Going out on site for cosplay photoshoots is always so much fun. Whether you self shoot or bring a photographer, the photos are sure to turn out looking realistic and great. However, sometimes it isn’t always the easiest to find a safe location and for some people it can be intimidating to go out in public in costume. That probably has made you stop and ask, how do you take cosplay pictures at home. Things like bad weather, a lack of sites or nerves happen and your home is a perfectly acceptable venue for a cosplay photoshoot no matter what your reason is. So, let’s dive into some of these key tips for taking your pictures from home.
Pick a Wall or Space
The first thing you’ll want to do is figure out where in your home you want to do this photoshoot. If you live with other people, try to be considerate to their needs when selecting a room. Find a room with a good blank wall to be in the background and ensure the lighting is optimal for quality photo results. Be sure the room or wall you pick doesn’t have too many distinct landmarks like windows that could give hints to followers of your house’s location as well.
Create Back Drops
If you’d like to have fancy back drops over a plain wall, you can always purchase a support set up. Or they can be easily made with PVC pipe from the hardware store and plain sheets or other large pieces of fabric. Plan out how you want your photos to look in advance so you can shop or build whatever you need to fulfill them. You could also explore green screens so you can customize the background in post production.
Camera Equipment & Lights
You don’t need to have an expensive camera or lighting to take quality photos. Figure out what lights you need to achieve quality photo results. Assess if the room requires more cool or warm lighting tons or if you want colored lights to create a cool effect. For your camera, make sure you have a tripod to set it up on if you’re self shooting. You can use a camera or even a phone camera. However, the front camera on phones like iPhones may not be the right choice due to the reduced quality.
Decide a Photographer
You could still hire a photographer if you’d like when shooting at home. Whether it’s a friend or a professional is up to you. However, if you’re looking to do it yourself you’ll need a few things. First is a clicker so you can simply press a button and take your photos while you’re away from the camera. These are easy to find and usually really affordable on places like Amazon which have countless Bluetooth capable options. The other thing is a mirror. It’ll be hard to see what your photo is capturing then you’re in front of it. Placing a mirror or clipping one onto your tripod so you can see if you’re lined up in the shot is super important. Otherwise you could waste time on photos where you’re not centered or are only half in the shot.
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