But how to start?
Go to the site of the con your going to, check the forums. I'm sure like most con sites have a section for photographers to post their info. Or maybe that con has a FB group where you can post, asking if anyone one is interested in taking some shots of you (or your group) for twenty-thirty minutes. These are the best ways to start. Or ask your friends. You never know who they might know.
But just like buying cosplay costumes and doing research on the company before buying, do your research. Why? They have a camera, check. They are human and willing to give up their time, check. They seem friendly, check.
Those aren't good enough. If your paying you really need to follow these tips.
- DO YOUR RESEARCH (I cannot stress this enough)
- Ask them questions
- Ask for links to their works
- Ask people in your location con forums about them
Here is a link to some more wonderful advice Breaking All The Rules-blog post
Now time for my horror story. (I will not be saying names/name of the con)
When we were getting ready to go to a con earlier in the year we decided that we needed to get some pictures done of our costumes this time, since a lot of our family members were asking to see what we looked like in full cosplay. So when a friend posted that a photographer had a few slots left and they had just booked theirs I jumped on the chance and e-mailed the person. It took a while to get a reply (Which should always been seen as the first sign this photographer might not be right for you) This person was nice at first but I noticed he didn't really seem interested in our cosplays. He asked for links but it turns out he never bothered to research them. We sent a few messages back and forth and when the con was just days away I messaged them asking where and when they wanted to meet, he didn't reply. So I shook it off and packed up. We drove up to the con space which takes around three-four hours plus we hit traffic issues and were so excited to be going back to this con.
That night once we were settled into our hotel I told my hubby to text him. They did and we set a time but no location because "They wanted to scan the place first" So the next day we waited around for them. They weren't where they told us to meet them and we were growing tried and hot and very annoyed by the lack of response from this person. They told us downstairs by the back doors that led out to the garden area outback. We checked both doors. They wasn't there. So my hubby called him.
It turns out they were upstairs, far from the area they told us to meet them. At this point I wanted to cancel and say "Fuck it" Like most of their other cosplayers did that day or so they told us. We went out back to a spot they had liked and started doing some pictures. They were nice enough, sort of crude but at least they weren't horrible.
We switched areas once and took more pictures. They did show us some of the pictures and they were so nice! I was excited and forgot all about the trouble we had with them. When we asked when the pictures would be posted he said not long after they flew home, so about two weeks. That's a good time. If I was taking the pictures I would say two weeks latest depending on how many other photo shoots they had taken that day.
So we left in a better mood. Then one week went by and another. And then a month. We contacted them after a while and ask when we would see our pictures. They said soon. They were starting to work on them. I shrugged it off. Another month past then another. STILL NO PICTURES. I thought okay, they work. They'll do it when they get a chance. They went to another con, uploaded the pictures that night. It pissed me off. So we messaged them again, this time on their FB wall so he had to reply quickly.
Another excuse. Then they went ahead and posted our friend's pictures (Which were taken a few hours after our shoot) before ours! I felt happy for our friends because their pictures turned out really nice! But upset over the fact the person had yet to post ours and kept making excuses. I got pissed. So another month went by. Then another. Now it's half a year later and still no pictures. It's a shame because it wasted our time when we could have been going to a panel or enjoying the con. I don't expect they will ever post our pictures. Heck, I bet they deleted them long ago.
The issues with this wasn't that we paid (Thank goodness it was a free shoot) but it's the fact they call themselves "Professionals". I was taught by a real professional photographer who did work on the side of his teaching job and knew many photographers that had their work up in the local art museum, that the first step in being professional is being timely. This group was nothing like I thought they would be. I will never get pictures done in less I've done a lot of research on the photographer. If they take too long to reply then I'm not bothering them and not wasting our time.
I will not list who we had our pictures taken with. Although I will warn people against them if they ask in the forums for that con.
So that's all for today. Eight days away. I'm not in a very good mood right now so I can't say I'm excited even through I knew besides being kind of gloom and doom and I am. Our costumes are here, they fit and are all packed up.
No comments:
Post a Comment