Cosplay Live July 2016 Issue

MAGAZINE: JULY 2016

Live TIPS & TRICKS

Shared by Cosplayers & Cosplay Photographers

INTERVIEWS:

Raychul Moore Soylent Cosplay JusZ Cosplay I Got Superpowers Mike Rollerson + tons more!

This issue is rated

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Cosplayers are a unique group.

They toil over finely detailed costumes and props, they spend hours learning make up techniques and hair styling and all for the sake of their art. Yet who rewards them for all this effort? Very few generate an income for all their work. But perhaps art is not mean to always return a reward financially. Perhaps the “likes” are what matters? The acknowledgement that hard work has it’s fans..?

Same with cosplay photographers. They spend years learning their craft, buying expensive gear, software and even training courses so they can create artistic representations of their love of cosplay in conjunction with the actual artist. But, once it’s been on social media, once it has been seen, it moves rapidly down ones timeline and into the Photos folders or on a blog or gallery.

At Cosplay Live Magazine we feel that your work, your art deserves more.

We want to keep alive the joy of seeing your work appreciated by fans of cosplay. That’s why we create Cosplay Live - we make no income from this.

It’s a project done for the simple love of seeing your art, your work kept alive a bit longer.

We want to grow our community of readers and the way for this to happen is for you - the cosplayers, the photographers and fans to share a link to this community magazine. This issue seems some amazing cosplayers and photographers - there’s tips, photos that will amaze you and a bunch of interviews where cosplayers tell their story. Take a look, we hope you love Cosplay Live as much as we do.

Rob Jenkins Editor and Publisher

Brought to you by Gametraders & CosplayLive

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Thanks Raychul for letting us talk to you again, you’re one of the worlds most successful cosplayers, and online personalities with your Youtube channel. What’s been happening in 2016 for you and what’s coming up?

Whoa, thanks for the super compliments!! “One of the world’s most successful cosplayers”, that’s now going on my business card! ;D Well, I took a small break at the beginning of the year; last year I had about a con a month, and a few months I had more than one. So I needed a small break to catch up on some games I was falling behind on, do some major cosplay repairs and start planning new cosplays for this year. But con season has really geared up and now I’m right back into it!

My subscribers and fans are like family to me and going to cons is where I get to meet so many of them and see some of them that I have missed since last time!!!

That sounds a pretty full year, so tell us a bit more about the cons you’ve been to. What was your first and what was it like?

My first con ever way SDCC back in like 2005, or 2006. It was also my first time cosplaying. A friend of mine wanted to 6 do a group cosplay, I thought she was

crazy! We were gonna walk around in public, in costumes, and it’s not even Halloween!! But she talked me into and from the first moment we stepped foot in that con, I was hooked!!! Being around so many people who were into the same things as I was and shared the same passions was amazing! I was hooked, and have been cosplaying ever since!!

Have you had any negative con experiences?

Luckily, no, I have never really had any bad experiences meeting people at cons and stuff! Everyone is usually always really nice and super awesome to me! I’ve only had the “Cammy-butt grab” maybe once or twice, and it’s usually by younger kids who don’t know any better. Until they try that with me, of course, and then they know better after that. :D And on the other side of the coin, what about positive experiences?

Oh yeah, I’ve had sooooo many awesome experiences!! Cons are one of my most favorite things I get to do through my cosplay!! We’ve had dance parties at my booth, I’ve gotten to meet some of my closest online friends and so many people I’m in gaming groups

with and just traveling to new places is always fun as well! I also always love it when I get to judge cosplay contests because I learn new ways to craft things and new ways to work with different materials just by talking to the contestants about how they made their cosplays.

Let’s get down to details - how do you prepare for a con?

First, gotta decide what cosplays to bring! Usually, a different one for each day and then a backup one as well, just in case. :) Also, lots of safety pins, velcro and gel insoles for your shoes. :) And on the day, what’s your timeline like - any pre-con final minute things you go through?

The first day is usually the toughest, well only the first morning because I’m usually still setting up by the time the con opens. So it’s like a mad rush to wake up, shower, get in cosplay, get into the con center and then get everything set up! :) After that, it’s usually just all fun from there!!

At cons, many cosplayers are swamped by fans and also photographers, how do you handle fans and the photographers?

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It’s super important to me that anyone who comes up to say hi to me or get a pic, that they get my full attention and their experience meeting me and chatting with me doesn’t feel rushed. So I really try my best to make sure I give each person my full attention while also giving new people who walk up a small gesture or smile so they know that I know they are there and I’ll be with them in just a sec. :D Same thing with the photographers, but if they are some one I know or wanna schedule a shoot with, then I always do my best to schedule it for after the con so I can spend as very little time away from my booth as absolutely possible.

Do you tend to schedule a photo session with a particular photographer/s at a con?

Oh, got a little ahead of myself on the last question! Yep! I do usually schedule shoots with photographers while I am at a con!! Some of the guys I like to shoot with whenever possible don’t live near me, so when our schedules match up, I try to steal them away for a bit to go take pics!!! :D Who initiates it?

It depends, usually the photographer... but the guys who I’ve shot with several times before and really like working with, I’ll reach out to them anytime I’ve been signed on to guest at a con to see if they have plans on attending too!! :D Do you ever get paid for shoots or the other way round or is it more a collaboration of artists sharing ideas and results?

I’ve been paid to do shoots before, but usually prefer to collab with people who just wanna have fun and take some cool pics! It’s really fun to see different photographers styles and takes on a cosplay come through with the photos. You can shoot the same cosplay with 4 different photographers and get

4 totally different results. To me, this whole industry is all about passion and creativity, so I have the most fun when collab-ing!!

Back to cons - what’s a typical day like for you at a con?

Usually I try to spend as much time at my booth as possible, just hanging out there, doing meet n’ greats and signing print. And then depending on the con, I usually also speak on panel or two and then judge cosplay contest on one of the evenings. And then, I go back to my hotel room, eat as much food as I can put in front of myself and then pass out in bed so that I can wake up and do it again the next day!!

Can you share with us some tips on surviving a con?

It always helps to have someone there with you who isn’t cosplaying. That person can help watch your booth while you step away for a sec, be there to get you water or a snack when you need it and to help you by just being there when you might need something. If you don’t have someone that can help you, then it also really makes a con more enjoyable when you know some of the other cosplayers there or take a few moments to get to know your booth neighbors! I’ve made some of my closest con-friends that way, and it also helps for when you need someone to help you reattach something that has come undone on your costume and you just can’t reach it yourself. :) Last question - thinking back to your early days attending cons and cosplaying - what tips can you share for those just starting out..?

My main tips would be, to bring bandaids for your feet, even comfy shoes

ONLINE:

start to hurt after walking in them for several hours. Remember to drink a lot of water, cons can be super busy and hectic to where you might forget to eat or drink...so yes, water! And, if you’re planning on attending a con and walking around and wanna cosplay as well, be ready to be stopped for a lot of pics... so don’t cosplay on a day that you have a panel you really wanna go to or are on any type of schedule. Getting around a con while in cosplay can be a bit crazy, so only cosplay on a day that you don’t have anything you really just have to go see or do that day.

Ok, really final question - what are you working on for the rest of this year or next year you can share?

I’m working on some new cosplays this year and rebuilding one of my all-time favorites as well! One of my new cosplays I’m working on right now is SheRa. I can’t wait! Been wanting to make her costume for several years now, so I’m really excited!!! I’m also re-vamping my Cammy cosplay with completely new everything; bodysuit, gloves and arm guards! Then my big project this year is I’m working on a new Kratos cosplay with full armor, both blades and the Golden Fleece. It’s a huge goal and has been a bit difficult right from the start because I’m learning how to build armor and work with materials I’ve never worked with, but that’s also the fun part of it all!! I’ve been doing cosplay crafting streams a lot recently and my Patreon.com members get all the sneak peeks and progress pics for my big cosplay builds too. They’ve seen the tears of frustrations and the smiles of success...which is what makes cosplay so rewarding to me!!!

Thanks Raychul! To see more of Raychul’s Cosplay visit: www.raychul.com www.facebook.com/RaychulMoore www.youtube.com/user/RaychulMoore www.instagram.com/theraychul

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www.facebook.com/JenniferKairisCosplay Hi Jennifer, welcome to Live Magazine.

You really have an impressive resume, can you share with our readers some of your highlights...

Hi, and thank you! I was the lead actress in a recent feature film called ‘Excess Baggage’ available now. I was also an actor in the shows ‘Walking and Circles’ and ‘Warrior Showdown’ where I performed my own stunts in several fight scenes. I have been a backup dancer for the J-Pop band ‘Girl Next Door’. I have been a backup dancer for Smashing Pumpkins. Acted in a couple of local and national commercials, as well as performed in many live shows for Disney and Universal Studios You’ve done stage combat fighting, dance, and sword play - they are an interesting mix for an actress, can you tell us a bit about that and if you’ve used them in any of your work..

Yes, I started as a dancer doing shows, and then a casting call went out for girls who looked like Cathrine Zeta-Jones from the movie Zorro to do a live stunt show involving sword fighting. I ended up getting casted for the show and a stunt team taught me how to sword fight. Having a background in dance really helped me with stunts, since I was learning a lot of choreography, but with swords. It was really awesome!

From there, I met other people from the world of stunts and they would ask me to be in their projects. I still continue to do stunt work from time to time.

On to cosplay, how often are you doing cosplay and what has been your favourite cosplay so far?

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I use to do cosplay all the time, but since school started up again I haven’t had much time for creating new costumes. I still do it in my spare time, I like to try and get at least 3 or 4 new costumes out a year. A very small number in the cosplay community, but I love cosplaying even though I don’t get to do it as often as I like. My favorite cosplay so far is my Psylocke cosplay. I love the character, and the costume is probably the most comfortable to wear out of all of my cosplays.

Being in front of the camera, both still and motion, can you tell us how you prepare for a photo shoot?

Well, getting plenty of rest is a big thing for me. If I’m well rested, I can perform better and you look better. Cameras with their HD settings pick up every little detail so looking your best is important. I also like to drink plenty of water, and be as absolutely prepared as I can be, whether it’s making sure I know my lines or my routine. I have to make sure I have it committed to memory.

What’s been your favourite cosplay shoot?

My favorite cosplay shoot was probably my Assassin Jane shoot. I loved the location of it. It was in the middle of nowhere in this abondoned building with rubble and debris everywhere. We got a lot of cool shots and video that day.

Here’s a link: https://youtu.be/cyanDlFjIYI What has been the most important skill you’ve learnt for your career?

Patience. LOL! Being in the entertainment industry, in any part of it, takes a lot of patience and a very thick skin.

You hear so much rejection everyday, but when you hear that yes, it’s all the more exciting. That’s in dance, acting, stunts, and even cosplay. It’s takes a lot of time and patience to put together a costume from scratch. But once it’s created, you feel awesome that YOU made it.

What do you hope to do next, any plans for the rest of 2016?

For cosplay I hope create a Kitana,from Mortal Kombat, costume and I’m thinking about doing Misty costume from Pokemon.

Acting - I’m in talks to act/dance in an upcoming feature film, but I’m not allowed to say much more than that.

I am currently a correspondent for Twitch.tv/NetherRealm’s MKX Pro League show airing every Wednesday live from 5pm - 7pm (pst).

I am also on a Heroes of the Storm team called the Mystiks and we stream on Twitch.tv/TGLive every Monday and Tuesday from 7pm - 9pm (pst).

Finally, where can readers go to find out more about you.

ONLINE: Twitter: @ElvenHuntress

FB: www.facebook.com/JenniferKairisCosplay

Instagram: @jedi_mindtrick Snapchat: Jedi_Mindtrick YouTube: DragonbornJustJK Website: www.jenniferkairis.com

Photographer: Brad Hills

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Photographer: Brad Hills

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Ask staff for details.

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www.facebook.com/SoylentCosplay

Photographer: Charmaine Morgan | www.facebook.com/charmaine.morgan88 32

Welcome to LIVE Magazine Jennifer, and thank you for taking the time to talk to us! Would you mind telling our readers a bit about yourself?

Since you’re a professionally trained make-up artist as well as a cosplayer, how does that influence your cosplay?

that, it’s always very rewarding to walk around a convention showing off your shared fandom and your hard work with your best friend.

Sure! My name is Jennifer, also known as Soylent Cosplay, and I’m 23 and live in Queanbeyan, Australia. I’ve been cosplaying for roughly 5 years now, as primarily video game and comic book characters. I first started back in 2011 because I really enjoyed the idea of donning a costume and becoming someone else. I’ve always been interested in changing the way I look, so doing cosplay just seemed like the next step to scratch that itch! I also really enjoyed the challenge of making a character come to life as realistically as possible.

My makeup background influences my character choices quite heavily, I think. I don’t think I’ve ever been satisfied with just doing a beauty makeup for a cosplay – probably because that’s something I could do everyday if I wanted to. I love the challenge of an alien skin tone, or elf ears, or scars, or horns, or prosthetics – just all of that! I love bringing the fantasy and the fiction into reality. I adore special effect makeup and creature makeups in movie or TV shows, so I’m exploring that through transforming myself. When I cosplay, I always want to be either a better version of myself, or someone completely different that embodies the traits I’d love to see in myself. Perhaps it’s just that better version of myself happens to come from another world haha!

What projects are you currently working on, or are excited to start working on?

You’ve cosplayed from a broad range of genres, but what costume would you say you have the most connection to cosplaying?

In terms of an emotional connection – as strange as that sounds – Liara T’Soni is definitely at the top. When I was first thinking of cosplaying Liara I wasn’t 100% sure I could pull it off.

However, when I did my first makeup test and got a very positive reaction, it really gave me that drive to create her as accurately as I could. I wanted to give her the credit I thought she, and the game Mass Effect, deserved. So, although the costume isn’t the most comfortable to wear, she makes me feel strong and confident when I do and that’s what I look for the most when I’m picking characters to cosplay. She also happens to be my first ‘proper’ cosplay that I was truly proud of, so there’s a bit of sentimentality in there too.

You often cosplay alongside your partner, Jarreth – how does that differ your cosplay experience from cosplaying solo?

Cosplaying with Jarreth is definitely a different experience from going solo. It’s not more or less fun exactly, it’s just fun in a different way! It’s always exciting to be part of a couple or a group in cosplay because it really drives home the feeling of cosplay comradely. So cosplay with your partner just adds another fun layer to that!

Of course it’s also more difficult as I usually make both of our costumes and need to do double the makeup when we wear them. But, despite

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I’m currently working on a Cirilla cosplay from Witcher 3: Wild Hunt for Sydney Supanova, which I’m quite pleased with so far and can’t wait to wear. Another couple of cosplays that I’m planning soon are San from Princess Mononoke and Widowmaker from Overwatch.

What was your first convention, and your first costume?

Ok, I’m a bit embarrassed to admit it, but I did my first ‘costume’ back in 2008, when I attempted to make my own Naruto cosplay from scratch. I wore it to Animania – which was a very small convention at the time – with a small group of friends who were also willing to wear very badly made costumes so we could be a group. There’s only one photo from that convention, and I have it hanging on my wall to remind me where I’ve come from haha!

Where can our readers find you after this?

Please feel free to check out my work on: Facebook: www.facebook.com/soylentcosplay which is updated the most frequently. And outside of that I also have: Deviantart: soylent-cosplay.deviantart.com, Instagram: www.instagram.com/soylentcosplay_jen

and Twitter! twitter.com/Salviar

www.facebook.com/soylentcosplay soylent-cosplay.deviantart.com www.instagram.com/soylentcosplay_jen twitter.com/Salviar

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Photographer: Maddic Photography | www.facebook.com/maddicphotography

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Photographer: Charmaine Morgan | www.facebook.com/charmaine.morgan88

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Photographer: Charmaine Morgan | www.facebook.com/charmaine.morgan88

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Photographer: Charmaine Morgan | www.facebook.com/charmaine.morgan88

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Photographer: Charmaine Morgan | www.facebook.com/charmaine.morgan88

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Photographer: Hannah O’Neill | www.facebook.com/hannahoneillphotography

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www.facebook.com/kaylaerinfanpage

Photographer: Decade Three Photography | www.facebook.com/decadethreear

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Thanks for taking the time to talk to us here at LIVE Magazine - please tell us a little about yourself and how cosplay started for you.

My name is Kayla Erin, I’m 19 and I currently live in Canberra. I first started cosplaying in 2012 and since then I have absolutely loved it.

I’d seen viral cosplay here and there around the internet and had no real idea on what it really was. I just thought they were people dressed up for Halloween. It wasn’t until mid 2012 where I discovered a cosplay group on YouTube called ‘Fighting Dreamers Pro’. At first I thought they were some weird religious group (don’t ask why I thought that, I have no idea why) however, after watching a few of their videos I fell completely in love. They all seemed so happy; dressing up as the characters I loved, doing funny skits and just having an awesome time. I was instantly hooked.

My first cosplay was Naruto Uzumaki from Naruto Shippuden. I had to ask my mum to buy the costume on eBay for me. It took me about a month for me to gain the courage to ask her. I felt as if I was coming out of the closet like “Mum... I want to be a... COSPLAYER”. She handled it well and accepted that I wanted to dress up as a fictional character for fun. Sydney Supanova was my first convention. I went in cosplay with a girl friend and we had no idea what to expect. We dressed up in Pikachu onesies and Ciel Phantomhive from Black Butler. I was in complete awe at all the nerdy merchandise that was there. When people asked for photos I had no idea what kind of poses to do. Looking back at the photos now you can see how awkward yet happy I was.

Some of your costumes have gone viral across the internet - what was that like?

I’d used DeviantART for about a year and the average post would

get less than a hundred views and a few favourites. I decided to cosplay as Misty from Pokémon because I’d always loved her. I took a photo and mind you, this photo was terribly photo shopped. Not even the wig was the right colour. However I still posted it, thought nothing of it and went to bed. The next morning I woke and to check the comments left on it (I was extremely nervous because it was my first costume with cleavage.

I was expecting all hate) and I looked at the views – 1,000. I was so shocked. However, I’d read it wrong, it was 11,000 views. By now I was crying. This made me so happy. The fact that so many people had liked my cosplay made my whole year.

Since then I have gained followers across different social media outlets and to be honest, it’s still so foreign to me. Although older and a bit more grown up, I still feel the same. I’ve had people cry when meeting me at conventions and I’m always stunned because I don’t see what they see; I’m just like them. I dress up, I go to conventions and I have fun. The amount of support I have me is unbelievable and it’s all thanks to that Misty costume.

What’s your favourite part about making and wearing a new cosplay to a convention?

I’ve grown to love most parts of making a costume however detailing is my favourite. This means that you’ve done all the hard work of breaking the outfit design into simple pattern pieces, buying the fabric, cutting the fabric and sewing. It also gives your costume that extra oomph to it. It’s a very satisfying feeling when complete and your hard work has payed off. One of my favourite parts about wearing cosplay at a convention is having people who are fans of the same show/ video game/ movie

that you’re cosplaying as reacting and being able to talk and bond over it. This quite often happens when I wear Yang Xiao Long from RWBY. All the Rooster Teeth fans are so lovely. You can make so many friends through cosplay, it’s a wonderful hobby.

You cosplay from quite a wide variety of sources – what is it about a character that prompts you to cosplay them?

Ever since I can remember, I’ve always loved female characters that are busty and show off skin. I think watching tv shows such as the Winx Club or just playing with Bratz Dolls inspired a lot of the admiration. I tend to lean towards characters that are already a bit on the sexy side such as Leone from Akame Ga Kill. I also like picking characters I can relate to personality wise like Yang from RWBY who loves to make puns. Being able to personally relate to you character makes to whole cosplay experience better.

What’s been your favourite cosplay experience so far?

My favourite cosplay experience so far is just being about to hang out with all my friends at the con. I feel like cosplay helps people get out of the shell (it definitely does for me) so it helps meeting new people. Another thing I love while being is cosplay is having kids see you in their favourite character and being able to hug them and act as the character.

Where can our readers find you outside this interview?

You can find me on Facebook, Twitter, Snapchat, Instagram & DeviantART ! My social network username is ‘itskaylaerin’

ONLINE:

www.facebook.com/kaylaerinfanpage www.instagram.com/itskaylaerin kaylaerin.deviantart.com/ 43

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Photographer: Decade Three Photography | www.facebook.com/decadethreear

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Photographer: Decade Three Photography | www.facebook.com/decadethreear

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Photographer: Maddic Photography | www.facebook.com/maddicphotography

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Photographer: Decade Three Photography | www.facebook.com/decadethreear

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www.facebook.com/TaliCosplay Tali, you’re involved in so many things, gamer, cosplayer and model plus you sew your costumes. How did you get into cosplay?

I got involved with cosplay when I was a teenager and just fell in love with it. I’ve always been into costumes and design so it was a logical progression from sewing my doll clothes to sewing bigger versions for me instead. I started going to local conventions and just never grew out of it, so here I am today!

You’ve really done some amazing costumes, what’s been the most challenging?

The most challenging costume I’ve made might have been Zero Suit Samus, Terra from Final Fantasy 6 or Rydia from Final Fantasy 4, all for slightly different reasons but I enjoyed making them none the less. I learnt a lot of techniques just from those projects.

You were at E3, what were some of the more memorable moments?

The whole experience is sort of a blur, being there is so overstimulating and visually exhausting that it’s hard to keep track of everything going on. I’m looking forward to going again though! I particularly enjoy the afterparties the most though ;) 50

Just on cons, what are your favourites and what do you have planned for 2016?

counting on you to bring you A game and if you aren’t even happy to be there then everyone suffers.

I love going to Anime Expo, it’s in my favorite city and there’s always such amazing cosplay at AX. I’d love to see some international conventions one day!

Also can you give 3 tips on preparing for a con?

Currently for 2016 I will likely be attending Emerald City Comic Con, Anime Expo, PAX Prime and am possibly visiting Kuwait very soon!

On to games, what are you playing at the moment?

I’m still trudging my way through Fallout 4 currently, I’m trying to not progress the story too much because I don’t want it to end yet haha but otherwise I’m playing Blade and Soul casually in my free time!

You’ve done quite a few photo shoots, can you give new cosplayers 3 tips on how to prepare for a shoot?

Don’t eat a pound of spaghetti before you shoot, it will show.

EAT. So many times I’ve forgotten to eat while at a con and my body/energy suffers heavily. No one likes a hangry cosplayer.

Triple check your suitcase before you leave for an out of town event.

Make a checklist of every piece of your costume just in case. I have absolutely left huge pieces of my costume at home. Plan out who your going to see or what your going to do before going to the con, there’s nothing worse than wasting precious con time.

Ok, time for a bit of fun, ready for 5 quick fire questions?

1 - What’s your favourite food?

Spaghetti.

2 - You’re sent on a long space journey what movies do you take?

Lotion that skin! It’ll give your skin that anime girl shine.

Zoolander and the complete Lord of the Rings directors cut.

Get that energy up, the worst thing you can do as a model is not be excited to be there. Everyone else is

3 - If you could sit and have coffee or a cool drink with anyone in history who would it be? Past or present.

Photographer: Victor Rodriguez Photography | www.victorrodriguezphoto.com

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Personally, I would love to speak to anyone from Ancient Egypt, I have so many questions and so few answers.

4 - If you were Super Girl - what is the first thing you’d do?

I would probably just spend a lot of time flying around the world seeing the sights!

5 - Batman and Superman ask you on a date who do you choose and why?

Batman, definitely Batman.

Finally where can readers go to find out more about you?

ONLINE: www.talixoxo.com www.facebook.com/talicosplay twitter.com/supertaunt

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Photographer: Shot Fox Photography | www.facebook.com/shotfoxphotography

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Photographer: FiveRings Photography | www.facebook.com/FiveRingsPhotography 54

Photographer: FiveRings Photography | www.facebook.com/FiveRingsPhotography

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www.facebook.com/JusZCosplay Hey Justine, you’ve been on the other side of our mic with interviews but today we wanted to catch up with you. You’re a guest at Oz Comic Con this year, tell us about that.

I’m so thrilled and excited to have been invited to Oz Comic-Con as a guest. It was a really wonderful surprise to be contacted by a convention that I love attending and be asked to take that step up and be an actual guest. It’s also pretty nerve-wracking, but I’m more excited than anything else. I’ll be presenting one workshop and hosting the new ‘Cosplay Active’ cosplay competition, and I’m sure more cool things will be added as we get closer to the event.

So how did you get started in cosplay?

Like everyone else, as a fan. I love costumes and dressing up and when I found out that the Armageddon comic convention was coming to Adelaide in 2011 I knew I would have to dress up to attend. I bought or rented everything for that costume 58

and had an absolutely unforgettable time.

My parents gave me a sewing machine for Christmas later that year, I think my mom was hoping I’d make curtains or something, and that opened up a whole new world for me.

Now apart from cosplay, you’ve been a touch famous in Canada, tell us about that.

Oh goodness. I’m not sure famous is exactly the right word for it, but I was in an all girl pop group called G-Force for a few years back in Vancouver. By the time we parted ways we’d started to build a bit of a following and had not only performed at clubs in Vancouver, Toronto and Las Vegas, but also for Jay Leno at the Tonight Show in LA. It was really interesting, because we were totally self-funded and self-managed so we had a lot of control over our music and image. It was a lot like cosplay – tons of un-glamorous hard work, lots of shiny fabrics and my never-ending battle with false eyelashes.

Back to cosplay, why do you think it’s grown so much in the past few years?

I think the internet has a lot to do with it - that’s how I found out about cosplay. The internet opens up so many windows into different worlds and the internet, especially social media, allows us to show off our work as well as find and connect with others who have similar interests. I’ve learned techniques I wouldn’t have ever considered via YouTube and other people’s tutorials, and there’s also the expansion of materials and references that have helped people get started so much easier. Thermoplastics, specialised patterns and fabrics and access to quality wigs all make cosplay easier to get into and bring it further into the ‘mainstream’.

Who inspires your cosplay?

There are so many! Major Sam Cosplay and Floksy Locksy Cosplay both inspire me with their incredible and beautiful work. Eve Beauregard is the sweetest person and I love both her gorgeous work and her

Photographer: Steamkittens | www.facebook.com/steamkittens

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awesome online presence. And, of course, Yaya Han is the epitome of what I’d like to be as a cosplayer.

She’s gracious and lovely, her work is eye-meltingly beautiful and she’s a very savvy business woman.

On to costumes and props - do you make your own and if so, what’s been your most challenging cosplay?

I do make most of my own costumes and props, with a few exceptions. I like to think I know when something would be best made by someone else and I try to always credit accordingly. I really enjoy making costumes, especially sewing. It’s so satisfying to put two pieces of fabric through the machine and have it come out as a garment. My most challenging would have to be a tie between Armoured Belle and Diana from League of Legends – I don’t make armour easily and both costumes had considerable challenges when it came to their construction.

What about props, what has been a difficult prop to make?

My Divas Championship belt was pretty challenging. It was early on in my cosplay days and I ended up remaking the belt part at least once because it was a yoga mat at its core and was far too thick. Each ‘metal’ plate was made out of a mousepad with the details hand drawn in fabric paint and covered in more fabric paint and crystal stickers. Actually getting the plates to stick to the belt was the hardest part and so frustrating. It’s a bit hard to describe at Bunnings when you’re trying to find the right adhesive!

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cosplay they would like to shoot and we’ll arrange the time and place. I really like when we’re able to talk a bit about their concept for the shoot and I love when we swap reference photos – it really helps me get a feel for their vision and contribute my ideas.

Once we get to the location we’ll sort out what we’re shooting where and get right into it. So much of photo shoots is holding crazy poses forever and it’s really a heck of a workout.

If you’re lucky to have assistants on a shoot there can be more hair flipping, cape tossing and droid wrangling than you would have thought.

Plus, you’re sometimes contending with other light sources, passers-by and occasionally even drunk people.

Every shoot is a new experience and I’m still learning new things every single time.

Do you have any tips for new cosplayers doing their first shoot?

Be prepared. Always come to a shoot ready to go and have poses that you’ve practised. You don’t want to run out of ideas too early and the more you can contribute the better!

It can be helpful to bring along a handler so they can give moral support, help you feel comfortable and even flick capes and adjust hair. And ALWAYS speak up if you’re asked to do something that makes you uncomfortable. A good photographer will find a different way to achieve the shot if you’re scared of heights or direct you verbally if you prefer not to be touched (and a photographer should always ask to touch you if they want to move an arm or stray hair).

Cosplay and photographers go together like bread and butter, tell us about some of your experiences.

What is involved in a typical shoot?

Sometimes cosplayers get negative comments via social media, what’s been your experience?

Usually, a photographer will contact me because they have a specific

I’ve been very lucky, I don’t get a lot of negativity on any of my social me-

dia - I’ve got a great bunch of people who follow my page and other profiles. I do get some unnecessarily over-sexual comments, but I tend to hide or delete those and I’ll occasionally call people out if I feel like they can be educated about their behaviour. “So-and-so did it better” comments are silly and pointless, but it comes with the territory and sometimes I even discover some great cosplayers through those!

You’ve done really well with your cosplay, what are the key things you’ve done that has got you to be a special guest at Oz Comic Con? Thank you very much. I’m still feeling like I don’t know what the magical key is to being an invited guest, but I’ve always tried to let the me behind the costumes also shine through. I’m still a giant nerd, I get overexcited about con guests and movie trailers and I dress up as wrestlers, and I guess that’s resonated with people. I cosplay for me and I really love what I do, which makes me happy and hopefully helps make those around me happy too.

Ok, some fun questions now...

You’re asked to be in a movie - what character would you love to be?

Well, since Black Widow appears to already be taken, it would have to be Zatanna. Zatanna is still one of my all-time favourite characters and if Mark Millar (writer of Kingsman, KickAss) says I’m his pick… well, come on Warner Bros, call me!

You’re stuck on an island - what one book and one food is a must have?

One book would have to be anything from JD Robb’s In Death series. I’m crazy about those and reread them over and over. Food would most definitely be pepperoni pizza.

Photographer: Steamkittens | www.facebook.com/steamkittens

Photographer: Charlie Nicholson | www.facebook.com/gotsuperpowers

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What’s your favourite movie?

Singin’ in the Rain. I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve watched it since I was a kid.

If you could sit and have coffee with anyone in history who would that be?

Audrey Hepburn. I could go on about how amazing she was for ages. Not enough people know she was so much more than a wonderful actress - when she was a teenager during WWII, she ran messages for the Dutch Resistance. Very inspiring and so talented.

And finally where can our readers go to find out more about you?

ONLINE: www.facebook.com/juszcosplay www.instagram.com/juszcosplay twitter.com/justinegf

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Photographer: Nathan Tan | www.facebook.com/gotsuperpowers

Photographer: Rob Jenkins Photo | www.facebook.com/robjenkinsphotography

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www.facebook.com/BindiCosplay Welcome! First up where did you come up with your cosplay name, Bindi Smalls?

Bindi Smalls, has been my gaming name for the last 10 years. Most of my friends at one point knew me by Bindi. “Bindi” was a randomly generated name from World of Warcraft that I altered by one letter, and “Smalls” came from my stature -- I’m 5’ 3”!

Now you’re based in the U.S, where about in the U.S? I’m based in northern Colorado at the moment. I’m originally from Florida, and lived in Northern Virginia for a while as well.

Why do you cosplay? What I mean is there is a lot of work in costumes and make up and going to cons. Do you make an income out of cosplay or do you plan to?

Cosplay is a fun medium for creative expression. There’s something special about wearing something you made, it’s a statement about ownership of the way you present yourself to others. When I was younger, I distinctly remember seeing characters in video games or animated series and wishing I could exist in that world. I guess that desire never really left me. Making and wearing cosplay helps me live out that childhood dream while meeting people who feel the same.

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I do not make an income out of cosplay. I’d like to, but I don’t want to give up my day job for now. I’ve been balancing life doing both for 3 years and while it’s stressful, I’m happy! I’m opening my print store again soon, and that can help recover the costs for making cosplay and traveling to conventions.

Would you say cosplay is for the love of the art, for the “likes” since it is rarely a career option or is it a combination of things?

I can’t speak for others but I can speak for myself: it’s for the love of the art. I do appreciate getting noticed, and like to have a platform to display my work, however I find that creating cosplay and props has become a compulsive activity for me -- I find myself planning for projects without realizing it, and I start to feel depressed if I don’t have any new projects to work on. I want to imagine other cosplayers feel the same, but I know it’s different for everyone.

There are definitely cosplayers who cosplay for attention, but can we really blame them? I’m sick of automatically assuming a negative view on people who welcome attention -wanting attention is normal, humans are a very social species. Getting attention for an accomplishment or even just your state of being feels good. I’d like for us all to admit that, finally. And if getting attention is not done with the intention to harm anyone, who cares? It doesn’t affect me, or my work, in the end. Maybe

this is an unpopular opinion, but you should embrace the attention you receive and shouldn’t make others feel bad for it.

Cosplayers are kind of like chameleons in that they take on multiple characters and in turn, the personalities of those characters. How far do you go with your cosplay projects with regard to details of costume etc?

I tend to get lost in the details, so I try to choose costumes that won’t completely consume me! When making a new cosplay, it’s easy to go a little insane over accuracy or the minutiae of a design. I try to learn my tools and work on my skills before I start a project, but I also tend to choose a new cosplay based on whether I learn any new techniques while making it.

What happens with your costumes after you’ve worn them?

Historically, they sit in a closet or storage box. I wear a cosplay multiple times after I make it, but once I’ve completely retired it, they’ve gone into storage. I will eventually get around to selling them!

Do you ever re-visit characters that you’ve previously cosplayed? What I mean is let’s say you did Black Cat a year ago, would you ever do it again and if so what sort of things do you differently?

Photographer: Elysiam Entertainment | www.elysiament.com

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I have yet to re-visit a character, but I plan on re-visiting some of my favorite cosplays. I would like to remake my Poison Ivy and my Elizabeth from Bioshock Infinite. These were some of my first self-made costumes, so I would like to remake them now that I know more about sewing and how to make corsets. I might also make a few more props for them, and rotate between the props to keep it fun when wearing over and over again.

On to something a bit different, tell us about 3D printing and what you use it for.

I use 3D printing every day. In my personal life, I use 3D printing for objects around the house or printing small but necessary items. For instance, a light-switch cover broke in my house -- so we printed a new one. The greatest thing about 3D printing is that the machine works for you, so that you can do other things!

Is this something you think more cosplayers will be trying out?

I think this is something a lot of cosplayers are very interested in. There are more and more cosplayers getting into 3D printing everyday, and I try to keep up with their work and their progress. There aren’t a lot of us, compared to the grand total of

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all cosplayers, but I think we’re doing some pretty cool stuff and turning some heads! And as the technology becomes even more accessible, more people will want to try it out.

from your successes and mistakes to form a better plan to accomplish whatever it is that you are doing.

I use social media as a way to display my work and connect with fans.

I don’t have that many fans when compared to the most popular cosplayers, but I don’t really care. My fans are very appreciative and I love them very much -- it feels great to show off a project or finished cosplay and get positive reinforcement. I also love connecting with other cosplayers via social media. Often, I’ll meet cosplayers that I follow in-person, and they have seen my work from my social media accounts. It feels like meeting a friend for the first time!

One day, you’ll see that hard work is the gift. Hard work will be what you strive for, what you desire. You will become comfortable working hard when all others have quit. Hard work will define you and force you to refine your skills. It is the one true thing that will separate you from others.

There will be other people that are naturally better than you, in every aspect. That’s okay. That doesn’t mean you can’t keep trying, and it doesn’t mean you cannot succeed. In fact, you’ll find that your endurance and dedication, which have reinforced by the hard work that you’ve done in the past, will be the very things that make you successful when everyone else has quit. You will feel the glory of a job well done, and personal satisfaction from what you have accomplished.

Do you have any tips for new cosplayers?

And where can readers go to find out more about you?

My best tip would be this: Do not be afraid of hard work.

Find me on Facebook, Instagram, and my website!

It’s more of a life tip, really. Do not be afraid to put tons of time and energy into a project. Even when you run out of motivation, and even if it fails.

Just continue to work hard, and learn

www.facebook.com/BindiCosplay Instagram: @bindismalls Website: Bindismalls.com

On to social media, what are you doing there and how did you grow your audience?

Photographer: Elysiam Entertainment | www.elysiament.com

ONLINE:

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Photographer: Elysiam Entertainment | www.elysiament.com

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Photographer: Elysiam Entertainment | www.elysiament.com

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Photographer: Elysiam Entertainment | www.elysiament.com

Photographer: Elysiam Entertainment | www.elysiament.com

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Welcome Vestiige Photography, can you tell us a bit about yourself and where you’re based?

Hey there! My name is Michael Steel, commonly known by my alias as Vestiige Photography. I am a professional photographer from Portsmouth, England. I moved to Perth, Western Australia in August 2012 to start my life anew with my family, and to base my career in photography here. My preferred photographic style is action portraits and surrealism, a medium that is able to bring audiences to awe with its diverse processes and techniques. My dream job is to travel the world taking tons of incredible photographs that involve and inspire thousands of people, bringing them closer to one another and to become more creative within themselves.

You’re into both photography and videography, what sort of work do you do most?

Photography has always been my top priority and skill specialty, but videography has also become a very vital part of photography in the professional industry. If you can work a DSLR with photos, you should definitely learn to know how to use it with video also. It really helps me to become better with my direction and angle work, treating my shots like stills from a blockbuster movie.

I thoroughly enjoy doing video with my good friend Al Hanafi (aka SirGlaxer), creating cosplay music videos at conventions and local events.

Tell us about your cosplay photography, how did you get into that genre?

Cosplay photography is pretty much a genre belonging to portraiture; you’re shooting a person, but that

person is dressed up as a character that they love and have wanted to become. Shooting their portrait helps them bring that character to life, and I love doing that, especially when it comes to shooting a character that I also personally love. It’s a great way to make new friends, give you great practice on post processing, and being introduced to a much more expanded interest of characters and series you may have never heard of.

You’re quite passionate about your art, and you’ve done quite a bit of study.. has that helped with cosplay photography?

Studying photography is always a great help in further developing your skills, but it is not vital. A lot of famous photographers tend to be selftaught, but a lot have also done studies. The reason I enjoy doing studies in photography is because I get to meet so many different people with different styles of photography, and it has also helped me better understand the photographic industry and how to develop a successful business. It also gives me drive to create with a large variety of assignments that I have creative control over, regardless if it set to a certain medium or theme.

Do you visit cons and any plans for the rest of this year?

I love attending the conventions in Perth since they’re filled with so much talent and friendly people. The conventions have gradually become more popular and larger, and it’s great to see the cosplay scene become more recognised and known to the general public now. I used to attend the MCM London Expo back home, and that was always good fun

too, but generally became too repetitive and overcrowded, so it was great to see that Australia had better conventions here that were more people-friendly. I would love to visit conventions all over the world and do a lot of cosplay music videos, meeting lots of different people and become friends with them.

What about gear, what do you use on a typical shoot?

I’ve always been a Nikon kid, and I always take my camera with me when I can. I shoot with a Nikon D750, a fantastic piece of gear that will carry me through my creative highs and lows for years to come. When it comes to doing a shoot (cosplay or not), I like to use LED lights, portable flash kits, a variety of lenses to get different results, and a bunch of friends to come help me and hang out. Assistants are very vital, and I wouldn’t be able to do half the stuff I do now if it wasn’t for their help.

Do you charge for cosplay shoots?

At the beginning of my journey through cosplay photography I shot for free, and shot everything whatever people threw at me. However, over time it started to become draining and costly on myself and my funds, and having a Facebook Like and Instagram repost didn’t get me anywhere. After being much more confident in my work and being more well known throughout the community I decided to start charging for my shoots, but in doing so, I offered people the very best of my abilities for their shoot, making sure they were filled with excitement and joy in the end results of the shoots we do.

This led to me becoming more creatively open with those I worked with, and develop a relationship where

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we trusted each other with our decisions and executions, plus being able to finally earn money from what I love doing is a massive bonus, because I can now afford better gear and fund my business further with things like my own website, business cards, etc.

Exposure can only ever get you so far until you get fed up or completely drained.

Finally where can our readers go to find out more about you?

Firstly I’d love to thank those who took the time to read this, I really appreciate it! If you guys would love to check out more of my work you can do so via Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube...

ONLINE:

www.facebook.com/VestiigePhotography www.instagram.com/vestiigephotography youtube.com/channel/UCaR4AMlWhw3smRn6geXeQ1w

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Tell us about your style of photography and what changes you’re seeing in cosplay photography.

One of our favourite people to talk to is the talented and much respected Kris Ezergallis from What a Big Camera. Kris is a professional photographer equally at home on location or in the studio and focuses (sorry about the pun) on people photography. He’s been into cosplay for years and has established himself as one of Australia’s premier cosplay shooters. We caught up with Kris and asked him what’s coming up in 2016?

2016 I’ll be trying to follow both the Supanova and OZ Comic Con tours, along with SMASH! and perhaps AVCon if there’s time and money. I’ll also be trying to find time to do as much local photography as possible.

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This year is promising for superhero movies and that usually has a flowon effect into cosplay.

What’s new in gear?

There’s a few people bringing high power flash gear to conventions now, and shooting high speed sync in daylight. It’s amazing to see the variety of results people are getting with similar boxes! Nikon have just announced their new monster but for the first time in forever I’m not keen on the numbers. Hopefully this year will see a few more prime lenses appear in my bag, and maybe some cool new battery flashes. I’ve got my eye on the Profoto B2 set.

It’s cool to see a lot more cosplay people trying their hand at modelling in other styles that they enjoy. There’s also a few publishing houses recognising their cosplaying fans booking them for promotional work. Photo styles are developing really quickly and the competition for recognition is bringing out the best in people.

There are people excelling in many areas. There’s a resurgance in narrative rich photos taking advantage of natural and created scenery and posing to tell as much of the story as possible. As people start to recognise the long term investment in big lenses there’s a lot of super shallow depth of field photos that are really isolating the subject from the clutter of conventions. The most exciting trend is towards the ultra contrast of high power flash photos and the vast variety that different photographers are producing.

Can you share 5 quick tips: Consider if your photo is going to be interesting to look at. Scan the edges of the frame, try to avoid any distractions. Look for an unusual angle.

Take inspiration from the art world, not just other cosplay photographers. Time your social media posts for when your audience is awake.

www.facebook.com/WhatABigCamera

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www.facebook.com/PeckFotografia

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Welcome back to Cosplay Live Peck Photography, first up tell us where you’re based and what sort of photography you do.

I live in Valencia, Spain. And basically the sort of photography I usually do is about fantasy, science-fiction, cosplay and casual photography, this is my favourite type of photography where I’m in my element.

Sometimes I work on events or product photography.

And how did you get into cosplay photography?

It was almost a coincidence. One time I couldn’t really participate in a photo contest about superheroes, but I was wanting to do something like that. I talked to a friend who had a Supergirl cosplay and we made some pics. It turned out that she moved into that world of cosplay and invited me to go to a convention in her city.

From there I was going to every Con I could and made a lot of cosplayer friends.

Tell us about the first cosplay shoot you did - how did you approach it and how did it go?

The first photoshoot was quite simple. Supergirl with a black background, nothing more. Then I began to see the possibilities to create imaginary worlds using composition with 2D & 3D techniques and I began to play a lot with it improving day by day, pic by pic and searching for new challenges.

is a 60D (not a professional one, I’m afraid).

One flash with remote trigger, a reflector and two studio flashes for interiors.

Never, never, never go to a photoshoot and say “Which pose I have to do?” “I don’t know what to do”.

Of course is a tip for photographers too.

For edits, I use a seven year old iMac - a bit too old for some of the things I would love to do day by day, but at the moment I can´t get another one, so I managing it in the best way I can.

The best shoots are when both know abut the character and their world.

Do you do much post processing on your photos and why?

The big inspiration was always the movies.

Depends on the character and if his/ her world is easy to do in the real world. Some places like woods or cities are easy to find, but not the same things like spaceships, mystic temples or some visual FX (magic, guns firing, dramatic skies....)

Usually I try to shoot images that looks like movie posters or movie frames. I love the cinematic and the textures of the movies. Specially fantasy and sci-fi.

So when the situation needs a lot of post processing so you can see the hero in his/her world, I do it. And spend looooooooots of hours to make it look good.

It’s a little tedious but the character deserves it and the results are worth it.

Do you have tips for cosplayers doing a photo shoot?

Only one, but so important.

Study the character you play. Second part of word “cosplay is playing the role you are in costume. Read about them, look the series, movies anime, etc. Make their moves your moves, the looks, the attacks the way of grab their weapons.... etc.

Who inspires your photography?

Since I was a child I wanted to be a filmmaker. But is too difficult, requires too much material and the most important, depends of many people.

Photography depends only of yourself and the models and can be more expressive too.

Finally where can our readers go to see more of your work?

If someone wants to see a little of my work, can visit my facebook page: www.facebook.com/peckfotografia or my webpage: www.peckfotografia.com I accept commissions too if anybody want to improve a cosplay pic and make it a little more epic.

Thanks to all for read !

And keep working on your art !

What sort of gear did you use back then and what do you use now?

That’s an easy one. I always use the same gear since the beginning. Just update my camera body. Back then it was a Canon EOS 400D, and now

ONLINE:

www.facebook.com/peckfotografia www.peckfotografia.com 83

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Peck’s compositions are made up of his own photography, including backgrounds he has photographed himself, created as a 3D, or stock compositions.

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Cosplay Photography www.facebook.com/GotSuperpowers When did IGSP start and how did it come about?

Nathan: IGSP started from our passion for pop culture, especially comic books and anime. We started as a blog reviewing comics, anime, toys and video games. We started by casually photographing cosplayers at cons, then we caught the photography bug - and thing has never been the same since. We have some really amazing cosplayers here and they’ve been the fuel to keep us going!

Angelo: I believe it was December 2010 when we officially started. It was just Nathan and I at the time.

That’s when we launched the brand, the website property and started shooting at cons. I Got Superpowers originally started purely as a blog review covering comics, anime and video games. Little did we know that cosplay was a huge part of it all. We didn’t even consider ourselves cosplay photographers!

Now you’ve grown - why and how did that happen?

Nathan: Why - I believe that’s due to our passion and the support of the cosplay community. How - We met plenty of great cosplayers at cons but there were not many cosplay photographs floating at the time. We then decided to give more focus on the cosplays at cons and provided a mean for these cosplayers to show their work through our social media channels and website.

Angelo: Fast forward a little bit, we eventually decided to focus on cosplay photography. As we discov-

ered it to be a fascinating creative outlet. And we wanted to take it further. The key was doing something that nobody else in South Australia was doing at the time. That was to photograph everyone at cons, give everyone the time and attention they deserve and showcase them on a digital platform that everyone can recognise.

Charlie: I joined the team in late 2014, I was fairly fresh to cosplay as a genre and the team took me under their wing and have helped me develop my confidence thus adding another string to the teams bow. We now hit conventions together and know that we will cover the majority of community at local conventions.

Elle: I joined the team in late 2015, but Angelo and Nathan originally approached me at Oz Comic Con in 2012! I remember trying to politely decline because I felt bad that I didn’t even own a charger for my camera! Thankfully, the issue has since been resolved and I feel much better about my ability to participate today, haha.

You’ve photographed some of the most popular cosplayers across the globe, can you tell us about some of those shoots. What about those just starting out - do you still work with those cosplayers?

Nathan: It’s been amazing and humbling. Working with these cosplayers has been a source of inspiration and keep me motivated to better myself as a photographer. It’s also a privilege to be able to work and grow together with some amazing local talents on a regular basis!

Being a non-profit organisation, each IGSP photographer has the freedom to take up any projects that interest them - IGSP works with cosplayers on all levels.

Angelo: It’s been an amazing journey.

We would have never thought that we would be able to do what we do today. And it still remains a challenge for the most part because not all of us have the resources to travel interstate or overseas on a regular basis.

But we’ve been lucky so far that our local cons have attracted big names to come to South Australia.

That is the beauty of why we do what we do. We’ve managed to stay true to our humble beginnings and choose to help out those who are trying to make a name for themselves. It’s a nice feeling when you know that our hard work has influenced if not directly contributed to the creative growth of an individual cosplayer who would then go on and do bigger and greater things.

Charlie: What a blessing being part of IGSP has been. To have had the opportunity to work with some of the faces I have is down to IGSP’s good reputation and solid brand. I never imagined in the beginning that I would get the chance to work with Yaya Han, that for me was a highlight and it will stay with me for a long time. I also like to meet new people to the scene, working with them and seeing them encouraged by the images we can create together.

Elle: While I do produce a lot of work featuring cosplayers that I’ve established a relationship with over the years, I’m always on the look-out

I Got Super Powers: Nathan, Angelo, Charlie & Elle

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and trying to pull new faces aside to add to my list of collected cosplay souls.

Tell us about how you prepare for a con. Do you pre book shoots with people? Like guests etc? On the day - what gear do you take?

Nathan: I sometimes prebook shoots with people based on request, but not in general. All the guests have been very accommodating with my shoot requests without bookings.

To me, con is unique opportunity to meet a wide range of cosplayers, so I usually pack light, ie. my camera and flashgun/ small modifier, so I can move around easily. This also gives me the flexibility to use the environment and have fun!

Angelo: We normally don’t pre-book.

Now that we’re a larger team, it’s really up to the individual if they want to pre-book someone. We’re pretty liberal on how tackle a con. Each member is free to do as they please in addition to some key task(s) that they’ve been assigned prior. I like to be mobile, so I take only what I need and portable. For example, I bring my flashguns instead of studio lights.

Charlie: I take a run and gun kit. I like to be able to walk the con and have what I need to hand to shoot quickly.

My must have is a hand held reflector. I do like to touch base with a few people to plan shoots so that I have some structure to my weekend.

Elle: I’m actually quite shy as well, so up until very recently I’ve just been heading in and nervously asking people at random. I’ve only just started to entertain the idea of scheduling sessions with cosplayers and guests through Charlie’s inspiring initiative!

Fortunately I work with natural light, which means I can travel pretty light

for convenience! My con kit consists of my camera, one kickass portrait lens (almost weighing 1kg by itself) and my trusty reflector.

nect in person as much as possible as well, for example we might catch up for lunch or have a chat in passing between shots.

During the day - how do you all work as a team? So it’s the end of the day, do you guys sit and talk about the day or?

What about post processing - do you have a set guide so you have that IGSP look?

Nathan: We have plenty of opportunity to shoot what we want during the day. We go to the con with an idea how we’re going to tackle the day as a team, and we do our best to keep each other updated regularly throughout the day.

At the end of the day we share about our day and bounce off each other’s ideas and experiences.

Angelo: Communication is key. We try to keep in touch and constantly remind each other of what’s next on our agenda. And since everyone has a specific task, we can collectively achieve a lot during the weekend as a team.

For sure, we love to talk and share what we discovered that day. And we look at each other’s work and offer some advice on how we could have achieved a better result.

Charlie: Conventions are fast paced.

We don’t get much down time, we do try and take a lunch break together.

We discuss plans in the run up to a con, may it be shoot plans and cosplays we have an interest in.

Once the day is over its home to back up our shoots and prepare gear for the following day and select a few images for same day sharing on our social media.

Elle: We always try to stay connected with each other throughout the day by using the Facebook group chat. The day quickly becomes action packed but we still try to con-

Nathan: We don’t have a post-processing guide as that would be counter-productive to your personal development as a photographer.

Each member of the team has a unique approach to photography and we very much encourage that to continue to strive to be the best you can be. The “IGSP look” comes from us having a similar approach and attitude to cosplay photography to begin with.

Angelo: There are no specific filters or techniques that we use if that’s what you’re asking. We encourage each member to do what they do best. To enhance and improve their own unique style and voice. We recognise that the photographer’s journey never ends. And the only way is up. There are important factors that we consider when we recruit new members. It’s this very process that when done right, then there is no need for an “IGSP filter”.

Charlie: IGSP has a strong identity for quality work but this doesn’t mean we all work to the same formula when it comes to our post work. The main objective is to enjoy your work and produce images that you are proud of.

Elle: We are encouraged to maintain our own personality when it comes to the presentation of our images, which is just one of the ways the I Got Superpowers platform shows its support for the integrity of its photographers as individual artists.

Do you deliver to the cosplayers or how else do they see what you 97

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have done? Finally any tips for new photographers attending cons. And where can readers go to see more?

Nathan: Tips for new photographers: 1. Develop your own unique style, and 2. Respect the community.

For con shots, our Facebook: facebook.com/gotsuperpowers and Instagram (@gotsuperpowers) are the places to go.

Angelo: I believe that we’ve built a strong brand that people will automatically know where to find our work. Our official IGSP sets can be found on our website and everything else on our social media channels.

Love what you do. Discover your own style. It takes time.

Contribute to the cosplay community. Build not break. And be nice.

Charlie: When it comes to convention work we post to our social media, sets that we shoot are more of a communication process that starts with collaborating with the cosplayer and planning out the creative vision together.

My tips to any new photographers considering shooting at conventions are: 1) Enjoy what you do. 2) Keep true to your own style. 3) Communicate well. 4) Be respectful of your models. 5) Encourage each other.

ONLINE:

Elle: For personal/private sets it’s based on communication but with convention work the images usually just go up as fast as I can process them!

Tips for new comers? Can’t go wrong with doing some research before you go! For example, have a look online for inspiration, take a walk around the grounds so you have a better idea of where to shoot whom, and you can’t go wrong echoing Charlie’s points to be respectful and communicate well!

Our sets can be viewed at igotsuperpowers.com

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www.facebook.com/ChattyAnny Before 2016, I had never seen a single piece of Star Wars media, I know, it’s shocking – one of the most well-known franchises in the world and I’d avoided every single piece of content for over 20 years right up until Star Wars: The Force Awakens was released late last year. On New Year’s Day, a few friends dragged me to the cinema to see it, and when I came out I was sold.

I spent the next few weeks consuming every single piece of canon and extended universe Star Wars media I could find. Now heading into April, I’ve watched eight seasons and seven movies, played two games, began following three comic series and consumed countless pieces of online media from videos to comics to memes, and it was obvious this was all going to lead me here – falling in love with some of our Aussie Star Wars cosplayers.

First up I have to feature some of my favourites from my own hometown; Ebil cosplay’s Kylo Ren is a stunning rendition of everyone’s favourite villain at the moment, carefully adapted where it could be for Australia’s heated summer. The helmet itself is just a mask, artfully hidden by the fantastic skills of Artificial Photography & Videography and taking a look at these photos makes me kind of want to hide from this Dark side user’s wrath.

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Kylo Ren - Ebil cosplay www.facebook.com/ebilcosplay Artificial Photography & Videography - www.facebook.com/ArtificialDogma

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Scouring the interwebs, I couldn’t go past our previous writer Hayley Elise’s Princess Leia Organa. From the feisty princess who stood up to Darth Vader to the slave who took back her freedom by choking her captor to death, Hayley’s Leia is everything we love in our incensed princess.

Leia Organa (Slave, White dress) - Hayley Elise www.facebook.com/HayleyEliseCosplay WhatABigCamera - www.facebook.com/WhatABigCamera

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There’s nothing better than a collaboration by talented people, and Steamkittens’ photos of JusZ Cosplay proves that. Made in only a few weeks for The Force Awakens’ premiere, JusZ’s Rey was the first cosplay I saw that convinced me I needed to go see this movie. Completed with a fantastic Kylo and BB-8, this shoot shows you just what you can do with the power of the Force – and even Carrie Fisher approved on Twitter!

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Rey – JusZ Cosplay www.facebook.com/JusZcosplay Steamkittens - www.facebook.com/steamkittens 121

Okay, I’ll admit it – I loved the prequels, with their terrible dialogue and weird editing; so seeing this photo of Ian’s Anakin at Mustafar made me tear up a little..

It wouldn’t be prequel appreciation without mourning the loss of a villain with such potential as Darth Maul; and Brontology Cosplay’s genderbent Maul makes me long for what could have been.

Anakin Skywalker – Ian Bartlett - Artificial Photography & Videography www.facebook.com/ArtificialDogma 122

Darth Maul – Brontology Cosplay www.facebook.com/brontologycosplay Photographer: Thomas Hadland

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I’ll always have a soft spot for heroes who see the best in villains (but still don’t hold back beating them up!) and Rey and Luke really epitomize that. Andrew Scott’s Kylo and Christie Lee’s Rey watching their skies at different times makes me shiver with anticipation for what the future of their stories bring in movies, while Izzys Cosplay’s Luke makes me fear for what he’s about to do – despite having seen it all myself!

Rey & Kylo Ren: Andrew Scott & Christie Lee Andy Wana Photography

www.facebook.com/AndyWanaPhotography

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Luke Skywalker - Izzys Cosplay www.facebook.com/IzzysCosplay James Niland - www.facebook.com/james.niland

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When The Force Awakens was released, it was heartbreaking to some fans that their favourites in the extended universe (used to refer to anything that isn’t included in the official Star Wars canon anymore) were basically erased from existence. Seeing photos of Soylent Cosplay’s Darth Talon and Sarah Ashley Cosplay’s Mara Jade, I mourn alongside them.

Star Wars has long been criticised for it’s lack of female characters, so to have such fantastic characters lost into the void is always a disappointment – but at least we have these cosplayers to make up for it!

Darth Talon - Soylent Cosplay www.facebook.com/soylentcosplay Charmaine Morgan Photography - www.facebook.com/charmaine.morgan88

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Mara Jade - Sarah Ashley Cosplay www.facebook.com/Sarah.Ashley.Cosplay Cosplay Australia - www.facebook.com/CosplayAU (above) Lorenzo So Photography - www.facebook.com/lorenzosophoto

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We headed back to the States and San Diego to talk to cosplay and event photographer, Mike Rollerson.

Mike is one of our all time favourite photographers for a number of reasons. Firstly, Mike’s just a great guy.

He also has a specialty in cosplay and that is horror themed cosplay.

It’s his attention to detail that makes him stand out from the crowd.

Mike, this latest series based on Resident Evil is amazing, tell us how and why you started this project.

I’ve always been a big fan of the horror genre and the Resident Evil series was one of my first introductions and really left a lasting impression.

One of the things I loved about the Resident Evil series most was the Umbrella Corporation - the pharmaceutical company who created the T-Virus that turned people into zombies. I’ve always wanted to put together an Umbrella Corporation set complete with costumes, props and laboratory setting. A few months ago I put together some ideas and set out to make it finally happen. I knew I wanted to create the pure-white laboratory setting and picked up a few lab coats and decorated them

with Umbrella Corporation logos, I designed a few props (in-tact and broken t-virus samples, syringe guns loaded with the different virus’ from the series, steel briefcases with the Umbrella Corporation designs, medical trays and respirators) and either had them custom-made or put them together myself. In the end, I had a set of around 30 different props and costume pieces to finally make the shoot happen. I wanted to keep the laboratory setting and put together a small set complete with effects lighting and fog machines to achieve different effects. The entire shoot was a blast and I loved the variety between all of the different prop pieces, the mix of the evil corporation while keeping a pure-white laboratory setting for the location and getting the opportunity to finally put these different props to good use.

While the props aren’t all functional (no actual t-virus was used), the majority were medical-grade products that were crafted together to give the most realistic appearance. I had a great time working with a team of very talented people (the model and prop-builders) to finally make this shoot happen.

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www.facebook.com/MikeRollersonPhotography

www.mikerollerson.com

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SFX IMAGES Chris from

www.facebook.com/SFXImages

I’m fairly new to the cosplay scene in Adelaide, with AVCon 2015 being my first convention and first time taking photos of cosplayers. Throughout the last year I’ve constantly challenged myself to improve in my photography and the edits of those photos. I hadn’t yet done a group photo shoot outside of small groups at conventions and was looking for the right group to work with. I really loved the concept and designs of the DC Comics Bombshells, but unfortunately I missed the group at Supanova last year. I am also a big fan of the art style of the old pinup posters. The two seemed like a perfect match so I presented my idea to Justine from JusZ Cosplay who is part of the Bombshell group. Justine loved the idea and presented to the rest of the group for me.

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So my first studio and group shoot was with 12 incredibly talented cosplayers and I could not have asked for a better group of people to work with. I’m so pleased with the results of the shoot and excited to show people the amazing costumes and efforts of the group. A massive thank you to all the bombshell cosplayers for agreeing to work with me, I’m in constant awe of your creativity and commitment to the art of cosplay.

Finally a huge shout out to Ant Lucia who created these original designs and artwork, and has been showing fantastic support for what we’ve done on the various social media platforms.

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www.facebook.com/SFXImages www.instagram.com/SFXImages

Behind the scenes by Lola...

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www.facebook.com/ChattyAnny Hurray, you’re heading to your first convention! It’s going to be so much fun seeing friends, meeting guests and getting to see so many cool things the convention has on – but wait, first we have to pack a bag to take. So what are we going to put in it? In this article I’ll be going through the essentials to bring to any convention, as well as my personal suggestions on what would be a smart idea to be carrying around on the day.

First off, don’t assume that anything you need will be at the convention.

While it’s probably likely there will be food and drink stations, or an outlet to charge your phone, that may not always be the case. Be prepared ahead of time, because it’s always better to be safe than sorry. When picking the bag you have with you, remember that slash-proof and zipclose bags are less likely to be stolen from and keep your bag within your reach at all times.

THE ESSENTIALS Water bottle; It’s likely you’ll be doing a lot of walking around possibly in strange clothing or high heat (looking at you, cosplayers) and being hydrated is going to make your weekend that much easier to deal with.

Phone and portable charger; While some conventions have charging stations for your phone set up, it’s not a common practise and you don’t 144

want to be stranded somewhere with no way to contact your roommates. Since we use our photos for so many things, such as maps, cameras and devices to contact people, it’s just smart to have a back-up in case your battery runs low.

Camera and spare battery; For some people this is their phone, but if you want to get some HD snaps of you and your friends you may want to bring along a separate camera of your own. A spare battery is never a bad thing and isn’t too big inside your bag.

Wallet with cash; Many stores on the convention floor only take cash, so make sure you have some out before the convention as lining up for half an hour at an ATM isn’t a fun experience.

Contact lens case and fluid; If you are wearing contact lenses, make sure you bring along a way to take them out of your eyes. Our eyes are very sensitive, so if you’re a cosplayer wearing circle lenses you’ve worn a million times before, there’s still a change they’ll randomly start irritating your eyes. Make sure you have a place to store those lenses and a way to take them out just in case, and Make-up; Throughout the day at a convention, your make-up is sure to wear off. If you’re getting photos done you don’t want to see an amazing image where the only flaw is you’ve got panda eyes! Make sure you bring whatever products

you need to touch up throughout the day and you won’t ever regret it.

Program/map; A convention is likely to give you a map of their setup and it can save you and anyone you need to meet time by having a familiarity with where everything is.

Who knows, you might see a hidden gem set away somewhere on the map you wouldn’t have come across any other way!

Keys; Keys to a room or a car are just smart to have on you at any point. If there are a few of you staying together and only a few key cards, make sure you’re in contact with someone with those cards at all times.

Sanitary products; Deodorant, pads and tampons are always a good idea to be bringing to a convention just in case. Even if you don’t use them, they’re all light and won’t be a strain on your bag.

Hand sanitiser; Nobody wants con plague, so keeping clean after touching anything is a must. Even washing your hands you can be sharing germs, so be on top of it or face a gross uncomfortable week after the con.

Anything you need signed; While you can buy things to get signed at the convention, if you want anything special signed make sure not to forget it at home – I’ve been there, and it sucks.

Photographer: Nathan Tan | www.facebook.com/gotsuperpowers

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THE RECOMMENDATIONS Sewing kit; At most Australian conventions nowadays we have cosplay helper stations set up where a volunteer will have a multitude of things that might help with a breaking costume, but it’s always good to have something on hand in the perfect colour of your costume just in case.

Make-up wipes; Chances are your make-up for a costume might not be what you’d usually wear out in public, so having wipes around to remove your tiger stripes or neon purple skin might save you some embarrassment heading out to dinner after the con.

Wig styling equipment; as with make-up, your wig can go a bit awry during the convention. Having a wig brush or whatever you used to style your wig on you can give you the peace of mind to enjoy running around without destroying your costume.

Change of clothes; If you’re not

Duct tape; Essential to MacGyver-

too keen on wearing your leotard on public transport, it might be a good idea to bring along some muggle clothing to wear to and from the convention.

ing your poor breaking costume into photo finish perfection.

Snacks; Food at conventions can

kit, the helper station is very likely to have hot glue but as someone who has had their entire shoe break at a con, you might not be able to easily make it to that station. Having a hot glue gun around is a good way to quick fix your costume on the con floor without the stress.

get pretty pricey, and if you’re stuck on the other side of the hall waiting in line for a panel you don’t want to lose your place waiting for an hour to get a packet of chips. Bringing along something small and energy-filling like a protein bar or a bag of nuts can be great – just be careful not to bring something that might set off someone’s allergies.

First aid kit; Having some disin-

Business cards; If you’re a cos-

Hot glue gun; As with the sewing

fectant, painkillers, band-aids or any strapping for any injuries you might have or might receive at the convention is a smart way to look after yourself; if anything serious occurs, you must receive medical attention rather than try and look after it yourself

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but it can be annoying trying to track down a single band-aid for a tiny cut on your hand. Better to have it all in your own con bag instead.

player or photographer, exchanging details over photos can be time-consuming. If you have cards printed and on you, there’s an easy way to make sure no spelling mistakes occur in transfer and you definitely receive your photos!

Photographer: Nathan Tan | www.facebook.com/gotsuperpowers

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June

July

August

ComicCon Australia Melbourne: June 11-12

AVCon Adelaide: July 15-17

SMASH! Sydney: August 20-21

Supanova Sydney: June 17-19 Perth: June 24-26

Haven Videogames & Popculture Expo Mackay: July 2

2016 Events: Australia 148

September

November

ComicCon Australia Sydney: September 10-11 Brisbane: September 17-18

PAX Melbourne: November 4-6

GAMMA.CON Canberra: September 17-18

If you’re an overseas cosplayer there’s a massive list here: http://costume.org/conventions.html

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Sitting quietly the other day in from of the TV, I picked up my iPhone, checked Facebook, SnapChat and Instagram and then thought “What am I doing?”

I was suppose to be relaxing after a long day’s work. Chilling out some would say after a late dinner, yet here I was checking to see if there was any new likes or shares and so on.

Now don’t get me wrong - there’s nothing bad about doing that. Lots of people relax by checking their social media while watching TV or listening to music.

But this was the third time I’d done it in one episode of Seinfeld that was on the cable TV. It got me thinking about our lives and how very different they are today compared to 20 years ago when there was no social media to think about. Back then you’d watch TV, read a book or play a game and be focused on it totally. Now it seems that even during a great movie or game, we still have our lifeline to the rest of the world (smartphone) handy in case something else happens…

I wrote down the heading Chasing Likes and kept it in mind to write about it. But just before starting this column I typed into Google “Chasing Likes” and non other then Pope Francis used the term to decry chasing “likes” on social media!

Here’s what the Pope said:

“I would dare say that at the root of so many contemporary situations is a kind of radical loneliness that so many people live in today.

Running after the latest fad, a like, accumulating followers on any of the social networks.”

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Cosplayer Tiffany Dean showing a well thought out costume, location and brilliant photo by SFX Images

JusZ cosplay with a photo by Charlie Nicholson from I Got Super Powers, the Adelaide based team, well known in the cosplay community for quality photography work and a passion for working with cosplayers of all styles.

As a photographer I understand what he’s talking about. We take photos of cosplayers (or anyone or anything else) and we post on social and wait for the ego to be soothed by a barrage of “likes” and comments. I know it’s the same for some cosplayers. Checking the numbers on your social media and then worrying if someone else that you perceive to be in competition, suddenly overtakes you. What do you do then? Think about it. Do you shrug it off or do you get tempted to boost and buy more likes?

tography a career then you do need to boost and get more fans. But if you’re doing it to beat someone else in numbers, or to quench your thirst for more fans then anyone else in your neighbourhood then maybe you need to check why you’re doing it. The problem is this, someone else will always come along and have more then you. Or be perceived to be better, more popular, more creative; or whatever measurement you use. You can’t win. Sure, you might be number one for a short while but inevitably you will be overtaken.

Now before I get a bunch of angry hate mail, if you’re making cosplay or pho-

Guess what? It’s not important. It’s better for you to produce quality work

(costumes or photos) that you loved making then creating crap or worse still selling out to the “fans” who are simply there to see how much skin you show.

I’ve seen some excellent cosplayers chasing likes by showing more and more. They’ve gone from artists to almost soft porn pinups. Now again, don’t get me wrong - if you love being a model and showing your shape that’s part of the territory, we’ve been given eyes to appreciate beauty and creativity.

But what’s behind your motivation?

Likes or creating art. Chasing more and more likes is gluttony, but creating art whether it be cosplay, pinup modelling, photography has a much more pure motive. The desire to put your gifts and talents to use positively. To create beauty so that others can enjoy and be wowed by what you’ve done is so much more satisfying then sacrificing your art for numbers...

So what’s your motivation? Is it creating cosplay, cosplay photography or perhaps being an amazing model? Or is it just the sad need to be “liked”?

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