They work until the wee hours of the night sewing, pinning, molding and dying. Spending hundreds and thousands on a costume for that one special convention. So why, then, do some cosplayers shun photos taken at cons? Come join the conversation!
We will be starting debates and conversations about hot topics in our community on a weekly basis. This week’s conversation’s catalyst was Traycee’s comment in her most recent post about Anime Expo.
How many of you have approached an amazing cosplayer at an event to grab a quick photo of or with, only to have them say no or roll their eyes? Where do you think this stems from?
Please post your thoughts on this topic in the comments below and let’s get the conversation rolling!
July 14th, 2008 at 1:07 pm
After having been pointed to this thread, I couldn’t help but leave some input about this!
As a veteran cosplayer myself, I don’t have much experience with asking for photos, but since I am used to being asked for them rather frequently, I wanted to share a few thoughts.
I have politely refused photos when I’ve been in a hurry to get somewhere such as a costume gathering, photoshoot, event, or even to meet friends who are waiting on me, and sometimes cosplaying can REALLY wear you out, to the point where you absolutely need to sit down and take a break. Alas, cosplayers have schedules and plans too, and sometimes we just can’t give everyone a photo no matter how much we might like to!
There are also some girls who, while comfortable wearing a costume, may not be comfortable being photographed, especially if they’re a newbie to the hobby…all those people and camera flashes can be very scary to a first timer!
As far as rolling eyes or whatnot, that would seem a little rude. I’ve always tried to be polite, but you have to keep in mind that cosplay is an ever growing hobby, and the personalities of the people in it are just as varied as the costumes we wear. Try not to take it personally and just move on to the next amazing costume you see!
July 14th, 2008 at 3:25 pm
Hmm, well I’m definitely new to the cosplay culture and LOVE it. I agree with what you’re saying Heidi. Cosplayers do have schedules (like all of us), and may have somewhere to go. I like your polite approach because you’ll get more positive responses that way…
… However, on that same note, I didn’t run across people who politely declined… I ran across people who rolled their eye’s, said something under their breath, turned, and walked away *sigh*.
My thing is this, I understand that some might be a bit shy and may not be used to the attention… but these people can’t be so new to the game that they are completely thrown off. They have to know what comes with cosplaying… attention, pictures, little kids running up to you with big hugs. That actually happened to Leo at AX. He’s a good friend of GEN and cosplays as Captain Jack Sparrow *lol*!
So, in a way, I do take it personally because it was my job to take pics… and by getting the cold shoulder, I wasn’t able to do that. Sure, I moved on and got other amazing pieces of work by those who were more grateful…
I guess what I’d really like is for people to be a bit more tactful while gracefully declining.
July 14th, 2008 at 6:35 pm
I have to agree with both of you too.
Since I been cosplaying for a few years (lol just didn’t know it till a year ago since I never knew what it was really called), I just did it for costume parties. Anyway, I went to my first cosplay con this year and I also dressed up and did take pics of the amazing costumes. I got a small handful of cosplayers that gave me an attitude, heh I even had one that asked to see the pic I took to make sure it came out ok and made me take there pic 3 times ….oy lol.
One that really made me go wth, was this guy cosplayed as Jin from Tekken and I wanted to take his pic, he said hey sure. So I did and a few others started to join in the pic paparzzi style con taking
He was having a blast and then his girlfriend comes up and goes ok Enough stop taking pics please. All of us gave this look like umm wtf? The guy was like hunny they can take pics of me all they want, this is a costume con for a reason, she then said I don’t care I don’t want ppl drooling over my bf online, and you already know what our reactions were.
lol the suck thing was my camera decided to make the pics blurry or she casted a curse on the camera, and the funny thing is she wasn’t in costume! o.0
the 2nd one was this cosplayer Tali who cosplayed Yuko from Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann. I asked her if I could take a pic of her and she did seem in a hurry but she kindly said sure and then I thanked her and apologized for interupting her on where she had to go in a hurry. She was nice about it and she told me she was just wanting to go to her room and sleep lol.
I was also asked for pics after that and I told them that we need to go somewhere else cus where we were was in a busy in between the escalators. I never had a person who wanted to take my pic give me so much attitude to go somewhere with more light and less traffic.
It was tiring to take pics and pose for pics right after each other lol. but yes Cosplaying IS a exhusting hobby lol but I love it. Just wish that some folks be more polite on declining to the folks taking there pics, if there tired or in a hurry.
lol
July 14th, 2008 at 7:27 pm
As a former cosplayer, I started in 1992 and stopped just around 2005, I have to admit that the only time I would shun from a photo opportunity was when I needed to be somewhere. But even then, I would tell the person that I was in a hurry and that if they were still interested, I would be back in so and so minutes. I always made sure that I was polite when I declined a picture and even gave my reason as to why. I feel that if you put on a costume to show off at a con or expo, you have to expect that people will stop and ask you for a often. And most people understand when you have a place to go. Or even take a break. But for the most part, I made myself as accommodating as I could to the people with cameras. If I knew that I wanted to spend a day at the show without being asked for a picture, I always made sure I planned one day out of costume so that it allowed me to get things done that I wanted to do that day with no hassles or worries.
July 14th, 2008 at 9:47 pm
I totally agree Rjac, Cosplaying is tiring lol but yah if your polite and let them know that hey I would love to take a pic for you, but I’m in a hurry but I will be back in like 15 mins meet me here ^_^ yah wish that some had the courtesy to do this some do and some don’t
July 15th, 2008 at 5:38 am
this taps into one of my biggest phobias
walking up to a cosplayer and asking to take a photo and being told “no”, or ‘no not now ”
Its just important that both sides respect the other
Sometimes people are in a rush or or simply do not want a photo taken and I as a fan need to respect that.
Just please be polite.
Also for us fans of Cosplay, when asking to snap a photo of someone doing amazing cosplay, we need to be super polite and say “Please” and “Thank you” and above all be respectful!