Saturday, November 7 | 10:30 – 11:30 a.m. | Room 311
Sunday, November 8 | 1:30 – 3:00 p.m. | Room 311
Hands-on-Workshop Cosplay 101 Description
Who is this for?
This class is for photographers who want to learn portraiture basics, such as lighting, composition, and posing with cosplayers. Cosplay photography is a fun way to learn how to interact with people for portraiture, since cosplayers are enthusiastic people that are comfortable posing and emoting.
Cosplay is a type of performance art in which participants wear costumes, accessories, props to portray fictional, historical or even abstract characters. Cosplay photography is a collaboration between a photographer and a cosplayer to create images that bring a character to life.
What will we do?
After a brief introduction to the concepts of cosplay photography, class attendees will work with instructors to practice interacting with cosplayers, help with basic camera settings and lighting with strobes and continuous lights.
What should we bring?
Digital cameras with lens choices suitable for environmental portraiture. 24-70mm, 35mm, 50mm, 85mm or similar will do nicely.
Instructors will provide some strobe and continuous lighting gear to share. Instructors will also help with available light techniques.
Hands-on-Workshop Cosplay 201 Description
Who is this for?
This class is for photographers with some experience in available and/or controlled light portrait photography that want to practice capturing dramatic images of highly styled characters. Cosplay photography is its own art form and its techniques can help in other portrait photography styles.
What will we do?
After a brief introduction to the concepts of cosplay photography, class attendees will work on their own with cosplayers inside and outside the MAPV venue to create dramatic scenes. Instructors will be on hand to provide lighting assistance, advise on location selection, and help with composition.
What should we bring?
Digital camera with lens choices suitable for environmental portraiture. 24-70mm, 35mm, 50mm, 85mm or similar will do nicely
If you have speedlights or small battery-powered strobes and small modifiers and stands, consider bringing those too. Your instructors will have some to share if you don’t have any.
Cosplay instructors
John Krebs has been a teacher for the last 10 years who ventured out into photography in 2021. He started cosplay photography in 2022 and has used the skills he learned from these shoots and applied them to different genres of photography including senior portraits, engagements, weddings, and even concerts! He loves getting the chance to teach and share his passion with others about photography. You can find his work on Instagram @carpetempusphotography
Dan Arango has been a photographer since he was a kid helping his parents develop film and prints in a small home darkroom. He started doing cosplay photography in 2015, combining his passion for photography with his love for genre fiction and fandoms. Now he helps run a cosplay photography group that hosts monthly collaborative sessions in the DC, Maryland, and Virginia region. You can find his work on Instagram @arangodan