Cosplay with me
Beth Nicholls explains how she harnesses her special powers for super shots
This photoshoot took place at an event called Secret Con, a TFP-style [trade for print] location shoot held at Gloucester Prison, intended solely for photographers and cosplayers to attend. This event in particular offered a range of assets to make use of, which included prison cells, a dentist’s chair and even a helicopter!
The growing popularity of cosplay photography is something that should definitely be on a photographer’s radar, as it is becoming widely recognised in the industry and on social media, encouraging collaborations between photographers, cosplayers and content creators. Cosplay photography usually involves shooting images with individuals who are portraying a fictional character, surrounding themes of gaming, fantasy, sci-fi, superheroes and popular culture.
Two main styles of cosplay photography have emerged: one is basic portraiture captured at a relevant location, the other involves heavy post-production to create a composite image that transports your subject into the world of their character by removing the background entirely or making drastic adjustments. The magic of cosplay is something brought to life not only by photographers in postproduction, but also by the cosplayers themselves who really commit to their characters and demonstrate exemplary talent in craftsmanship.
If you’re yet to participate in the art of cosplay photography, it’s certainly worth giving it a go by attending local comic conventions and asking to shoot with cosplayers at the event, or by reaching out to a cosplayer online.