I recently got back from Katsucon, and overall, I had a great time! However, one of my biggest cosplay pet peeves followed me around all weekend: poor photo shoot etiquette. This might not seem like a huge deal, but it effects more people than you think. Here is how you can avoid being a hindrance at your next group shoot.
- Show Up Early- Especially if you are running the shoot, you should aim to be there 5-10 minutes before you start. This can help to make sure everyone is ready on time. Not only is showing up late disrespectful, it can also cut in to your time with the photographer. A lot of people book their shoots back-to-back, so if you show up 20 minutes late, that 20 minutes you paid for is gone down the drain.
- Be prepared with what groups you want to shoot- If you’re doing a group shoot, know what shots you want. Which characters do you want to pair together? It’s best to brainstorm this out before the shoot with all the members in your group before coming to the shoot. Have a list somewhere, so once the photographer finishes a group, you can say who goes next. This will help save you time and get more shots in.
- Have prepared poses- Whether you are shooting alone or in a group, coming up with poses before will save you a lot of time. I am guilty of having my phone out to look up poses at the shoot. If you are someone who is going to forget, I would recommend screenshoting some ideas so you can reference your phone, and show the photographer what you are going for.
(Jiro: Personify Cosplay, Momo: Ashley Sparks Cosplay, Froppy: Caloxide Cosplay, Uraraka: Kittenette Cosplay, Kaminari: ExplosionBagels, Photo: Jeff Hoffman)
- Don’t have too many handlers- While having a handler or two with you is an excellent idea (especially if you never worked with the photographer before) do not go overboard. Having more than two people with you can make the area too crowded and make things harder for the photographer.
- Ask before touching- We all have different comfort levels, so before you touch someone, ask if it’s okay. Even if you think it’s okay and you know the other person, you should always ask, especially if it’s a shippy photo. Their comfort levels might change, so it’s important to make sure everyone is okay with what you are doing.
- Pay on time- Make sure you know when the photographer expects to be paid. Some like to be paid before, while others can wait until the day of. If they have a deposit, make sure that is paid on time as well. This helps to show the photographer that you care, plus it confirms and holds your spot.
- Switch social media information- If you are working in a group of people you haven’t met before, get their social media information. Whether it is other cosplayers or photographers, this is valuable information for when you share any pictures. It is considered proper etiquette to tag any other cosplayers in the photo as well as the photographer. They worked hard too, so they also deserve credit.
What other photo shoot etiquette rules do you have? Leave them in the comments below!
Nerd Fest 