Photographing cosplay can be hard. You want to show off your costume, but you don't want to just take profile pics with it on. How do you get around that problem? Well, for starters, there are a few things you can do to make sure that your photos come out well. In this guide I'll go over some of my favorite tips for posing in cosplay photography sessions - and how they helped me get more bang for my buck on travel expenses and shots from different angles!


Bring props.

  • Props can help you get into character.
  • Props can help you show your emotions.
  • Props can help you show your personality.
  • Props can help you show your character's story.
  • Props can help you show your character's setting

Get comfortable with your character.

The first step to posing for a photo is getting comfortable with your character. You need to know how your character would move and act, so you can mimic their mannerisms when it's time to pose for photos. If you've got the opportunity, try attending a convention or meeting with other cosplayers who are dressed as the same character as you!


It's also important to practice your signature pose—the way that you hold yourself when fans recognize and compliment your costume. It may take some time before this becomes muscle memory, but eventually it will become second nature (and hopefully make people smile!).


Once you have an idea of what poses work well with your character, practice them in-character! Get up early on Saturday morning before everyone else wakes up and get used to walking around in uncomfortable costumes while being able to move freely through space without tripping over anything gets difficult when there are too many people around at once during public events like conventions where there is limited space available between attendees due both physically and logistically speaking from having limited resources available since most venues don't have enough space available either physically or logistically speaking due again primarily because they're normally not built specifically designed specifically designed originally constructed built originally constructed just for hosting such large scale events; however sometimes even though sometimes even if these types of situations occur anyway manage somehow still continue going anyway despite all odds against them anyway despite all odds stacked against them still go ahead full steam ahead regardless regardless even though should know better than anyone else ever did before how dangerous this situation could potentially be considered extremely hazardous environments dangerous environments extremely hazardous whereby one wrong step would mean certain death at worst case scenario worst case scenario worse outcome outcomes worst outcome outcomes possible outcomes?


Learn your angles.

If you want to take your cosplay photos from good to great, it's important to know your angles. The best way to do this is to practice in front of a mirror and ask others for their opinions. Practice makes perfect!


In general, your poses should make the most of your body shape and features. Poses that highlight your waistline are ideal for hourglass figures, while poses that show off broad shoulders work well with squarer builds. If you're not sure of what styles look best on you or if there are any poses that don't suit you at all, try experimenting with different angles until something clicks!


Take breaks.

Taking breaks is a good way to get more pictures done in less time. When you're posing, it's easy to get into the zone and just keep going without stopping. This can lead to fatigue and frustration with your photos (and even yourself) if you're not happy with how your shots turned out or if there's an unexpected problem like a prop falling over or someone tripping on their costume.


Taking breaks helps you relax, which can lead to better poses because you're not worried about anything else but what you need right then: taking the next picture! Taking breaks also gives your brain time off from thinking about posing so hard so that when it comes back around again everything is fresh and ready for action.


Shoot in burst mode.

To ensure you get the best shot possible, it's important to shoot in burst mode. If you aren't familiar with burst mode, it's where the camera takes multiple pictures in quick succession (usually around 3-5 frames per second). This is great for cosplay photography because it can help ensure that at least one of your photos will be sharp and clear.


Another way to improve your pictures is by shooting in RAW format rather than JPEG. This will allow you more freedom when editing your images later on because there isn't any loss of quality from compression like there would be with a JPEG file.


When posing for cosplay photos, use a tripod or hold very still so the camera doesn't appear shaky in the image! You may also want to consider investing in a remote control so that all movement of your body can be controlled remotely by pressing just one button on the remote—this will help eliminate blurriness caused by shaky hands holding onto expensive equipment during long exposures times/low light conditions where shutter speed needs as much help as possible (which means using ISO settings between 100-200).


Switch up the angles.

The setting is important, but the angle you choose is equally important. The most common mistake I see in cosplay photography is using the same angle for every single shot. Don’t let this be you! Take your time to experiment and try different angles; this will help you figure out what works best for you. You don’t have to shoot from directly above or at a downward angle—try changing it up!


Just remember: there’s no right or wrong here, so don’t be afraid to move around a lot while taking photos. If you find yourself getting stuck with one position, take some time away from your camera and explore other possibilities before coming back with fresh eyes (and hands).


This may sound obvious but remember that not everyone has access on an elevator or staircase if they're looking for a higher perspective—so don't forget about shooting from lower levels too!


Look for the light.

When you’re taking photos of yourself, the biggest challenge is finding the right light. You want the light to create soft shadows and eliminate harsh contrast, which can make your skin look blotchy or shiny.


Here's how to find good lighting:

  • Find natural light—sunshine or indoor lamps are best; fluorescent lights aren’t great for cosplay photos because they give off a bluish cast.
  • Use a reflector—a large white piece of paper or cardstock will bounce light back at you and fill in any dark spots on your face (like under-eye circles). You should be able to find these at any art supply store selling photography equipment. If you don't have one handy, try using something white like an umbrella or bed sheet instead!
  • Use a flash—this will add extra light when needed while still retaining some ambient effects from your surroundings like shadows falling across part of someone's face or hair blowing in their eyes as they pose with their weapon drawn high over head ready for battle against evil forces threatening peace throughout kingdom come."

Learn to get out of your head / stop thinking so much.

Next, you need to learn to get out of your head.


I can't tell you how many times I've seen cosplayers posing and thinking about the camera, or they're so focused on making sure they look good that they forget to actually show their expression. (This also makes it hard for photographers and other cosplayers because you can't see their faces.)


For example: If someone is trying to make a sad expression but spends all of their time looking at the camera and not their partner (who's supposed to be comforting them), then no one will know what kind of feelings the character is having! And it's even worse if this happens before the pose has even started. I've seen people stand around for minutes before starting just staring at everyone else instead of focusing on themselves / roleplaying as their character in order for others around them too see who exactly these characters are supposed to be interacting with in each moment being captured on film/memory card etcetera...


Take photos between events to get more bang for your buck on travel expenses and more pictures from different angles.

It's a good idea to take photos before and after events as well. You might not be able to get your entire costume together for the event itself, but you can still take advantage of the opportunity to capture some shots of yourself in it. This will help if you're trying to get your whole cosplay together later on, or if it's just fun seeing how much progress you've made in the meantime.


You could also ask another cosplayer who will be attending the same event as you if they'd like to help out by taking some photos from different angles (or just doing a shot-by-shot remake). They may even have their own equipment! If not, consider bringing along a second camera or making room for one into your budget (eBay has refurbished DSLRs for cheap). Or just ask around at other cons - there are plenty of photographers out there who would love getting paid for their skillset too!


Show emotion through posing and expressions, not just physical accuracy and profile-like photos.

No matter how accurate your costume is, or how great your pose is, if it looks like you’re trying to be something you aren’t, that photo will look fake and awkward. Instead, show emotion through your pose!


If the character is supposed to be angry or sad, make sure you can tell that from their facial expression. If they are supposed to be happy or excited about something specific (like arriving at an event), then make sure that comes across in their smile as well. If they are angry but have a big grin on their face – well then… maybe don't do this one?


In addition to showing emotion in your pose and expression - remember that having fun makes everything better! You may not always feel like smiling, but try doing this anyway! Being yourself while posing helps people relate and connect with the character more than anything else could ever do by itself."


You can make you photo session more fun by being prepared and having a plan for how you want your photo shoot to go

  • It's important to bring props and costume pieces that you want to include in your photos.
  • Have a plan for how you want your photo session to go, which will help make sure you get the best shots possible. You might want to try a few different poses or expressions, or have different lighting scenarios.
  • Prepare yourself mentally before the shoot by getting comfortable with your character and learning about their personality traits, mannerisms, etc., so that when it comes time for the actual shoot you won't be nervous about forgetting anything about them or having trouble getting into character.
  • Think through what kind of posing would look best for each shot—for example, if there is an important prop involved in a scene from the show/movie/game (like Harry Potter's wand), think about how this could be incorporated into one of your poses so that it makes sense within context of what is happening in-universe (and also looks cool).


With these tips, you should be well on your way to getting great cosplay photos! Whether you're going for a big group shot or just want some solo selfies of your character, we hope these tips will help make sure your photo session is as fun and productive as possible.

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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@glitteringmoonlightphotos