Tiger Shot Productions

Hey Guys! I wanted to bring up an important issue that’s been getting a lot of buzz recently…mostly due to MAGFest and Katsucon photoshoots going up!  ★ TL;DR ★ If the shoot is too expensive, then don’t book a shoot with them and then complain about said photographer’s rates whether names are dropped or not. I understand people will complain about everything and anything, but wanted to get my perspective out there as someone who heavily takes part in both cosplaying and photography.  ============================================= I’ve been keeping my mouth shut for awhile but decided this morning that it was time I said some of my personal thoughts on the issue. As both a cosplayer and photographer I understand the heavy finances both sides must pay; from fabric and trim to camera body and lenses. As a cosplayer, I understand being hesitant in paying even MORE money at a convention after already sacrificing your wallet for cosplay, badges, travel costs and hotel costs but as a photographer, I also understand the loss in doing photoshoots for free. I’ve done free shots and paid shoots.  The analogy I like using is this: ★ Would you make a cosplay for someone for free? ★ Would you make a prop for free? ★ Style a wig for free? If they’re a good friend, SURE, but as a general service, you’re most likely asking people to pay for these things. For someone reason photography and photoshoots are pinned as something that shouldn’t have to be paid for or if they are, should be much less than the things mentioned above.  Don’t forget, Photography is STILL A SERVICE TO YOU. Photographers taking photos FOR YOU and editing them FOR YOU to post across the interbutts and the amount of hours and work that go into these shoots is just as exhausting as being a cosplayer, if not more. Just like commissioners, photographers deserve payment for their work as well and should not be think of any less than other forms of skill across the cosplay community.  I’ve broken up photoshoot costs in the infographic below. More often than not, shoots are charged at a flat rate for a variety of services and never account for editing time, rights to post photos and printing rights for online stores. Ideally photographers should at least be charging at an hourly rate, which is what I’m comparing average flat-rate costs for shoots to. Also included is the average flat-rate for professional photographers which I’ve pulled from personal professional photographer friends who are currently working in the field.

Thank you. Goodbye.  

Hey Guys! I wanted to bring up an important issue that’s been getting a lot of buzz recently…mostly due to MAGFest and Katsucon photoshoots going up!  ★ TL;DR ★ If the shoot is too expensive, then don’t book a shoot with them and then complain about said photographer’s rates whether names are dropped or not. I understand people will complain about everything and anything, but wanted to get my perspective out there as someone who heavily takes part in both cosplaying and photography.  ============================================= I’ve been keeping my mouth shut for awhile but decided this morning that it was time I said some of my personal thoughts on the issue. As both a cosplayer and photographer I understand the heavy finances both sides must pay; from fabric and trim to camera body and lenses. As a cosplayer, I understand being hesitant in paying even MORE money at a convention after already sacrificing your wallet for cosplay, badges, travel costs and hotel costs but as a photographer, I also understand the loss in doing photoshoots for free. I’ve done free shots and paid shoots.  The analogy I like using is this: ★ Would you make a cosplay for someone for free? ★ Would you make a prop for free? ★ Style a wig for free? If they’re a good friend, SURE, but as a general service, you’re most likely asking people to pay for these things. For someone reason photography and photoshoots are pinned as something that shouldn’t have to be paid for or if they are, should be much less than the things mentioned above.  Don’t forget, Photography is STILL A SERVICE TO YOU. Photographers taking photos FOR YOU and editing them FOR YOU to post across the interbutts and the amount of hours and work that go into these shoots is just as exhausting as being a cosplayer, if not more. Just like commissioners, photographers deserve payment for their work as well and should not be think of any less than other forms of skill across the cosplay community.  I’ve broken up photoshoot costs in the infographic below. More often than not, shoots are charged at a flat rate for a variety of services and never account for editing time, rights to post photos and printing rights for online stores. Ideally photographers should at least be charging at an hourly rate, which is what I’m comparing average flat-rate costs for shoots to. Also included is the average flat-rate for professional photographers which I’ve pulled from personal professional photographer friends who are currently working in the field.

A shot of my gender bend Zoro from Tiger Shot Productions!

Cosplayer: leapinglizardcosplay Character: Roronoa Zoro Series: One Piece Photographer: tigershotproductions