Kosplay FAQ

So what goes into a cosplay FAQ, you might ask?  Well, this one is based off of something that is important to all cosplayers: the photos you take or get taken of you at conventions.  Sure, it doesn't seem like a big deal, but with a few ideas in mind, you can make the photos you take at any cosplay moment into photos worthy of posting on your website.

I've been to cosplay sites where the cosplay photos are so dark you can't see costumes, or the photos are off-center, effectively cutting the cosplayer out of the photo.

(1) I start with the first rule: Do NOT center the cosplayer's head in the center of the frame (as shown below).

Why all the white space?  And you can't see the whole costume, either?  The point of cosplay photos is to demonstrate the entire package of cosplayer, costume, and the "play" aspect.  I want to see who made boot covers for their Rikku costume, or who found real boots.  I want to see the train on Yuna's wedding dress, not just the upper torso.  There's no reason to put the cosplayer's head in the middle of the photo, except for that rigid training many of us have undergone.  "Center the photo," we're told.  Not anymore.

Now, upper torso shots do have a place.  But if you're taking one, still do not put the cosplayer's head in the center!  Center it as shown below:

Notice how efficient your camera space is!  And you get the beautiful upper torso of the costume.  It makes a great close-up.

(2) The second rule: Learn about your camera, or make sure to ask about the camera you're using.  Nothing hurts more to get home from a con, expecting beautiful photos, only to discover that the friend you instructed to use your camera kept taking off-center pictures.  Cameras are fickle objects.  Some have simple picture boxes (what you see when you look through the viewfinder), such as the example below.  It's a simple way to take pictures.  A "point and click" method.

Other cameras have the actual picture box "within" the larger box.  This may not make sense, so here's an example:

As you can see, the rounded l-shapes, not the edges of the viewfinder, are the edges of the photo.  Sometimes these can be hard to see, so try to keep it in mind that not everyone has Kodak's easy use brand camera.  This will increase your chance of taking good pictures with a friend's camera, or getting good pictures from people who "borrow" yours.

(3) Rule three: Cameras have lots of special features.  Some auto focus.  Others require you to press the "take picture" button down halfway to focus, then finish taking the picture.  Remember to ask or at least consider it.  Cosplayers will love you for your good photography skills.  After all, wouldn't you like to see

rather than

?