Live Magazine September 2014 Volume 9/2014 | Page 124

SEYECO IMAGES cosplay SEYECO IMAGES COSPLAY PHOTOGRAPHER FROM CANADA! Tell us a bit about how you got into cosplay photography. I have always been into anime/comic/sci-fi, so in 2009 I went to my first convention with my camera in hand. I was nervous at first asking Cosplayers if I could take their photo, but after my first couple shoots I just fell in love with the Cosplay World. It was such an unbelievable experience that at that moment I knew this was something I wanted to do professionally. Do you do other styles of photography? Yes, I also do portfolio work for models and makeup artists, and then the usual weddings, engagements, and families, I also work with a Bunny Rescue charity that I volunteer my time and cameras for calendars and photo shoots to raise money for their amazing rescue. Also I work part-time as the Nikon instructor at our university teaching techniques and the use of equipment needed to produce studio and natural light portraits. What is it that you love about cosplay photos. The fantasy, how many of us have always wanted to be captured or thought of as their favorite charac- ters from a comic, tv show, or movie? I love bringing that to life with my cameras and with Cosplay I bring the Cosplayers favorite character they portray to life. What goes into a shoot on the day? Well for most conventions I love to shoot outdoors, I prefer to put the Cosplay into “their” world. I usually get to a convention the day before so I can scope out the grounds to pick out the best locations for each Cosplayer. Most Cosplayers book online with me and I always ask for a detail of their Cosplay so I know who the character is and what locations would be best suited for them. There have been instances where a shoot will not work during the day so I have a completed wireless studio that I bring to locations with me for night and evening style shoots. media along with my website to get noticed outside of the convention scene. How do you find cosplayers to pose for you? What tips do you have for people wanting to do a photo shoot with cosplayers? At first it was difficult, unless you went to a convention you didn’t really have ways to contact them. I would do a couple photos and give out business cards, exchange emails, however as I went to more and more conventions I started utilizing social Research the characters the Cosplayer will be portraying, you have to remember this is “their favorite character”, they know them and know how they should act, by learning about the different characters yourself you relate with them and can