I started showing a passion for photography from a young age, utilizing any medium I could to explore my fascination with the ability to frame the world as I saw it, invite others into my viewpoint for just a moment. My very first camera was the now-discontinued Video Girl Barbie Doll, eventually replaced with the revolution in technology that was the Nintendo DSi. Photography allowed me to show others what I found beautiful, from photographing wild botanics with my samsung tablet to stalking skittish fish through barrier reef corals with my first waterproof point-and-shoot.

My very first cosplay photoshoot was around a small town in northern New South Wales, with a camera the size of my palm that my father bought me for my birthday. The same one, in fact, from the barrier reef; that point-and-shoot was an extension of my arm for many years through highschool, even as smartphones became commonplace. My then best friend and I were both in highschool at the time, and we were positive that the photos looked incredible. I was clearly on my way to becoming one of the greats.

But, even with such undeniable skill at my fingertips, there were things I didn’t know that could only be learnt with experience.

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1 . Bring spares of EVERYTHING

It wasn’t long ago that I made the mistake of arriving to a convention with my full camera gear- and not a single SD card on hand. A larp event saw me run out of battery in the middle of a shoot, and countless meetups have gone by with me rapidly trying to delete unwanted photos to make space for new ones.

It seems like a simple and commonplace idea, but without knowing the horrors of being stuck in such a situation the advice seems minimal. Make a list, and bring everything twice. Especially large high-speed SD cards.

This advice also goes for other things that might be needed on a shoot day, things you would expect the model to bring themselves- always have a back-up! Some (sanitary) eyeshadow for emergency touch-ups, a hairbrush safe for wigs, a wig net or two- all can be essential, and all easily forgotten by the person who needs them. It’s so much better to carry an assortment of small items you don’t end up needing, on the off chance you can save the day.

2 . Take care of your body !!!

This is another idea that seems awfully simple on paper, but can affect you greatly if not followed. In my first few years I was notorious for getting so wrapped up in convention shoots that I would forget to eat, which at one point left me unable to work during a preplanned evening shoot from the pain of hunger cramps. Since then, I’ve always been sure to pack a snack for myself, and one for the model/s if I’m able to. Taking care of your body can also mean hydration, taking bathroom breaks when needed, and turning down shoots when overbooked and overworked.

One of the more overlooked parts of caring for your body is the dangers of repetitive strain injuries. With heavy DLSR camera equipment, tennis elbow can rapidly set in, and stay for a very long time. It is safer to invest in prevention early, than trying to fix damage already done- Just ask me and my medical history!

3 . Always communicate with your model

Consent and communication are at the forefront of conversation with cosplay in the current age, so why then do many as photographers not practice proper boundries? In countless shoots I’ve participated in, I’ve had the model comment to me that it’s odd but refreshing that I ask if I can place a hand on their shoulder top adjust their pose, or reach to fix their wig slightly. It is important as a photographer- that is, as somebody in a position of power in a photoshoot enviroment- to ensure that the space you provide is one in which your model feels comfortable and empowered to express their boundries.

Another advantage to open communication between model and photographer is the ability to corroborate a singular vision. A cosplayer can mention props or details that they feel they most want to show or are most proud of, or mobility issues that may restrict access to certain shoot locations. I always make sure to ask cosplayers before a shoot how comfortable they are with walking and climbing - I have something of a habit of sticking my models up in trees or on top of things, haha.

Informed and ongoing communication is key to ensuring that both the photographer and model are on the same page regarding the vision, poses, and any potential needs or concerns. This open dialogue fosters trust, promotes collaboration, and allows for the creation of stunning images while respecting the model's autonomy and agency.

4 . Learn to survive without your ‘style’

As with any artistic practice, stagnation within photography is the killer of creativity. Creating a style and working comfortably with your specialty is certainly important for a photographer to do- but more importantly is not being afraid to break it.

As you grow and learn, you discover new concepts and ideas, you understand new theory on colour and composition, your eye for aesthetic develops and changes. Growth requires change, and change requires breaking moulds. As a teenager, my ‘style’ leant heavily on high contrast, desaturated colours and wide lenses. Eventually, this changed into working almost exclusively with an extremely shallow depth of field and soft blues and yellows. At one point not long ago, my ‘style’ relied entirely on the Lightroom warmth slider, and even now I know my current ‘style’ lasts as long as it takes to learn enough to move past it.

I would not know how to shoot with neons if I hadn’t have said yes to a K/DA shoot with no experience in the aesthetic. I would not know how much I love shooting in pinks and pastels without taking on the challenge of Sakura Miku. Everything I have learnt has come from breaking out of my own comfort zone, and taking on something new.

Artistic growth requires thanking the tools that brought you this far, and allowing yourself to move past them.

5 . You’re always worth more than you see in yourself

I have a note sitting on my desk, scribbled on a torn-out pad of note paper in green pen. I heard it once in one of the many photography youtube videos I watch while waiting for Lightroom to actually function, I could not recall which one if my life depended on it.

But something in a singular line I overheard reached me, and still reaches me to this day. Scribbled down in-between rapidly pausing my video and editing cosplay albums were the words,

“Get ahead of your own standards.”

The idea resonated with me, the simplicity in the message mixing with my own experience. All of my greatest growth has come from doing things I didn’t believe myself good enough yet to do- Selling myself with the deafening deception that I believed in my own skill. Even this piece of writing is a battle against the imposter syndrome in my head- ‘Who would care what you have to say?’

But here I am, pushing again past where I see myself to be. You will always be your own biggest critic, gazing up at the heros you deserve the chance to sit beside. Nobody will grow sitting staring only at the work of others, wishing you were there. Pick up a camera, and believe you’re there already-
In time, you’ll develop a crowd around you that believes so too.