I’ve been cosplaying for about ten years, so I’ve taken a lot of photos and had my photo taken a lot too. I’ve taken professional photos in my hometown and at conventions. I’ve taken random photos in con hallways, or photos that my friends came up with on the spur of the moment.
Outside the con setting, though, where do you go to get good photos of your cosplay?
Locations for Modern or Futuristic Costumes
My favorite location for a more modern cosplay photoshoot is any building with glassed windows. If they’re reflective, you can get some really cool “mirror” type shots as well. When I was cosplaying from the game S4 League, which has many urban settings, my friends and I found a building that matches this description.
Head downtown and take a walk. You’ll be surprised how many buildings have columns or steel railings for you to pose around. I’ve also seen a lot of cosplay videos and photos taken in empty levels of parking garages. The steel and concrete really fits with a modern cosplay look.
Locations for Darker or Horror Costumes
Parking garages are again, a great idea. It’s an enclosed space so you don’t have to worry about rain; it’s also a little darker and naturally grittier.
Find a wooded area in a local park or near a walking path. The shade can provide interesting light, and depending on the time of year, you can get really good spooky photos when leaves are falling and branches are bare. A lot of my Resident Evil cosplay photos were taken in a dark, shady corner of a park.
I don’t recommend cemeteries as photo locations, just because you don’t want to offend anyone who might be visiting a loved one’s grave there. I think you can get a similar look in a botanical or rose garden, especially if they have stone benches or plaques that could resemble headstones.