/cgl/ - Cosplay & EGL

>>9152762
)

just a helpful closing parentheses for any triggered coders out there

/p/ here. I don't think being /p/ means much. Con shooting is tricky, you never get the location or setup you really want. It's a lot more about business cards, shaking hands and practice practice practice.

I noticed recently that the cosplay erstwhile have much more fun and interact with others while photos just stand around alone trying to think up a shot or pose. Inb4 that try hard with full blown lighting setup and trying to take a huuuge area to him self. Those guys are try hard and not very considerate to other photogs. I'm interested to hear what cosplay er think about. .photos intro ducking themselves. .. having photo do the posing for you. Or even if they pull you away a fair distance.. do these things bother seagulls?

>>9152851
I meant photogs. ..not photo

>>9152762
Photography is an important thing, but its value is depressed. Cosplayers don't know the difference between a good photo and a bad one.

Plus, anyone can get a camera and call themselves a photographer.

Last, there's no real money in it. Because of that, it's extremely unlikely that any "rockstar photographers" will emerge and take the collective game to the next level.

Cosplayers are gonna have to stick to having creeps and really bad hobbyists for photographers, especially if they continue to trash everyone they work with.

>>9152762
Went to a cosplay shootout at a park near me last month. they invited cosplayers and photographers. I'm just starting with a kit lens and a prime but I got some really good tips from photographers there.
Pic related was me experimenting with a remote flash a guy let me borrow
still learning though.
Story time
I cosplay every now and then with my wife cosplay more costumes. we did have one experience when doing a group cosplay one of our friends had emailed a photographer and set up a session at a con. we wanted some full body shots because hey we put work into things but the photographer kept zooming in to faces so we asked for full body which they did and then they went back to doing more portrait style stuff. still have not received images

how can I take nice self full-body pics without a nice camera (my phone)? should I get a phone tripod?

>>9154626
Use bright lights without the built in flash, like a couple of floor lamps to your sides and a little in front but out of the camera frame. Most phone cameras get super grainy when not in full daylight so you should give it as much light as possible. You could also take some outside in a sunny day, but standing in a shaded area like under a tree or porch to prevent hard shadows and squinting, and use a sheet of aluminum foil to reflect sunlight back to highlight your face/body.

Don't rely on Auto Modes!

>>9155540
>auto modes
EXTREMELY TRIGGERED at least use AV because AV is ideal for hall shooting, I'm a manual bastard because I love the control, AV is ideal for "getting the shot"

SV is useful for airshows/stopping action (ie water shots/hair stuff), and manual is UNLIMITED POWER.

>>9152762
In my con shooting experience, you can get a great shot anywhere, so long as you have these things:

- a great model (most of the time, that means they have to be attractive)
- a great, well crafted cosplay
- great makeup
- a plan

The setting isn't super important; most characters are set in a world that has a sky in it, or grass... fucking use your imagination.

>>9155540
who dis?

>>9155540
it's even more confusing because he has a flash trigger

>>9156321
>>9155553
>>9155540
come on, guys. this photo was posted on his page as obvious bait. just look at the exif. he's a professional photographer and definitively doesn't shoot AUTO

>>9155540
Is he charging people for photos? What a joke

>>9152762
>Cosplayers on what they looked for in photography

My ideal photographer is someone with an eye for composition and/or story, and someone whose editing style meshes with my own (I personally like moody scenes but that's just me). Being on the east coast this is a tall order without breaking my wallet, partially because I find that a lot of photogs here focus on bright, center framed portraits of a single cosplayer.

Man, you guys are faggots.

>>9157248
West coast is blessed with locations to achieve that style, east coast isn't. That's where the difference lies.

>>9157335
No? Even if you're talking about location variety at-con, this is more of a matter of the photographer's skill and style, not due to some special west coast only location.

I like how everyone fucking charges for stuff in the USA.

>>9157360
Where do you live, where people don't get paid for performing work?

>>9157557
I don't like charging for shit that is fun because well, it becomes an obligation, because I have a sense of professionalism. If money is exchanged a proper job MUST be done, clients must be contacted etc.

>>9157335
If shooting on-location instead of at a con, the possibilities are endless. I'd rather drive an hour to get to an amazing location that fits the cosplay instead of the inside of a hotel.

>>9157557
west coast is full of GWCs. nobody charge there.

>>9157623
also people with enough money from their real jobs to not want to charge cosplayers some piddly amount of money. side effect is that no one can charge because of that. even if you're 10/10 skill level there's a bunch of 7-9/10 guys who aren't charging

>>9157640
>>9157623
>>9157360
>>9157557

Almost none of the big cosplay photographer charge, like I know Martin Wong doesn't do any charge shoot.

Photo tip: Fucking have your wig and makeup together.

The little fucking 20 dollars or whatever you pay a photographer is not incentive enough to put hours in Photoshop into your "I-just-stepped-out-of-a-hurricane" wig.

>>9157360
Charging for a hall shot is scummy, but I believe that charging for an actual shoot where you're working with a client for at least an hour is reasonable.

>>9157849
Martin is one of the guys with his day job paying for it

>>9158044
I'd charge for a cellphone shot if there was a market for it.

I own my pictures, and if you want them, buy them. And that's it.

I only do photography at cons to meet girls.


Am I a bad person

>>9158154
Nope. I don't blame you.

Also, booty on point.

>>9158044
Almost no one charges for a hall shot. People charge for private shoots in a public setting. What the rate is is what varies. Some will charge you as little as a minute for lightning shoots, others for block of time.

>>9158085
Welcome to the West Coast.

>>9157623
Az has a few photographers that make you pay and you either never see raws to choose from, get your photos in a timely manner (sometimes a year later) or even decent shots. It is why I quit with the cosplay photography. In comparison, having worked with pinup/ fashion photographers, I get better service and results, even if photography is that person's hobby. (West coast, Az in particular just strikes out in many areas though so to be expected).

>>9159318
If it's free, you get what you pay for, my nigga.

Pay a reputable photog, and get reputable service. k?

>>9159339
Nah they make you pay most the time. If it was free I would understand. That's the raw end. Act like they are a big deal too.

Show up with your memory card in the camera! Had a shoot at NYCC with a photographer who forgot their memory cards at home and they had to run to some camera store a few blocks away to buy a card

>>9155540

Oh my goodness...

>>9159493

>Some camera store

B&H is a really good camera store you'd be surprised.

>photographer's portfolio only has Asian girls

Oh. Okay.

>>9161413
Is it okay if I only have girls period?

also most of my port is asians because it's the SF bay area and it's a lot of asians to begin with
and I'm chinese

>>9159493
oh god that brings back memories
>leave to con
>check photos on memory card in camera
>oh theres just like 5 pictures on here, I'll be fine
>about 30 minutes later
>CARD FULL
>what the shit
>there's only like 200 shots on the card, it usually takes 500-600 to fill it
>what's goin on with my card?
>There's only a couple hundred pictures on there.... and the virtual machines I copied on there for school
>ended up cutting losses and formatting the card
I still have nightmares

>>9161413
>Photographer shoots what interests him

Oh. Okay.

I'm a photographer who decided to be "democratic" and "not elitist" and shoot everyone. I ended up with a lot of photos from people I had no interest in shooting, and a backlog that's unreal. Plus, the uggos turned out to be snakes in the end anyway.

There's no benefit in shooting fatties and uggos; the best paid cosplay shoot is gonna net you what: $150 dollars? Fucking nothing. And they're still gonna bitch and complain. I'd rather shoot cute girls for free.

>>9159929
I think the lesson here is have your memory card, not whether a camera store is good or not.

>>9161759
Hey man, shoot what you like. Fuck these criticizing motherfuckers. They ain't going to fill up your portfolio for you.

Questions for anyone, how do you organize your workflow? By date, month, event? Do you just use folders/subfolders to group photos or do you use some kind of database/album software?
How many copies of a photo do you keep? Raws, crops, pre/post edit, multiple resolutions?

>>9163670
I organize by folders. Event name and year. I have the files named by date MMDDYYYY. Raw files in one folder, and different versions in subfolders, like hi res, web, and edited/project files. I keep three backups. I delete files from my computer after I'm done and backed up.

>>9163670
I organize it by having it in the cosplay name's folder, and keep the pre-edits as the cosplayer's name, and the post edits as the cosplay. After I'm done sending them out I put them all on an external hard drive. Kind of a stupid system, but it works.

>>9157248
As an east coast photographer, personally that's my preferred style. Sadly, I can't do much travel with my job right now and most of the people in my immediate are annoying kids so the only chances I get are at cons.

>>9157360
>>9157590
Kind of agree with this, when I started out I was offering free with no problem until people wouldn't bother giving me a heads up on cancelling or communicate. A lot more cosplayers became more dedicated to the shoot when I was charging and it also helped pay my con costs. Now that I'm financially secure, I've cut down on offering them and just shoot my friends instead but if I'm asked to shoot then I'd still probably ask for $10 or so because I don't want my time wasted.

>>9163670
I use lightroom, and my exports are by CONVENTION_YEAR on a spare. I burn to BD every month and every 2 years I update the BD. When we switch over to 'holographic disc technology' or whatever is the next generation I will cry and do a mass switch over.

>>9154263
Holy shit that looks so bad.

Let alone the composition, did you even try to fix it in post? Can you describe what you did wrong here?

>>9152762

Okay, let's try to get this thread back on track, and put some life back into this thing.

>Photo tips
Look at pictures you really admire, search for new pictures by that same artist, or in that same style. Work out how they shot it in your mind, the tools and the lighting they used, and emulate that in your own work.

>locations
If you shoot at cons, you're limited. People everywhere, incongruous architecture, distractions and time crunches everywhere. But, you can do a lot with a simple brick wall (pic related).

>best/worst experiences
>best
I went down to a recent down-south con, and got booked by a 9/10 cutie with an awesomely constructed cosplay for multiple shoots. She was so pretty that she didn't have to pay anyone for pictures, but she booked me. We ended up taking some of the best pictures anyone's ever taken of her. It made me feel good to be able to do that.

Anyone have any experience using those overpriced lightsphere diffusers for hall shots? I've been having a hard time getting a softer light in convention halls with warehouse type ceilings. Also does anyone gel their flashes to balance with the con's green fluorescents?

>>9166418
I had one and lost it. I put off buying another one for over a year due to how expensive they were.

That said, I just recently bought a new one, and it's absolutely worth it.

I don't gel though. I just adjust WB in Camera Raw.

>>9156304
>so ive found it's easy to take perfect pictures when you're taking pictures of perfect things

>>9166934
>so ive found it's easy to take perfect pictures when you're taking pictures of perfect things

Um... yes. If you could get gold from shit, the only mining would be out of your asshole.

Any recommendations for a beginner camera which I intend to use for detail photos of black clothing and outfit pictures, in low light?

>>9166418
I have the basic 10bux difusor and it honestly works well, the spheres are useful for some apps .

>>9167047
Sony A6000 + the new 50 1.8. Its about 1000? total but its a solid cheap setup.

>>9167047
>>9167085

You don't need to spend 1000 dollars for that. Also, don't go Sony. Their stuff is generally newer, and way more expensive than necessary.

Get a cheap used Nikon camera body, like a D700, or even a D7000, and a 50mm 1.8... problem solved.

>>9167109
Nikon D3300 has for a low budget camera the best ISO by ratio to be fair, which is really odd.

>>9167085
>>9167109
i second don't go sony. mirrorless don't get no respect from cosplayers.

>>9158043
I generally would agree to this, except that the last convention I experienced a Miku wig from hell, of which the tails wouldn't get detangled even after hours and hours of brushing (fun fact: before the convention I detangled it too already). Long wigs are bitches, and we cosplayers are more frustrated about them than you. That said, I know basic editing in photoshop, so I'll happily edit all the tangles out myself. (I actually always offer photographers to edit out the bothersome stuff myself.)

Who are you guys' inspirations for cosplay photography?

>>9167847
Photos like these where they recreate manga panels or anime screenshots.
http://en.rocketnews24.com/2015/01/07/cosplay-ideals-vs-cosplay-reality-a-k-a-cool-vs-funny-%E3%80%90photos%E3%80%91/
http://en.rocketnews24.com/2015/10/17/cosplay-ideals-vs-reality-part-3-super-slouch-edition-%e3%80%90photos%e3%80%91/

>>9166418
I am a professional photographer and use mine for nearly every event that involves a flash.

>>9166418
>gel
That sounds fucking smart, actually.
Goddamn vendor hall lighting.

I think something con photographers forget about is to look presentable. There was a guy at a local con who was taking decent photos (albeit with somewhat hard flash), but he was a skinny version of the Anime Pro stereotype with long greasy hair and bad dandruff. He wasn't actually creepy or anything, but a lot of the other photographers there were cleaned up and looked more "pro" were getting more shoots.

I'm not saying dandy up like you're in a GQ shoot; just get a haircut, shower, and maybe carry around a small towel or handkerchief to wipe down your face instead of using your shirt sleeve.

>>9168794
Photographer appearance has literally nothing to do with their ability to take a good photo.

That said, yes, photogs shouldn't be fucking dirty weirdos.

But that also said, you sound like yet another shallow cosplayer. You should work on that.

>>9168807
Not them, but it perfectly reasonable that more people will want to work with you if you appear hygienic. If you can't even take care of yourself, people won't have confidence in your ability to take care of the appearance of the photos either. You sound like a slob if a haircut, shower and unstained shirt is too much.

>>9168807
Not saying he's even remotely a good photographer, but hygiene is important. Take Adam Wright/Black Luigi! You can smell the brotha's breath a mile away!

>>9168794
I cosplay sometimes as I do paid shoots at cons. idgaf

>>9171033
That actually sounds fun and as a good way to connect with clients at cons if said cosplay isn't too hard to work in.

If you're going to charge, charge for time, not bullshit tactics, like using lights, number of lights use, or number of poses.

>>9178740
I agree with this. I typically expect to be charged for the session and number of photos I expect to receive.

I don't understand photographers that charge.
Generally Cosplayers don't have alot of money, you know college kids/younger and all.

As a professional you should make more in a hour then you make in a day at a con.

Cosplay should be about shooting when you want for fun, getting paid makes it work.

>>9179486
I imagine you're the type to beg artists for free commissions...

>>9179499
Actually I'm a professional photographer speaking from experience. When I go to cons its for fun.

But assume what you would like.

>>9179486
it's fine to charge and to not charge. if you can get people to pay you then all the better. most at-con photographers aren't professionals outside of conventions but they still fill a service niche in places like the east coast.

>>9158043
>>9158043
>>9158043
no man. this is our fav thing

>>9179486
Very few cosplay photographers are professional photographers though, at least those that make enough to do it full time as a solo career

>>9180960
I don't know any personally. I want to see the ones that are.

>>9185027

I am, (West Coast) but I'm the only cosplay photographer I know that does photography for a living.

>>9185027
>>9185326

I'm a professional photographer too, but I'm not as far along in my career cash wise as I'd like. Cosplay is actually a large part of my business,and it shouldn't be.

>>9179486
I assume you mean professional photographers. because i don't know that many professions paying hundreds of dollars per hour.

>>9152764
LOL oh god not that joke

>>9179486
Quit whining because you can't afford to pay. Blame the conventions, because they're the ones allowing this to happen. If you hate it so much then complain to the conventions. Have them enforce some kind of rule against paid photography or require paid photographers to get a special badge. Many cons are starting to ban paid photo shoots at cons (Anime North) or require a badge/permission (Colossalcon), and those caught are removed from the premises. Others get banned from abusing their badges, like I heard some photographers got banned from cons for charging for shoots because they had a press badge already.

>>9152762
Calling out both "photographers" from my comm. I spent a lot of time learning to pose and figuring out lighting, but for some reason you guys have fancy ass Nikon's and no fucking clue how to compose a shot. Fluorescent overhead lighting is unacceptable when you can just go outside or use the lamps that are in the damn room. I try to help guide you to better places, but you then manage to capture an out of focus shot from a weird angle, that you inexplicably edit to make look washed out and weirdly colored

>>9186246
Also inb4 someone tells me to buy a camera.

I get better shots with my phone handed to a complete stranger than I get from the official comm photographer

>>9186248
>>9186246

Then ask someone else to be your community's photographer.

As a pro photog, I guarantee you're getting shitty photos because you're using the guy who's working for free.

If you want good photos, HIRE someone who knows how to take them. The End.

>>9186466
Professional photographer here: 100% agree.

>>9186246
>>9186248
It's shocking to hear how belligerently cocky you are about how much you say you know. Just like with anything else, if you think you can do better, do it. What's stopping you?

Becoming a "community photographer" doesn't require anything but the willingness to do it. Maybe someone should constructively critique these photographers of yours in an effort to improve.

>>9186246

I don't think you know as much as you think you know. Your photographers lack of knowledge seems to be perpetuating your over confidence.

>>9155540
>>9155553
How about Program mode?

>>9186895
I mean, there are different modes for different purposes.

To be honest, there's nothing wrong with shooting in Auto mode. I think that if a lot of cosplay photographers started shooting in Auto, their photos would improve. lol

>>9155553
beginner question: what do you normally set your aperture at for walking around and hall shots?

>>9186978

If you are shooting in auto mode, you may as well just use your phone to take photos.

>>9187188
Hall shots vary so much, there is now sure answer for that aside from opinion. My opinion would be a small f-stop for a larger aperture. This usually lets the distractions in hall shots to be minimal if done right.

>>9187188
2.8 on a crop or 4.0 on full frame give my preferred mixture between depth of field and light gathering ability

>>9187188
I personally shoot on aperture priority, do I open that aperture up all the way and bump the ISO up so I can keep the shutter speed above 1/30.

>>9187188
I rely on auto ISO (I set my ISO between 100-800, but I use a flash soo it stays at 400), and keep my apeture at 1.8-2.2, and I adjust my shutter speed because I like shooting manual.

>>9187295
It depends on how good your camera is. My DSLR noise becomes noticeable for my personal semi autism at 1600, Instagram doesn't care but I keep it at 800.


Also, who here uses unusual lenses, like I use the ultra fast 50-100 because it is made for hallshots and basic portrait work, and its ungodly snappy.

>>9187201
You use a full frame, and I have a question. I have a full frame F 4.0 lens and I'm 90% sony is going to release a 2.8. Should I accept selling my old lens now for the new one or wait for reviews?

>>9187188

Hall shots are too chaotic. There are many factors. First figure out your white balance, as Auto isn't always your best friend. The color of the carpet can screw up your White Balance, so if your camera can do Custom White Balance, use it!

The lighting of the area is an issue too. The types of lighting, any ambient sunlight coming in through the windows or skylights. Are the outdoor ambient lights coming in through the window being changed by some UV filter or screen on the windows.

Then finally your F stop and Shutter Speed.

Best thing to do is to play around and either memorize or write down the settings of each area, or better yet see what the general consensus is for the light settings around the con. Which ones are the most common, and then program those into your camera, if your camera allows save/memorized camera settings.

>>9187441
Well its pretty much guaranteed that the new lens is going to be optically excellent. Sony Isn't some fly by night lens maker. I guess the question is how sure you are about when the announcement is going to be. The moment they show the new lens your lens is going to lose at least $100 in value if not more. If you sell too soon you'll be out of a lens for a while though.

>>9187480
If hes shooting raw like he should be, then isnt white balance not as big a deal in the moment? I would shoot a balance card in each set of different lighting so I have a temp reference. Then you can apply that profile to photos taken in those areas in post.

>>9187193
>If you are shooting in auto mode, you may as well just use your phone to take photos.

Come on now. A decent camera will still have far better lenses, aperture, depth of field, color fidelity, flash farther away from the lens, etc etc.

>>9187546
You're right; there are a lot of factors that go into taking pictures. Auto Mode is perfectly fine for taking hallway shots where you just want to get a usable shot and not fiddle with settings.

I guess some people just want to say things to sound smart on the internet.

>>9187579
Sure, it may get a better quality photo than a phone camera, but really, why not use the tool you have in your hands to it's full capabilities.

It'd be like buying a Playstation 4 to only play Playstation 1 games on. Sure, you can do it, and it may even look better than playing on PS1, but that's a big investment in something that you are only using at it's lowest potential.

>>9187579
I'm not trying to sound smart, I'm saying that if you own a DSLR and want good photos, and are looking in a thread about detials on how to achieve good photos with your camera, do not go with advice that says "Auto is good enough" - unless you don't care.

You buy a DSLR for control. You upgrade your camera body and gear because you need more control.
If you upgrade without fully understanding why you are upgrading, what's the point?

Do what makes you happy, but know that if you shoot a photo on automatic, it's nothing more than a snapshot.

>>9187543
Not everyone shoots RAW though. I've met many photographers that don't. The main ones that do are the ones who do touch-ups/post process the photos afterwards. Others save the Raw for actual shoots, but go Jpeg for hall shots

>>9187792
Shoot both. The only cost is for extra memory cards.

>>9187875
>Shoot both
why? Just shoot raw, you're gonna convert it anyways.

>>9188487
For when you want to give someone the photos right away, on the spot or over con weekend.

I ain't spending part of my con weekend in photoshopping stuff, that's for sure. The pictures to take and parties to get drunk at.

>>9188872
giving unedited photos to cosplayers? who are you, EBK?

>>9188972
Nope, not even remotely.

Usually it's for friends, not clients.

And I've searched for my name on the /cgl/ archive a few times, I'm always relieved to never see it come up.

>>9189010
i want to see the photos of all these so called "profesional photographers" posting in here.

>>9187875
Yeah memory cards are cheap nowadays, you can easily pick up a 64 GB one for $25 if you shop around.

>>9152762
I just dick around with a film camera because people find it amusing.

Except for one idiot who demanded to see the picture I took of (them), snatched the samera out of my hand, then opened the back to check the 'screen', ruining an entire day's film.

Still. It does have a weird sort of timeless look to it.

>>9191856

>>9191856
>Except for one idiot who demanded to see the picture I took of (them), snatched the samera out of my hand, then opened the back to check the 'screen', ruining an entire day's film.
I think every modern film photographer has a variation on that story.

>>9189699
https://www.amazon.com/Lexar-Professional-UHS-I-Rescue-Software/dp/B012PL6K8M/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1474337839&sr=8-6&keywords=64gb+SD 21

Trancend

https://www.amazon.com/Transcend-Class-UHS-1-Memory-TS64GSDU1PE/dp/B017D7H0AA/ref=sr_1_9?ie=UTF8&qid=1474337839&sr=8-9&keywords=64gb+SD

>>9167047
Operator skill-wise you could use a lower light FF camera no problem. They're as easy to operate as all other MILC and DSLR. But most people don't want to spend the few thousand required.

So you instead I guess you'll just buy some okay MILC or DSLR with a hotshoe for a flash, and a flash.

>>9167085
> Sony A6000 + the new 50 1.8.
A 50 or 60mm is just too narrow on a APS-C unless you have a bunch of meters of unobstructed space to work with.

I think you want the 28mm, this 30mm Sigma f/2.8 or f/1.8, the 25mm Batis or something like that as primary lens.

>>9187188
Mostly it's not "set" - it is often a value I adjust on aperture priority mode.

>>9167109
I'd rather suggest the D7100. It's well known for its low light performance.

>>9191856
>>9191858
If these are your shots, you should sell your film camera. You're just wasting money.

>>9192146
People forget the old ways so quickly....

Have two cameras. An ancient Minolta Hi-Matic that's still solid and a newer Nikon SLR - one of the last general use ones before DSLR's became a thing.

Use the Minolta for cons just because it does such weird and interesting things, being entirely automatic while being 44 year old wiring. Tell it the film speed, set the focus and shoot.

It just renders colours in such a nice way.

Steampunks like it. Don't know why.... it's 1970's.....

>>9193024
Just dicking around really, especially since I'd only just got the thing. Half the fun is putting something 40-odd years old to work and seeing what happens. Better than letting it rot on the shelf.

The other half of the fun is cracking the back and resoldering two wires to get it working again, bodging it to take a modern Lithium battery in about the right voltage range - and then seeing the reaction people have when faced with something that isn't the ubiquitous con-photographer DSLR monstrosity, or YA iPhone camera.

Sure they give better pictures. But aren't as fun. People seem to enjoy film cameras for some reason, even if some of the pictures come out shite.

Also. The shop where I bought the film recommended ISO-200. Turns out that's a bit to slow....

>Friend decides to do some con photos
>I'm his assistant/seconday/pack mule
>Doing lots of hall shots
>Some free shots in the courtyard, garden, and pool
>Paid shoot goes along fine (It was only $25 for the whole thing, nothing too bad and it all went to paying for his cut of the room)
>At the end of the paid shoot my friend says he can get the photos out on Sunday/Monday
>We were shooting raw and he doesn't have lightroom
>Have to torrent Lightroom on shitty hotel wifi
>Up until 4~5AM editing the photos since my friend didn't know Lightroom
We had a lot of fun walking the halls and meeting tons of cosplayers, but we agreed that paid shoots aren't for us and there's too much stress for such a little payoff.

>>9193703
Your friend is an idiot for agreeing to that with no knowledge. You're kinda dumb for staying up with your friend for whatever reason.
Was it fun or was it lame?

>>9194190
Overall we had fun, met a lot of people, went to some panels on Friday and Suinday, got some merch, and he was able to expand his portfolio and contacts for next year. I could have given less of a damn about contacts and rep since I was moving out of the state in a couple of weeks after the con.

Only really bad parts was the aforementioned Lightroom gaff, and that we pretty much missed every panel on Saturday since that's when the majority of our shoots were scheduled. Overall it was a good learning experience, and the people were happy with our shots.

Question!
I like to walk around at cons and take hall shots. It gives me great pleasure to capture a variety of different cosplayers and it's rapidly becoming like half the reason I go to cons. After a few years of doing it, I'm getting better with figuring out which areas have better lighting and stuff like that. Nothing holyshitballs amazing, but I've taken some decent shots.

Here's the thing: I use a Samsung Galaxy S5. Like I said, I've taken decent shots. As long as I'm in the right place and don't do something retarded with the settings, it's all good.
But lately, I'm thinking I could do a little better. Since I just do hall shots and not professional photoshoots, I wanna keep it casual and get a nice point-and-shoot as opposed to a DSLR.

Thinking about saving up and getting a Sony RX100 III. Or would that just be a huge waste of money and I should just stick to my Galaxy?

>>9194581
The RX100 wouldn't be a bad idea, but you could always look into something like an NEX-6/7 or A6300 since you get the small size with the ability to mount lenses with wider apertures so you can use more available light for hall shots.

>>9194581
RX100 is probably the best option that is still reasonably fitting in a pocket. Anything larger would require you to hang it from your neck on have it in a bag at your side. If you're constantly shooting you might not mind that.

It can depend on what you're doing with the photos after taking them. Do you share or publish the photos somewhere? Do you do any post production/editing? A camera that makes raw files like the RX100 will give you much more room to adjust exposure and color correction.

Do you view your images at 100% size or larger? Do you notice noise and other artifacts? A camera with a larger sensor like the RX100 will reduce that. I started out with a compact that had a sensor larger than a cell phone cam but smaller than an RX100. I was ok with it for a long time but eventually I decided to upgrade to a micro four thirds camera to get clearer details of the costumes while still being a much lighter and smaller package than something with APSC lenses.

What's a good rate to charge by poses? I figure I can make some money while offering more shoots as I keep getting asked by people to shoot, but rather than give them 30 minute blocks I can fit in more people if I just charge by poses to choose. Trying to be fair to all the cosplayers I have to keep rejecting, now that the next big con is coming up for me and I'm bringing a grey backdrop to use with my offcamera flash setup.

>>9195071
Oh god, please don't. If you limit your creativity to a certain number of poses, it will be harder to produce good photos.

>>9194773
RX100 III has a f/1.8-2.8 24-70mm
that's pretty damn good

>>9195071
Personally I would just say charge for the shoot as a whole, or charge by the hour. Half hour if you're feeling especially Hebrew.

>>9195071
If you're asking these kinds of painfully amateurish questions, you aren't good enough to charge.

Also, anyone that pays by the pose for photos is a goddamn idiot.

>>9192406
Is this your photo or something?

>>9194463
At least you have a positive outlook on it :)

>>9194581
Don't even bother. Point and shoots are pointless if your phone has a nice camera on it. If you want to take better looking shots, just move onto a DSLR. Point and shoots are going to do the exact same thing as your phone.
Even just for hallway shots.

>>9195071
Don't you fucking dare. You will be a laughing stock.
I'm exeptionally good at posing people, but even I wouldn't do something like that. There are just so, so many problems with this bad idea.

>>9193703
>We were shooting raw and he doesn't have lightroom
>not shooting RAW+JPG

>>9195102
>>9195108
>>9195151
>>9196170
Already figured it out. I set up my price for $50 for three poses and already have 13 shoots booked for the weekend and they're all paid up. Sorry you naysayers. Got my press pass and and prepays so I'm all good to go for comic con

>>9196688
This is pathetic.
50 bucks for 3 poses is a fucking scam. You better be fucking mind-blowingly amazing because this is a joke.

>>9196688

Could you elaborate on what you consider a "pose"? Is there a time-frame or only a select amount of images?

>>9196688
Congratulations, you scammed a few cosplayers, who wouldn't know a good photo if it was tattooed on the inside of their eyelids.

You are truly the Lex Luthor of this world.

Any other photographers get REALLY PISSED OFF when you see someone post a lineup of Grade A waifu-tier characters, then when you see what they look like, they're fat as fuck?

I can't be the only one.

>>9196688
>already have 13 shoots booked for the weekend and they're all paid up

guys, he's trolling you. he hasn't even made a single advertisement and it'd be pretty widespread if he had.

Are there any communities for cosplay photography feedback that won't shit on my models? I'm trying to improve and want critical opinions, but not at the risk of people being critical of my models.

>>9197931
If you or your models can't handle criticism, you shouldn't be on the internet or in public.

Getting critical comments is part of public life, neither kids nor adults are safe from it.

>>9197931
If you have shit models, you deserve to get criticism.

Your subject is the main focus of your images. Shoot pretty girls to get pretty results.

>>9198183
pretty much this
in cosplay community people are really trusting so unless you've fucked up so badly previously that you're immediately toxic to everyone you should have no problem getting a shoot with someone at least half decent

>>9197880
Unless they've been banned from places. What cons are coming up soon?

>>9196688
Press motherfuckers charging cosplayers, GTFO

You guys are the fucking reason cons are so strict nowadays on press passes

>>9198428
honestly the press bar is still really low so if you put a modicum of effort into it you can get in at least once. i say once because when you apply again they ask for your results. you still see rinky dink outfits (read: it's one guy with a blog) at big cons like AX as press. if you're not actually doing coverage you shouldn't be press anyway. if you're just a photographer not attached to an outlet you shouldn't be even attempting to apply as press.

>>9198459
The bigger cons are tougher to get into as they'll require something more than a lengthy Tumblr post

>>9196688
>>9195071
b8

>>9198427
Only big one left for this year is the Con in New York. After that is Katsucon in February, I believe

Found one person charging for poses, but they only posted on their own social media pages, probably to avoid getting in trouble and having their badge revoked

>>9200082
post their work
i'm really, really curious

>>9200082
Commercializing photography and cosplay as pay per shot in the context of conventions just sucks balls.

I do hope it's against the rules and the guy gets banned.

>>9200560
>>9200082
Why don't you report them?
CHEZPHOTO
damiphotography
Lazy Cat Cosplay & Photography
U.V. Photography

>>9200366
its jason laboy figure. guy thinks he's the hot shit right now. sad part is the number of idiots who paid

>>9200856
i dont think these guys can even get a press pass

>>9168807
I gotta derail I'm sorry

>get married
>cheap out and get a photographer for like $800
>3-4k was what everyone else was asking and out of my budget
>in his contract specifically states that he's not wearing a suit, will wear whatever gives him the ability to move around on the job
>okay sure whatever jeans and a polo is fine cool
>he shows up to dress rehersal wearing stained striped weird shirt and ill fitting jeans
>it's cool we're all wearing jeans, he won't look like that tomorrow I'm sure
>the day of the wedding!
>mfw he's wearing the same fucking clothes from yesterday
>half my bridal party comments on it
>also a shitty photographer

I was so pissed

>>9200560
>dat flat horizon
>completely overcast sky
>canal with duckweed
>raised trapezoid bank of earth or 'dyke' (seriously what is it supposed to block?)
>was thinking that this was probably shot in netherlands
>oh wait it says beaumonde in title that sounds french
>nevermind, beaumonde is a shop and there's one in netherlands.

>>9200082
>>9200560

Also why are you so triggered by this? If people deem that this is too expensive they'll just go to another photographer. Are you afraid that his thoughtwaves are infectious and other photographers are looking at this thinking 'heeyyy that's pretty gud' and then do it themselves?

This guy probably got tired of asking people to pose and the cosplayers having no clue what they are doing, so they look unflattering, and also got tired of people bitching that even though they paid for an amount of time, they would get less pictures than they expected because 'the photographer kept asking me to change pose and took them super slow because he's greedy'.

Though I do agree that if you're going to restrict your customer they should pay less for your service. The notion that people are going to line up and quickpay him is also ridiculous. I think he's fishing for whales (in the microtransaction gaming sense, not the fat sense).

>>9201045
$50 for 3 poses, only two of which are edited is a shit deal. Also guy can't shop for shit now that we know who it is

>>9200869
Jokes on you. At least one of them is press.

Do the T5i/T6/T6i have any meaningful advantages over the T5?

My situation: I'm a hobbyist who does shoots for friends. My T1i has been a trusty beginner camera. But recently I've been annoyed by the T1i's camera's mediocre performance at high ISO, and the T1i lacks native wireless control for remote flashes. An accessory to give it wireless capability is $225. For about that price, I could just get a refurbished T5, which I understand has native wireless remote controlling.

Or for a bit more, I could get a refurbished T5i/T6/T6i. I've come into a small bit of money lately, so I could afford to get a newer camera, but I don't want to spend extra money unless the new features (depth of field preview button, higher MP and number of focus points on the T6i) are actually a substantial improvement on the T5.

>>9201017
AHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAA

THAT'S WHAT YOU FUCKING GET NO SYMPATHY FUCK YOU

Sincerely,

A struggling professional photographer

>>9201505
Pick up some triggers and receivers from Cowboy Studios, it's like 75$ for a transmitter and two signal receivers. You can also check eBay for a Pocket Wizard for like $40-75

>>9201017
did he have a portfolio at all or was it just the price tag that drew you to him?

>>9201045
> Also why are you so triggered by this?
It commercializes some of the main remaining free / community service aspects of such events.

The logical thing that happens next is that Cosplayers, too, will start charging money.

Then a lot of either group come to events with an expectation to make money and lobby event organizers into making it more possible. In consequence photography rules usually get changed to require individual permission (which may include a prior money transaction to obtain, heh).

And then you'll be waiting in line for minutes every second time just so you can get to shoot - which now has to basically happen individually.

> If people deem that this is too expensive they'll just go to another photographer.
My opinion is that they should hold their paid shoots apart from such events.

That the commercial photographers will have trouble actually pulling this off is absolutely none of my concern, I only care that an event's quality suffers when literally all activities are formalized and you have to make sure you can actually do *something* for free.

>>9202054
west coast here
you have nothing to fear as long as there are people who will shoot for free
the one problem you guys have is cosplayers paying people who do not deserve being paid. people who have no skill and who amount to scamming their way into money are still hired.

>>9161759
>SF
c-can i have your info?

>>9202087
> you have nothing to fear as long as there are people who will shoot for free
I already fear event rules where the whole "permission to shoot" business is formalized just in case the professionals may disagree, you get waits and queues and what not.

> the one problem you guys have is cosplayers paying people who do not deserve being paid
Neither cosplay nor photography are activities that have a need to be commercialized.

>>9202087
> you have nothing to fear as long as there are people who will shoot for free
I already fear event rules where the whole "permission to shoot" business is formalized just in case the professionals may disagree, you get waits and queues and what not.

> the one problem you guys have is cosplayers paying people who do not deserve being paid
Neither cosplay nor photography are activities that have a need to be commercialized.

It might be hard to impossible to get someone to prepare fries for two event days and pay the raw materials, or handle event security or toilet cleaning.

But we can get cosplay and photography done without making it a business on the event site, so why should it be?

>>9202121
Liability. If a cosplayer or photographer doing a paid shoot gets injured at a con, then the con and event space could be liable. One reason why Anime North and Colossalcon pretty much ban paid photographers or create a vetting system

>>9202121
photography can be seen as services rendered so i'm fine with people getting paid for it. the thing is that the person being paid for those services should be GOOD. there's so many who haven't learned the littlest bit about how to take a half decent photo and they're asking for money and worse yet people are paying them. a photographer should be selected for payment because they were better than the other guys because of their past body of work, not just because they were there. if you're not good, shoot free and learn. take a class. shadow a good photographer and act as his assistant. something so that when you do ask for money people will think "yeah, that was worth it" and not "wow, that guy sucked." the ones who suck should not be rewarded with money.

>>9202408
It's a free market, if someone is willing to pay, there will be someone there to supply the demand.

>>9202480
And that's the sad part. It's thriving in the east coast.

>>9202523
I know how to use blur brightness and contrast. Pay me!

>>9201513
I can see why you're struggling!

>>9202374
> One reason why Anime North and Colossalcon pretty much ban paid photographers or create a vetting system
Good. I'll repeat my claim that anime cons and related events don't need paid cosplayers or paid photographers. The most that might be useful in a way is the event's organizers hiring some if they feel it helps a great deal somehow.

>>9202408
> photography can be seen as services rendered
So can cosplayers throwing poses.

Normal pose at the rate indicated, candid same as the 5-for-4 deal. "Deluxe" 20 minute session in the, uh, video/photo box for only a chill eighty. Last of these includes mandatory professional filming and sterilized toys. Buy nao!

> a photographer should be selected for payment because they were better than the other guys
And then the same for the cosplayers and everyone else doing anything entertaining or useful at all.

>>9203023
I disagree. I feel that cosplayers need quality photograph. In the end a cosplayer may save a cosplay for years, but the will regret not having good photos taken of it.

You spend tons of hours, money, dedication, and effort to create something and good photography will exemplify your hard work.

>>9203287
So hire a photographer outside of a convention, get good photos in good locations. Not photos of hundreds of people in the background or ugly hotel carpeted floors.

>>9203475
I'd like to accelerate the trend away from convention shoots to meetups at cute locations.

>>9203487
Seattle tried to do this a long time ago. It was a disaster. All the good photographers ended up stopping going pretty quickly. Sometimes they would randomly show up, but not often.

>>9203487
We have norcal gatherings but they're at the same parks all the time

The spring one is pretty good because it's at a park with a Japanese garden in it though. If you've never gone and you're close by I would definitely go

>>9203023
Problem there is no one wants to pay cosplayers and there are enough who will just shoot that you aren't forced into paying. If anything the photo thirst would be more on the cosplayer

How do I make my models have sex with me?

>>9203771
By flashing a wad of hundreds. No pay no play.

>>9203771
Be this guy.

>>9203487
>>9203490

I've gone to several in the Portland area to photograph. It's a really strange environment to photograph in..

Like, I saw people I knew there as well as a bunch of people in cosplay I didn't know. I started shooting with the people I've worked with before because I knew we could achieve good results quickly.
After that I would wander to the scattered, antisocial groups who almost looked like they didn't want to be bothered. Like I was annoying them or they were confused to have photos taken or something. But they are sitting there in full cosplay at an event where people are expected to have photos taken??

Not one person walked up to me, so if I didn't go to them, they wouldn't have had photos taken.

On top of that, you have garbage cosplay come up with their custom character, or casual whatever, or background character 267 from obscure anime #45827 - and to not be a dick, I take their photos. But because it's crap and dumb, I can only do so much. I'm not inspired by it.

So THEN they go online flaming you and the cosplayers who brought their A-Game, because they "got all the attention"

I may go again someday, but all that shit, plus the other stuff just killed it for me. I don't think I'll go to another unless I am organizing it.

>>9205936
that's pretty bizarre. the ones in CA people are there to a) hang out with friends b) get photos taken and they're pretty receptive to it

I very rarely get asked to take someone's photo at any event, con or not, though.

>>9205936
>Not one person walked up to me, so if I didn't go to them, they wouldn't have had photos taken.

Is it normal for cosplayers to walk up to random photographers they don't know and ask them for a picture?

>>9206258
Normally I would say no, but when you are at a cosplay meetup with emphasis and expectations to have photos taken, I would think it would be.
I didn't expect people to come up to me, so I went and talked to them. But it was very clear what I was doing, and I even introduced myself.

>>9202087
You, sir, and all your "shoot for free" ilk, are the cancer.

I do work, and my work is worth something.

>>9202121
>Neither cosplay nor photography are activities that have a need to be commercialized.

Are you fucking retarded? Superfluous question. My photos are worth my price because I know what I'm doing.

People have been making their living from photography since its invention, and now your edgy teen know-it-all ass thinks differently? Fuck you.

>>9202408
> if you're not good, shoot free and learn
No. If they shoot free, they're taking paid business away from people who actually know how to do their jobs. They should assist and learn, or take a class. Free photographers are the devil.

Shit. Spilled my salt everywhere.

>>9205936
YES.

I AGREE WITH THIS POST IN ITS ENTIRETY.

If you want photos, wear something that makes people want to take photos of you. And stop bitching about the attention other people get.

>>9208993
Shitty photographers getting paid are the devil too. They're also taking money from the good photographers unless they are charging market rates which, if they suck and have shitty portfolios, is not going to get them hired so they have to charge less. And yes they should assist which I mentioned

My whole beef is shit people getting paid.

>>9208993
A: people will pay what a product is worth (img_nikon_dying)
B: Thanks to idiots poisoning the well, you can't prove you are worth it.
C: as a photog you damn well should know that the photo is like.. 30% of the buisness at best, its all about the networking and proving the product is worth something.

also as someone who did assistant work... never fucking again too many divas, idiots, or people who can take a good photo but holy shit working with them makes me want to jump off a bridge.

How much should I charge for studio shots?

My plan is to shoot4free at cons and tell the people that I shoot that they can get more planned and produced shots for a fee either at a studio or in a more natural location. Obviously shooting at a studio is more expensive than at a park and my price would be adjusted accordingly

>>9213754
Sorry, reword of the first part

What should I charge for planned shots in general

any tips on what kind of lens to buy?
I really want to get into cosplay photography but I don't know which lens to look for.

>>9213754
is it just going to be on a simple backdrop or are you doing pimp shit with props and a set?

>>9213773
50mm full frame equivalent for hall shots and general full body shots. 80ish to 100mm+ for face closeups. Fastest aperture you can reasonably afford.

>>9214197
Its a white or black background with studio lights

>>9213754
How good are your photos?
Will you be directing them? Do you have a vision for the shoot?

Are you trying to make a quick buck? How much do you want to get paid? Most cosplayers are cheap and won't want to pay market price for regular photography, and a lot won't put the effort into dressing up outside of a convention.

Or are you hoping they can just pull some poses out and you just snap the pictures? This method only works well with a seasoned cosplayer who's already done shoots before (who will probably not be paying since they should have a personal photog already).

I think the best on location shoots come from a cosplayer and photographer that really work well together. They both put a lot of effort into finding a suitable location and have an idea of what pictures they want. Usually money is not exchanged.

>>9214675
>How good are your photos?
Fresh out of a photography major at uni if that's any indication.

>Will you be directing them?
I'd imagine so. I'd have a short list of poses that I'd know beforehand would work with the character (either by knowing it myself or doing research). In addition to that I'd assume the cosplayer would have their own ideas for poses.

>Are you trying to make a quick buck?
My intention here is not to create a job or seriously raise revenue. Primarily I want to continue to hone my skills post uni but thought I'd charge a fee since I could in theory be using the time spent shooting to work at my actual job. I'm not talking big ticket hundred+ dollar payouts, just something to cover travel and equipment costs. That said, if the cosplayer wanted to ramp up the quality, then I'd explore background replacement and other things that require a proper studio. These places aren't free and if the cosplayer really wanted it then I'd expect some financial commitment.

>>9214438
it'd have to be cheap because it's not breathtaking enough where people would throw down money willy-nilly. do you have cheap access to a studio? converting a room in your house? what kind of lights and modifiers?

>>9213754
Senpai. Shooting for free is shooting for free.

Don't do it.

You can get good photos anywhere, if you can think on your feet, have the right gear, and know what the fuck you're doing.

Stop undercutting people who can actually take good photos.

>>9213773
If you had experience taking photos, you would know what you need. You should assist a photographer so that you can figure out what it is you have to get.

BUMP!

>>9213754
>implying ppl going to anime conventions have money for photos
you might as well start a photo studio if you want to make money with photography

>>9225176

wannabe cosplay photographers think there is big money in it. I discount my rates for cosplay shoots about 80-90% vs normal shoots.

>>9194773
Are you me?

I've also been doing hallway shots for years and switched to a RX100. I thought I was just going to get that as a stepping point before I fully invest in DSLR and working on my skills as well, but I regret not getting one. I found myself limited by it because it would have given me a wider range of options to work with and learn from when I wanted to get more seriously into photography. If you are wondering price wise, many have told me that a used body and some basic lenses would give you more options and details as the same price of a brand new RX100 III if you learn how.

I'm still learning and so I stick with my camera until I feel like I learned the basics well enough and save enough money to warrant an upgrade.

>>9194581
Are you me?

I've also been doing hallway shots for years and switched to a RX100. I thought I was just going to get that as a stepping point before I fully invest in DSLR and working on my skills as well, but I regret not getting one. I found myself limited by it because it would have given me a wider range of options to work with and learn from when I wanted to get more seriously into photography. If you are wondering price wise, many have told me that a used body and some basic lenses would give you more options and details as the same price of a brand new RX100 III if you learn how.

I'm still learning and so I stick with my camera until I feel like I learned the basics well enough and save enough money to warrant an upgrade.

>>9213754
Thinking cosplayers want to pay for an out-of-con shoot, kek

>>9214993
If you need to practice, then you shouldn't be charging or renting out a studio. Save the money for a studio and work on learning to shoot with what you have first.