While attending the Anime Iowa 2013 convention, I attended the Anime Vogue panel for tips on posing while doing cosplay. The panel was hosted by Sofi Shannon and Lauren Home and here are ten posing tips that these two cosplay virtuosos recommend:
Don’t Blink- As funny as it seems, we have all seen those great photos ruined by the innocuous blink at that last moment. To avoid this, practice holding your facial expressions in front of a mirror.
Consider Your Character- What types of poses does your character do? Are they spunky or dull? Is your character feminine or masculine? Think what your character would do, and then set that as your target pose.
Practice Posing- Experiment with poses. Don’t just stand there like your standing for a family photo. Express yourself through positioning your arms, legs, and torso. Even a slight turn with your body can look better than the ever-boring just standing there look.
Movement is Key- The key to the great photo is showing some movement and making it look easy. Don’t stand like a figurine. The ladies favorite recommended move is dropping one hip, making the pose look fun and sassy for the photographer.
Master Three Poses- Pick out three poses your character would do and work on mastering those. Stand in front of a mirror and self-check yourself. Ask others to comment about your posing. And, practice, practice, practice.
Posing Faux-Pas- When in cosplay mode at the conventions, it is not uncommon for strangers to want to take a picture with you. Watch for the Trekkie-lean, the inadvertent leaning away from someone you don’t know.
Picking People Up- While picking people up looks great in the family pictures, when your wearing a costume that you have spent hours assembling and have gone to great expense to purchase, picking people up is a great way to ruin it. Avoid picking people up.
Be Mindful of Others- With all the excitement at the convention, everyone is looking for photos of the great costumes. If someone ask you for a photo, do not get on the ground and better yet, try to step off to the side of the hallways to avoid jamming up those who are trying to get past you.
Never be Inappropriate- Conventions are family friendly. Inappropriate behavior for the purposes of a great photo can easily get you dismissed from a convention. Not to mention, come back and embarrass you at a later date.
Careful of Skirts- We have seen those photos of the Hollywood ladies wearing the short skirts and inadvertently exposing their privates. If you are wearing a skirt as part as your cosplay and posing, be cautious of your skirt riding up. As the ladies say, “keep your junk in the trunk.”
There you have it. Ten simple things you can do to make your cosplay posing better and more character like, while giving you those great photos you can be proud of.
Eric Wynn is the author of the “Chronicles of Connor: Zombie Rising,” and encourages you to connect with him on Twitter, Facebook and other social media platforms.