It may be hard to believe, but there was a time when the only way you could show off your cosplay is by wearing it in public. Nowadays, thanks to the rise of social media, we can share our cosplays with the world—and that means learning how to pose for photos. Even if you're an experienced cosplayer or photographer who knows all about lighting and angles and makeup tricks, there are still plenty of posing tips out there that will help elevate your cosplay game from good to great! Here's everything you need to know about how to pose for a photo shoot:
You can learn how to pose for photos if you follow these steps!
Learning to pose for photos is an art. You can learn this art! There are many tips and tricks that you can use to make sure your pictures are perfect. You do not have to be a professional photographer or cosplayer to know how to pose for photos—I am neither of those things, but I have learned some valuable tips from other cosplayers and photographers alike. What follows is a list of steps that will help guide you through the process of posing in order to get the best possible shots at conventions and meetups. These steps may seem simple on paper but they are all important when trying to take great photos with your friends, family members, or significant others!
What to do if your cosplay is uncomfortable and you're worried about a wardrobe malfunction.
If you're worried about a wardrobe malfunction, here are some steps you can take to keep your outfit intact:
- Use a belt. If the material of your outfit is loose and has no buttons or ties, you can use a belt to hold it in place. This will allow you to move around freely without worrying that it might fall off of you at any moment!
- Wear underwear that matches the color of your cosplay. Wearing underwear of the same color as your costume will help prevent visible panty lines from showing through on stage or in photos. It also makes things much more comfortable for when you need to go sit down (or go pee!). Additionally, some people find that wearing matching panties helps them feel more confident with themselves because they know that no one else will be seeing them up close like this!
Crouch up on the balls of your feet and pose with your legs slightly open.
Crouch up on the balls of your feet and pose with your legs slightly open. This is a great way to show off fancy shoes and boots, or just any boots that you want to show off. You can also use it as an opportunity to give yourself more height when posing with another person if they’re taller than you. Simply crouch down on the balls of your feet while they bend down slightly into a similar pose, then stand back up together!
Drop one knee down, and hold onto it like you're trying to steady yourself.
You should drop one knee down, and hold onto it like you're trying to steady yourself. Use both hands if you need to—but don’t be afraid of looking uncomfortable! If you’re wearing a skirt, pull it up a bit (but not too high) so that the audience can get a good look at your legs.
Find a barrier or prop to lean against.
A barrier or prop is something that you can use to lean against. This can be a wall, tree, sofa, chair or other cosplay itself. Using your own body as a barrier or prop is another option! If you are working with friends or partners to pose for pictures at conventions (or anywhere else), remember that they can also be used as barriers.
The reverse lean can be super dramatic and fun.
The reverse lean is a great option for cosplay posing because it’s dramatic and fun. This pose works best if you have a prop to help you balance, such as a wall or barrier behind you. If you don’t have any props available, try leaning against the wall or barrier in order to keep yourself steady while shooting this pose.
Start by standing with both feet on the ground, then lift one leg up into the air so that it is parallel to your body and pointing toward the floor. From here, slowly lean forward until you are at an angle of about 45 degrees from vertical (or more if it feels comfortable). Your other leg should still be straight but not locked out; instead keep it bent slightly and bring your knee toward the floor as needed for stability in this pose. Your torso should be tilted toward your raised leg so that only one shoulder is exposed on each side; this will help create balance so that neither shoulder looks too exposed compared to another part of their body!
If you have a prop that you want to show off, prop up on it!
If you have a prop that you want to show off, prop up on it! Props are usually easy to find at conventions and they can be anything from a weapon to a piece of clothing. Being able to prop up will allow you to create more unique poses. If you don't want your prop in the way of the photo, then go ahead and hold it behind your back or even just under one arm!
Another way that props help is by making cosplayers look larger than life. It's not uncommon for female cosplayers who want their picture taken with another person or group of people, they'll put their arm around them while holding their hand above them so it looks like they're really big compared to everyone else. This is something I've seen many times before so don't hesitate if there's an opportunity!
Don't be afraid of going super still.
Don't be afraid of going super still. Some cosplayers, myself included, are terrified of posing in a way that looks awkward. But here's the thing: if you're trying to do a photoshoot with your friends or at an event, you can't exactly tell them "Hey guys, I'm going to stand like this for five minutes while you get ready." That's why it's so important to practice your poses beforehand, so you know what works for your character and body type before going into character. And even if someone does tell me what pose they want me in before the shoot starts (which has happened), I still feel uncomfortable with how stiff I look sometimes! So my advice is this: don't be afraid of looking silly and ridiculous while trying out different poses—the more comfortable everyone feels while taking photos together means everyone will enjoy themselves more! Just remember that being silly doesn't necessarily mean laughing at yourself; it could just mean making weird faces and playing around with props (like phones).
Be fearless of the awkward face or hand.
The first step to avoiding a bad cosplay picture is to have confidence in yourself and your posing. You cannot win every photo and that is okay! Everyone has an awkward face or hand, but using these tips will help you minimize them. When taking photos of yourself, practice poses in front of a mirror until you feel comfortable enough to do them without worrying about what your face looks like or how many times you blink during the shot. If possible, set up your camera on a tripod or stand so that it won't move when pressing the shutter button (unless you're going for motion blur). Adjusting for exposure might be tricky at first; however, if you use manual settings then it's easy: just change the exposure level until no more shadows appear on your character's face!
Now that we've covered these basics let's move on to some more advanced techniques; there are a lot more tips available than just those listed above but these are some of my favorites from my own experience taking pictures as well as studying others' work over time."
There are a ton of ways to pose for photos and everyone's cosplay is different. When it comes down to it, you have to go with what works best for you. So ask yourself: what makes your cosplay comfortable? How do you like to pose for photos? What are some of your favorite poses? Once you know these things, then start practicing! Don't be afraid of trying new things either—there is no right or wrong way to do this because everyone has their own style when it comes down to posing. It doesn't matter how tall or short someone is, whether they're wearing heels or flats...everyone can do whatever they want when it comes time take pictures!
Cosplay photography by Fungirlwithacamera Photography
Hope from Fungirlwithacamera Photography specializes in Cosplay photography.
