By Kendra Tallman

If you’ve ever looked at picture of yourself and hated the way your hair or eyes looked, join the club. But if you’re a cosplayer, there’s much more at stake than just your pride. Hiring a photographer for a professional shoot is an investment in your cosplay brand, and you’re most likely hoping to get a little bit of a profit out of it in the end.

The photographer you work with will probably have some tips to help you out, but things will go a lot smoother if you’re already versed in some of the techniques. Following these steps will help you get better photos, faster. Take a look:

#1- Figure Out How Your Hair Looks Best
If you’re wearing a wig or you’ve styled your hair to match a certain character, chances are you haven’t spent as much time messing around with it as you have your regular hair style. If you have short hair normally and you’re wearing a waist-length wig, you might not have a clue how that hair sits on you. Spend some time in front of the mirror trying out different hair poses. Does it look best tucked behind one ear, in front of or behind your shoulders, or pulled into a pony tail? You can always try a few different hair poses at your shoot, but you’ll know to spend more time on the ones you like and less on the ones you’re not sure about.

#2- Know How to Hold Yourself
There are some basic do’s and don’t’s that come into play when you’re getting your picture taken, whether it’s a snapshot at your friend’s house or a professional portrait.

DO lift your chin and jut it out. This will create more space between your chin and neck, which helps define your jawline.
DON’T face the camera with your body directly. Hold yourself at an angle slightly away or toward the camera, which creates visual interest.
DO keep your arms slightly away from your body. This feels more natural and helps to define your waist.
DON’T forget about your hands. If you’re using one to pose or point, remember the other hand as well. Avoid the “dead hand” which just hangs there, doing nothing.

In some photoshoots you may have a prop to work with; in others, you may not. Don’t be afraid to use the space around you: point, lift your hands above your hand, place your hands on your waist, or do anything else that you feel your character might do; which leads me into the next tip…

#3- Study Your Character
Up to this point, you’ve probably spent most of your time scrutinizing your character’s costume. You’ve discovered what fabric their coat is made of, the perfect shade of pink for their hair, and what type of shoes you need to make or buy. But getting the costume right will only get you halfway there in a cosplay photoshoot: you’ve got to know how the character acts and poses to make it look really good. If your character is a tough, stoic type, then silly poses aren’t going to do you a ton of good (except for laughs—which are important too!). Consider 3-6 different poses you’d really like to focus on, because chances are, your photographer isn’t going to know the character nearly as well as you do.

#4- Communicate
Remember, a photoshoot is a collaboration between a cosplayer and a photographer; you must work as team to achieve the best results. Just as you want great photos to show off your hard work, the photographer wants great photos to add to their portfolio. If you’re feeling unsure about a pose, ask what the photographer thinks and if they have any tips on how you can position yourself better. Don’t be afraid to stop and discuss ideas, poses, hairstyles or whatever else you might have questions on.

As with everything, the best way to improve is to practice. If you have a paid shoot coming up and you’re nervous, ask a friend to take some cell phone shots so you can look over your poses. These steps will help you remember what to focus on and create a great and profitable experience for both you and the photographer. And if you’re looking to set up a shoot with an experienced photographer, contact us at Cosplay Imaging. Our staff can guide and coach you to get the best pictures you’ve ever had.