Cosplay is a fantastic way to bring your favorite characters and stories to life, but it's also a lot of work. If you're thinking about cosplaying for the first time or are just starting out, here are some tips that can help you get started:
Being a cosplayer can be extremely rewarding, but these tips can help you get there.
Being a cosplayer can be extremely rewarding, but these tips can help you get there:
- Cosplay is a lot of work. You need to know your character inside and out, from the way they speak to their hobbies. If you don't know what your character would wear on an average day in their life, how are you going to make them look realistic?
- Realistic expectations! It's not just Halloween and it won't happen overnight—but if you put in the effort and practice, it will come eventually! Just don't give up!
- Find your local cosplay community! The internet has made it so easy for people around the world to connect with each other through social media or message boards like Reddit or Tumblr; however, nothing beats hands-on experience when learning how to do something new like this one does not involve making friends with some of those people face-to-face yet either (I'm looking at myself here). This way
1. Cosplay is a lot of work
It's no secret that cosplaying can be extremely time-consuming. You'll need to make sure that your costume is comfortable, functional, and flattering. It will take many hours to finish making a costume and you should be prepared for this fact. If the prospect of spending so much time on one outfit makes you feel overwhelmed or depressed, consider focusing on one piece of your look at a time (e.g., shoes or accessories) rather than tackling an entire ensemble at once.
2. Know Your Character
Knowing your character inside out is perhaps the most important aspect of cosplay. It's a lot more than simply having seen the show or movie in question, though; you should be familiar with every aspect of your character's history, personality and likes/dislikes. If you're cosplaying as Jessica Rabbit for example, it would be useful to know that she is a former actress whose husband Eddie Valiant thought she was cheating on him with Roger Rabbit (who happens to be her brother) and snapped her head off when he found out she was pregnant with Roger's child.
You should also do research on how other cosplayers have tackled similar characters so that you can make sure yours stands out from the crowd!
3. Realistic Expectations
You will not be an expert cosplayer after your first costume, or even your tenth. Don’t expect to be able to make every costume you want to make and don’t expect that they will all turn out great. You are going to have bad days and good days in the sewing room, just like in any other job or hobby – it's up to you how much time and effort you put into making your dream a reality!
Set realistic goals for yourself: if your goal is too big, break it down into smaller steps that will help keep you motivated throughout the process (and let others know about them!). If there are skills or techniques that need improving (sewing machine troubleshooting tips?), work on those first before diving into another project!
4. It's not just Halloween
When you first start cosplaying, you will probably only do it on Halloween. But if you keep at it and have fun with it, you'll find that there are plenty of other times throughout the year when you can dress up as your favorite character. Cosplay is a hobby that can be enjoyed year-round and not just at one specific time of the year. If anything, this makes cosplay an even more enjoyable hobby because there's something so exciting about getting to feel like your favorite character all throughout the year!
5. Find your local cosplay community
- Find your local cosplay community
You will probably have to do some research to find a community of people who share your love of cosplay, but once you do it will be worth it! There are several ways to go about this:
- Meetup.com - This site makes it easy for people in the same area to meet up with others who have similar interests, and is an excellent place for finding new friends and making connections within the cosplay community.
- Facebook groups - Facebook has many groups dedicated specifically to cosplayers, allowing you to interact with other fans before meeting them in person at conventions or events. Some examples include Cosplay Groups By State, Cosplay Photography Tips And Tricks and The Official Meg Turney Fan Group (Meg Turney being one of my personal favorite YouTubers). There are also many smaller private groups where people can share their work without worrying about getting harassed by trolls on social media sites like Instagram or Twitter; however I would advise against joining these until you feel confident enough not only with your craftsmanship but also yourself as an individual that someone may otherwise take advantage of you while they're still learning how things work online as well.
Cosplay is a fun and rewarding hobby that can help you connect with your favorite characters, but it also takes work. By following these tips, you'll be well on your way to becoming the next great cosplayer!
Cosplay photography by Fungirlwithacamera Photography
Hope from Fungirlwithacamera Photography specializes in Cosplay photography.
