DC Cosplay Photo Shoot: Cosplay 101
DC Cosplay Photo Shoot: Cosplay 101
November 1, 2025 9:00 AM 10:30 AM Photo Shoot - Room 311
Cosplay Photography 101
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.
Who are our instructors?
John Krebs
John 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.
Dan Arango
Dan 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