lunarmysticalcosplay

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"How to Take Good Cosplay Selfies "

Steps:

1. Get a camera. 

You'll be needing an actual camera for this if possible. If you don't have a proper camera, a phone or an iPod will work just as well, but you will get a better picture quality from an actual camera. It doesn't have to be a big, expensive one. Just a simple digital camera will do.

2. Choose somewhere to take the photo. 

It's better to fit the background to your character (can you really imagine Sherlock Holmes taking selfies in a bathroom mirror?). If in doubt, use your back garden or a large, outdoor area as you will usually get better light outside as well as more choice of backgrounds for your shots. Good place ideas for shots include brick walls, woods, lakes, or even simple park benches.

3. Set up a stand to place your camera on.

If you own a tripod, then that would be perfect, but if not, anything from a pile of books to a window ledge will do.

4. Look through the lens of your camera to see where the edges of the shot are. 

You don't want to have a beautiful photo of you in costume, but the top of your head is missing. If the camera is too low or high, adjust it accordingly. Also, be sure to check whether any large props will fit within the frame of the camera - that epic scythe you made will just look like a big black stick if the blade is cropped off the top of the shot.

5. Choose what pose you want to do for your photo.

Something that will fit the character, for example if you are cosplaying as Naruto, perhaps make a peace sign with your fingers and pull a huge grin. If you are cosplaying as Hermione Granger, perhaps bring a book with you and pretend to read. Try to be as creative with poses as possible; many of the same poses are used time and time again but a unique idea will make your cosplay stand out even if the costume isn't 100% accurate.

6. Set the timer on your camera.

About 10 seconds should do it, so you can get into position. If you have a large prop to adjust or it is hard to move in your costume then you may need more time.

7. Pose for the photo.

Remember, you don't necessarily have to be staring straight into the camera.

8. Once the camera has taken the shot, you can go and look at it.

Some cameras have features that let you take lots of shots in quick succession automatically. You could try setting this on your camera too, for more interesting shots.

9. Upload the pictures to your computer and delete the ones you don't care for.

Never use the delete button on a camera. Digital cameras don't have a recycle bin; once you delete a photo, it will be gone for good. It is safer to get rid of the ones you don't want on a computer so if you delete one by accident, you can retrieve it from the recycle bin.

10. Time to edit!

Now, don't worry if you don't have Photoshop. You don't need it for minor edits. Simply left click the photo you want to edit, click 'open with' and select 'Windows Live Photo Gallery'. Once this is open, click 'Fix' in the toolbar and then edit to your hearts content. You can change the brightness, colouration and even straighten the angle of the photo. You can also fix red-eye caused by staring into the flash of the camera.

11. Congratulations, you now have a wonderful cosplay photo!

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Merry Christmas everyone from all members of our cosplay group. We hope you all have an amazing safe Christmas. We will post updates about any conventions, any meet ups, cosplay photos, or any important announcements after the 1st of the year.

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Cosplay Tip #7

If you are planning to cosplay a popular character, you will probably not be the only cosplay of them at the convention.

But don’t let it discourage you from cosplaying the character! It can be disappointing to cosplay a popular character and go to a con, only to find a lot of other people as them if you think you’re going to be the only one, so just be prepared for this.

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Cosplay Tip #8

Being proud of your costume is great, being conceited and big headed about it is not.

Not every single person who comes up to you needs or wants to hear an in-depth description about how you made your costume. When someone asks, it’s cool to tell them that you soaked your shirt in tea for 6 hours or that there’s 10,000 Swarovski crystals on your cape, but just spewing it out over and over during an unrelated conversation isn’t cool.

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Cosplay Tip #9

If you have a threatening looking cosplay, it’s best to do drive-thru if you eat out.

Not everyone knows there’s a convention going on, and a blood covered outfit or a large weapon could cause panic. Be considerate to those who aren’t going to the convention, too!

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Cosplay Tip #10

Don’t lie about where your cosplay came from.

If you commissioned a cosplay or bought it online, be honest about it if anyone asks. Don’t take credit for someone else’s work. Especially do not do this in prejudging if you compete. It’s unfair to the person who made the cosplay and to the other cosplayers competing.

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Cosplay Tip #11

Don’t worry yourself over unachievable cosplay details.

If you can’t wear contacts, fit a 5th layer on your dress, make your prop hover, ect, that’s fine. Don’t beat yourself up over not being able to 100% replicate something a team of professionals made, or something animated that isn’t physically possible.

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Cosplay Tip #12

Don’t act superior to other cosplayers because your cosplay is from something more well known than theirs is.

Yes, Captain America, Elsa, the Doctor, ect. are more recognizable than other cosplayers. But cosplaying them or other well known characters doesn’t give you permission to act like a celebrity or be condescending and rude to less known cosplayers.

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Cosplay Tip #13

Do not hand-make shoes that you will be wearing for an extended period of time out of plastic or Worbla.

It seems like a good idea on paper, but you will regret it deeply when it’s an hour into the convention and your feet are in pain or worse. You could cause serious damage to your feet, and if a heel malfunctions or the shoe just doesn’t hold your weight correctly, you could end up breaking your ankle or hurting your whole leg. Customizing a pair of safe, well fitting professional made shoes is great, but unless you know how to make them very, very safe with the right materials, don’t make them yourself.

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Cosplay Tip #14

Don’t rag on or harass cosplayers for things their fandom has done.

There is no reason to approach innocent cosplayers with mean things because their fandom isn’t the best behaved. It is not their fault and they do not represent the entire fandom. 

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Cosplay Tip #15

Do not worry if your costumes don’t get that many notes or likes.

It’s really no big deal. They do not measure your worth as a cosplayer, or how good you are.

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Cosplay Tip #16

Recognize the difference between a costume that’s uncomfortable and a costume that’s harming you.

Costumes will be uncomfortable, but severe and numbing pain can cause bruises, nerve damage, or worse. The painful costume stereotype is true, but recognizing the signs that something might be wrong can save you a world of pain and trouble.

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Cosplay Tip #17

Don’t make a mess in the convention center.

Seriously, if there’s one way to piss off con staff and convention center workers at the same time, it’s this. Trashing the center could mean problems for the people running the con, and it could even cause the con not to come back. It’s not hard to clean up after cosplay meetups, or to not leave trash around.

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Cosplay Tip #18

Prepare for Summer heat during conventions.

Wear sunscreen. Drink a lot of water. Wear sunglasses. Especially if you need to walk outside, even a few minutes in the sun with no sunscreen can give you a horrible sunburn and no sunglasses can give you an awful headache. Large costumes worn without drinking could even lead to a heatstroke. 

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Cosplay Tip #19

Don’t host photoshoots blocking elevators.

At best, it is incredibly inconveniencing for people in larger costumes. At worst, it is incredibly disrespectful to people in wheelchairs attending the convention. It’s not hard to find somewhere else to do a photoshoot, stop doing them directly in front of and blocking elevators.

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Cosplay Tip #20

Don’t be overly competitive if you compete in the costume contest.

It’s so much more fun to just focus on having fun, meeting other cosplayers, and making new friends. You’ll have much more fun if you focus on that, not on whether or not you’ll be going home with an award.

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Cosplay Tip #21

“Cosplay is not consent” goes for guys as well.

It doesn’t matter who he’s dressed as, it doesn’t give you permission to glomp on him, touch him without his permission, say inappropriate things to him, or flirt with him. If he seems to be trying to get away from you, take the hint that either he needs to be somewhere, he’s done talking to you, or that you’re making him uncomfortable. Male cosplayers can be harassed and made uncomfortable too.