Cosplay is a lot of fun, but it can also be intimidating. If you're like me, I'm sure you've stared at your closet full of clothes and wondered what to do next. Do you sew? What if there was an easier way? That's where Cosplay comes in! In this guide I'll give you my best tips for starting out as well as some helpful resources for finding more information about Cosplay conventions and getting started making costumes.


What should I do with my costume?

Keeping your costume in good shape is an essential part of cosplaying. The most important thing you can do is to keep it dry, clean, and away from animals. If you plan on storing your costume for long periods of time, make sure that the area where you store your costume has a consistent temperature (no extreme highs or lows) and that there is not too much dust or moisture in the air.


How do I get it to stand up by itself?

The answer to this question depends on the shape and size of your costume. A lot of cosplayers use wire to make their weapons stand up, but there are other options! If you're looking for something a little less permanent, there are several materials you can use.

  • Duct tape is probably the easiest option; it's cheap, easy to find at local stores, and won't damage your costume in the long run (your duct tape will still be usable after removing it from your costume). Duct tape comes in different colors now too! Just make sure not to put any sticky side down on anything that may get dirty or snag easily; if possible try sticking with clear or white duct tape so that no dirt gets trapped underneath.
  • Velcro can also work well as an alternative method; just remember that some types of velcro might leave behind residue when they're removed so test before taping them down permanently.
  • Wig stands are useful if your wig isn't made out of fabric so the wire won't stick through its fibers (this happens often with wigs made out of synthetic fibers like Kanekalon). You can find these online or at beauty supply stores like Sally Beauty Supply.

What is Cosplay?

Cosplay is a type of performance art in which participants dress up as characters from fiction, comics and films. Cosplayers often come together at conventions to show off their costumes and take pictures with other cosplayers.

In Japan, the tradition of dressing up in costume for festivals has been observed since at least the 1600s. By the end of World War II, cosplay was established enough that it became a popular activity for children who had lost their fathers in combat. Participants would wear their own clothes or uniforms to school on Children's Day (May 5th) so that they could pay tribute to them by dressing like soldiers during holiday celebrations at home.

The term "cosplay" was first used in 1984 by Nobuyuki Takahashi when he wrote an article called "Cosplay" (コスプレ Kosupure) about his hobby at Comiket (a large comic convention). In this article he explains why he enjoys doing this kind of thing:


What are Cosplay conventions like?

Cosplay conventions are a place where you can meet your favorite characters, show off your creativity and meet new people.

  • You’re not alone in this! There are thousands of other cosplayers at the convention who share your passion. You can talk to them about their costume and see if they have any advice for you.
  • You’ll also get to hang out with fellow cosplayers who share the same interests as you! They might even be able to give you some helpful tips on how they made their costumes or which materials worked best for them when they were putting together their own costumes.
  • If there happens to be a panel during the convention by someone famous (like an actor from an animated series), then it'll be easier than ever before for attendees who aren't able to attend in person due lack thereof funds or travel distance limitations

How do I find a Cosplay convention in my area?

So you've decided to cosplay, but you're not sure where to start. You've heard of conventions and are ready to check one out, but how do you find one?

First, search online: Google is an excellent starting place for this! Search "cosplay convention near me" or "conventions near me" or simply the name of your city and state.

If this doesn't yield results, try Cosplay.com's Convention Finder tool. This will pull up conventions happening within a 100 mile radius of where you live (or wherever else).

If those don't work either, try Facebook groups centered around local conventions like [insert city] Anime Convention Group or other social media sites like Reddit that may have relevant discussions on local community events (for example: r/AnimeConventionMarkets).


Where can I buy a costume or have one commissioned?

When it comes to buying a costume, you have three options:

  • Buy from a costume shop. It's possible to buy cosplay costumes in stores like Walmart and Target, but these are usually limited selections that don't fit your body type. There is also no guarantee that the quality will be good. For example, I once bought a store-bought wig for my Haruhi Suzumiya cosplay (which was terrible) and ended up having to buy another one from an online seller instead because the first one didn't even come close to matching Haruhi's hair color or style.
  • Commission someone who makes cosplay costumes professionally. This can range from commissioning them directly (usually using Etsy) or hiring someone through Fiverr or Upwork as an independent contractor (who will then hire the people making their products).
  • Buy pre-made items off of sites such as Etsy or eBay when you know exactly what you're looking for (for example, if there's only one character whose costume has ever been worn by someone else).

Should I take pictures of myself in costume?

Yes! This is a really fun part of being a cosplayer and you should definitely try it.

  • Take pictures of yourself with friends. You can dress up and go to a local park or restaurant to take selfies, or just have your friends join you in costume at home. Either way, the point is to have fun and get everyone involved!
  • Take pictures in public places. Some of my favorite photos are ones where I'm posing with other cosplayers or fans on the street, which helps show how popular our hobby has become over time (and also makes for great bragging rights).
  • Take pictures with your costume off at home—or better yet, take them before putting on your costume so there won't be any awkward moments later when trying on new pieces like boots or pants that need alterations before hand-sewing them onto the rest of whatever outfit

If you're on the fence about cosplaying, just jump right in!

If you're on the fence about cosplaying, just jump right in! There are lots of resources available to help you. You will be amazed at how much fun it is and how many people want to talk about your costume or ask for photos with you.

If you want to go all out and make an elaborate costume from scratch, that's great! If not, there are tons of places where you can buy costumes and accessories that look professionally made but cost much less than what a professional would charge.

You'll be happy you took the leap into cosplay, no matter what!


You can motivate yourself without being mean to yourself.

Don't be afraid of failing. In fact, you should try to fail. The only way to succeed is by trying new things and learning from your mistakes.

You're going to have a bad day at some point, but you can use that time as an opportunity for growth. Don't get discouraged if something doesn't turn out the way you wanted it to—instead, take what happened and learn from it so that next time will be better!

Even if it's just a little bit, do something every single day that supports your cosplay goals.

You need feedback—even if it's hard to hear sometimes! Ask people who know more than you (like instructors or mentors) what they think about your progress thus far.


Cosplay is a fun activity, and it can be incredibly rewarding. But if you’re not sure about whether or not you want to try it, don’t worry—there’s no wrong answer here! If you think cosplay sounds fun but aren’t sure how to get started, we hope these tips help guide your decision-making process. Remember that cosplay is something anyone can do—even if they don’t have a lot of money or experience with sewing, painting or crafting. The important thing is just being yourself and having fun!

If you're interested in learning more about our cosplay photography, please contact us today! We'd be happy to chat with you about our packages and discounts. Thank you for reading!


Cosplay photography by Fungirlwithacamera Photography


Hope from Fungirlwithacamera Photography specializes in Cosplay photography.


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