JUST BY LOOKING at the extreme level of detail on their outfits, their makeup, and their facial expressions, one can marvel at the amount of time and effort that these cosplayers would exert to bring life to a character.
And while the spotlight is directed towards them, one should also learn to appreciate the individuals responsible for highlighting the details of their hardwork, the photographer.
From the lighting and smoke effects to the numerous angles to showcase various expressions, these individuals from behind-the-scenes are crucial for the success of a cosplayer. Their photos would end up being publicly posted on a cosplayer's social media page, which would then garner traction.
Among these photographers is Army from Afterhours Story, who was seen taking photos in the Cosplay Blitz event in Circuit Makati.
Before venturing into the business, Army was once a cosplayer though he eventually made the leap to photography as he wanted to further hone his skills. He was also inspired by the community.
He admitted that being a cosplay photographer isn't easy especially since he needed to juggle his time efficiently. Army even told SPIN.ph that he had a plethora of backlogs from previous events.
The struggles of cosplay photography
"I'm having difficulty in balance things especially the post processing segment of photography," he said in an exclusive with SPIN.ph. "Taking photos is easy, but editing it is quite the opposite. Balancing is very difficult. In a scale of 1-10, it's around 8.
Yet despite the problems he endured, Army said: "But I'm having fun with this, it's like a hobby as well."
The community is what drives Army as he met a thousand cosplayers from various conventions. For him this is the most memorable experience in his journey.
Starting small
But besides managing his time, there are other struggles he had to endure. As of now, Afterhours Story has a plethora of cameras and effects that they can use to further amplify a cosplayer's persona.
But not everyone has the luxury to go big and this was something that Army pointed out.
"Start something small, kaya ako naging ganito to the point na medyo mabibigat yung items ko is because I had the funds to begin with. If you don't have the funds, start small."
Army then narrated his journey where he started with a 10K budget, and grinded his way to get better equipment.
"I started with a 10K budget na camera because that's a good camera and due to the nature of my work and my business, medyo naka-jump up ako into something higher," he revealed.
However he did mention that one's limited budget shouldn't be a cause for concern.
"Others have 6K budget, but as you invest more and more into photography, you're forced to buy equipment. However, that shouldn't limit the cosplayer or photography to go further into the hobby as well."
Being a newcomer into the scene could be a daunting experience especially when there are loads of photographers and cosplayers everywhere, and things could go downhill if one would get discouraged by the lack of opportunities.
But Army gave an important advice to those who wish to dig deep into the craft.
"Inspiration comes from everywhere kasi maraming cosplayers and photographers who are easily burnt out kasi their art isn't appreciated enough but actually start small and others will eventually notice that."
"Keep sharing, keep sharing, keep sharing," he reiterated.
Everything is trial-and-error
While it may seem fun to take photos of cosplayers doing iconic poses, it could also pose a problem especially if the photographer hasn't fully grasp their craft.
Cosplay photography isn't as simple as taking shots on the subject which was something that Army elaborated.
"Everything was trial-and-error. Actually it's good if you know someone who is well-versed with photography because the learning curve is really high for this hobby."
And how long does it take to learn the tricks and techniques in cosplay photography? Here's what Army has to say.
"One day isn't enough, others would take six months to dig deep into the scene."
Yet despite the shenanigans he faced, for Army the overall experience is rewarding. Through his years of grinding he slowly made his name, securing bookings in conventions.
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