Questions and Answers!

I had a fellow email me the other day and in his email he said "Sorry to bother you, but I am not the best costumer out there and I would really like to have some pics by you at DragonCon, would that be possible". I thought this was a little strange because he was either being self deprecating or figured I only shoot the best of the best. It got me thinking..I do think sometimes lol.

I have never thought of cosplay as a competition and have never searched for what I considered the best of the best. I am fortunate enough to have several friends that are extremely good at building costumes and so much of the work I post is them, but when it comes to my own photography I will certainly take pictures of anyone who approaches me and ask. One of the reasons I do what I do is because I love the work these people put into their projects and I want to give them something they can be just as proud of. So for this Blog I will answer some of the questions I frequently get.


Do you ever shoot Guys:

Have you ever looked through my port, Yes of course. Women however contact me more than men about shooting so you are going to see more of them.

Why don't you shoot Anime: 

Truthfully I have never been approached by anyone to shoot their anime costume except two of the coolest sisters I know, Robyn and Christie. Having no real knowledge on the characters they explained to me perfectly what I needed to know and I would like to do more.

Are you friends with other Cosplay Photographers:

Yes, I make it a point to meet others and get to know them. I have never looked at this as a competition and do not understand those who do. I share their work on my Facebook pages and frequently send others to see what they do. There is some great talent out there. Bryan Humphries, Davin Ng, Mark Schaffer, Robert Brooks, Grace Moss, Lawrence Munne and more, The are not just photographers but my friends.


Do I cosplay myself:

I haven't yet, but I just may in the near future!


How many people does SGH PhotoArt consist of:

I like to think all the cosplayers I have shot do in someway because they are the people in the photos, but as far as the hands on stuff it is just Me (Photographer and Editing), Rosalind Friday (Creative Director) and Meg Murdherer (Photographer and Editing).


 Do you shoot straight up photography:

I do, there is a large group that only knows me through Pin-Up Photography (The DropZone) and standard photography, but most know me through SGH PhotoArt.

Do you have a favorite genre:

Not really I like them all!


Do you let others edit your photos:

Yes! If I have already done my thing to them and the people feel they want to crop, change or edit in some other way then I say go for it. I also have no restrictions on cosplayers selling the pics I take of them.

What advice would you give someone who is preparing to shoot with you:

No Duckfaces!!, be prepared to move around alot, if you have ideas don't be afraid to share them, and trust me when I tell you act like your riding a horse or reaching for something. It may look silly to you, but I have it built in my head! Most of all just have fun!

Who is your favorite model!

That would be my girlfriend Lisa! I have learned more about what I do with her than anyone, so even though I don't post alot of her she is my Fav!

If you have any other questions just ask!

Creating Backgrounds

The most important thing you can do when creating PhotoArt is get a great picture to use through your photography. The background comes second but can be an important piece to bringing it all together. There are several you can download from different sites, but truthfully it is easier to make your own. Almost everytime I take a pic, as I snap through the viewfinder I am immediately building my scene in my mind so when I get to the computer I just get started. Here are the steps I take.

1. Pick the main color you want to use and on a clear layer paint it a solid. I chose gray!

2. Next you will want to find pics or parts of photos, .psd, .pngs, whatever you think might work in a photo or an idea. I just throw them all on the canvas the start moving them around in different areas until I find the sort that works best for my vision. All of ours are different so play, experiment and have fun doing this.

3. Once you have them arranged start to erase the parts you don't want and start to blend them all together. Use curves, brightness and other adjustments until you  start to see what you vision all come together.

4. Once you get the background looking the way you like copy the layer and the top layer at 20%-30%, then using the eraser brush start to erase from the foreground to keep the detail intact. Possibly add lighting if you want!

5. Color the result to your desire. Here I went with yellows and gold colors.

You can see the blur here and how the light changes a little but adds a more dramatic effect

6.Add your photo. Find a place in the scene that works best for you!

7. Blend the subject into your background. Also blur the subject. Try to make your blur even with the overall scene. This takes practice and you have to eye the whole picture. It will eventually come, Also at this poing add your gradiants and use the burn and dodge tool to create accents, even little ones, and you will see how the subject will start to blend and become one with the project. In the pic below notice how it is all blurred to match.

 8. Your PhotoArt is pretty much done. The last steps you take are more personal. What I call the finishing effects and you can do so may different things with own vision that it is really limitless. Never worry about having it look perfect, worry more about the overall composition and what exactly you are trying to express.

I know this is real condensed and there are many small steps to learn as well. This is just an example of the workflow I use. If you have questions please reach out! 

My personal 9 points to being a good Cosplay Photographer!

I get several request from people asking my how to do some of the things I do in  Photoshop. Well truthfully PS is not the only program I use. I also use GIMP and other, but since PS is what I use for the bulk of my work I thought I would start this blog to off tips and tricks I have learned to help other digital manipulators and photographers with things I have learned. What you don't know about me is, by all accounts I am a bad photographer, I don't use my camera the way I should, and I make many more mistakes with photography than I do getting perfect shots. That being said, I have also learned that presenting an image your proud of doesn't necessarily mean the photo has to be perfect coming out of the camera. I can't tell you how many blurry images, color cast issues..ect ect I have had over the years, but what I have learned is always keep tinkering in program and eventually I find ways to improve my methods and my overall presentation.

Photography, just like the artist who paints, or writers who write, is an individual process. The world is full of critiques and some will always tell you things about your work you don't want to hear, and unfortunately many will give unsolicited critiques as if they have something to prove. I always smile at these because they are never the one creating my art, so how in a million years could they ever know what my intentions were. When I get these I usually just ignore. The main thing is to just be proud of what you do. There will always be somebody better and worse than you, but there is still only one you and what you create will be special if its your vision.

Most people know me from my Pin-Ups and Cosplay work. These two genres are similar in ways and worlds apart in others, I personally don't have a favorite and love to shoot them both. I am fortunate enough to be surrounded by several people who are my great friends and love to model for me. I have had lots of practice you might say. People who dress up in costume always amaze me. I think if more people dressed up and had fun like these folks do then the world would be a happier place. Come on now, what wouldn't we all give to be in a room with thousands of people who shared the same hobbies we have. These cons are like that. I now include myself in these groups even though I don't cosplay myself. I still feel the pride and the energy they have when in costume and I believe this makes me lucky!

Here is what I think it takes to be a good Cosplay Photographer

1. Visualize what you want even before the shoots. We never know what costumes we will see all the time, but you can still form the ideas that can apply to many.

2. Learn and share what you know with other photographers. I personally will talk to and share any of my methods with others. I have no secrets and love meeting other photographers. The way I see it is, every painter can have a brush and paint, but we will all paint different pictures.

3. Realize that what you do isn't a competition. The only person you need to make happy with your work is you. Its not about likes on pics, people sharing it, or even virility. Its how you feel about it. My favorite pics are never widely liked by the public, but regardless they are still my favorites.

4. Create a positive reputation for yourself. Be honest with you subjects on time to get pics and what you will deliver. Don't wait months to finally send photos. You may not like the pics you shot, but the people just may, so you never know. Ask permission to take pics and explain what you are trying to get. Never use a Cosplayer for your own benefit. If you plan to sell your images let them know first ( Everyone will have an opinion about this).

5. Coach when needed, even though these costumers are usually experts in their characters, that doesn't mean they know how to pose. I always use phrases like "Look behind you like you hear a noise", Look like your looking at the top of a building", ect. ect...

6. Don't think any idea you have is original! There is a difference between just outright copying another persons ideas, but then again, Superman can Fly, Batman is usually in an Alley, and WonderWoman crosses her arms. I always chuckle to myself when I hear other photographers getting upset because someone else shot in the same place or did a shot similar to theirs, Trust me it happens all the time, you can look at it as flattery or contempt the choice is yours, but ask yourself where did your idea come from? If you do copy another though you should always credit the the artist as such. A good example is the pick of Wonder Woman below. I was inspired to shoot this after seeing a pic that Scott Blair had drawn years ago. It is not exactly like his but the inspiration was there so of course I credited him.

7. Don't be afraid to try. Whether you have a DSLR or a Point and Shoot camera, you can still get the shots you want, just keep practicing until you are happy with your results. We are not the same, nor will our photos be. It's more in the eye of the photographer than it is in the equipment he owns.

 8. Appreciate all Cosplay. I personally don't know much about Anime, but I do appreciate it, I still don't know what are all the mouse heads people wear at cons, but they are pretty cool and most of all I have never turned away a costumer who ask me to take a pic.

9. Most of all just have fun. Costumers are some of the friendliest and smartest people I have ever met. They want to help you get the right shot and they love to entertain. If your not having fun then stop doing it. It will definitely show in your work.