>7441926
>I never, ever find them, probably in some fap bank somewhere
Ask them for a card. I'd say the majority of photogs who have decent gear also have cards. I know I do. I just never hand them out unless someone asks for them. Seems pretentious to hand them out when nobody asked for one, and I don't want them getting thrown in the trash.

>>7441956
>He spends at least a couple hours processing each photo, so I only get the best 5 back.
Wtf... unless he's shopping all kinds of extra shit into the photo (like adding castles and seabirds and weird shit) there is no excuse to take a couple of hours on a photo, unless the original photo was shit-tier out of the camera.

>>7441910
>Losing friends through photography? You are doing it wrong.
different anon but it kinda sounds like some people were just using them for photoshoots which is pretty shitty