Timely Tips on Staying Safe in Cosplay Modeling

Let’s say you are relatively new to the cosplay scene, and want to get some of those amazing photos you see of other cosplayers for yourself. You’ve put out some inquiries and you’ve found your photographer (I’ll have another article on that process coming up). You’ve got your shoot booked, and everything is set!

Now, let’s talk safety: Remember, you’re meeting with a stranger. One you’ve only interacted with on the Internet. This can be scary and can make people super anxious. This is perfectly normal. You should be a little anxious about meeting a person for the first time. However, here are some things to help make the experience go a bit more smoothly and safely.

1. Always set your meet up in a public space.
Every con has a Registration booth area or Information desk or something similar where you get your badges or whatnot. If I’m meeting a photographer for the first time, I generally suggest meeting up by Info or Reg. It’s a public space and well lit. Never meet a stranger in a dark secluded place — that’s how murder mysteries start.
1A. And since you’re there, it doesn’t hurt to check in with them to see if they have any con security protocol for dangerous situations. If you explain to them you have a photo shoot set up with a stranger and are wary of what is going to happen they might have a phone number that you can call for either con security, emergency staff, or the rented security. This is usually more common at the SUPER large cons such as PAX East, Dragon Con, etc.

2. Don’t let them tell you you can’t have a chaperone/escort/friend with you.
If a photographer tells you that they can’t work with another person in the room or in the area, and you’ve never met them before, don’t work with them. This is a huge red flag. Always have a person you trust come with you if you are meeting a person for the first time.

3. Don’t shoot in an area where you cannot see anyone.
You don’t know this person, so don’t go back to their room. or wherever. If you can’t see people and they can’t see you then this is a red flag. If it’s just around a corner and you have a friend with you who can stand off to the side and see you AND the crowd, that’s one thing. I’m talking about enclosed spaces or areas which would be easily hidden from everyone.

4. This is YOUR shoot. If you don’t feel comfortable say something.
If the photographer says something that makes you uncomfortable, or asks you to do something that makes you uncomfortable, you have every right to say no or to stop the shoot. It’s the photographers job to make sure you look good in the photos. You are not a professional model so if you are not comfortable in your pose or with the situation, it’s going to show in the finished product.

5. Cell phones can be kept on.
If you’re with one other person and are in a quieter area then by all means keep your cellphone on full ringtone volume. Your friend can cancel a call for you if you are doing well and comfortable. If a photographer tells you to turn off your phone or tells you to give them your phone — don’t. Handing them or their assistant your phone and badge if you don’t have a handler with you is one thing. If they insist on keeping your phone with them, that’s another huge red flag.

6. Secret codes!
This one isn’t always necessary, but I always think it’s good to have a phrase that sounds normal and every day to anyone else, but is pre-discussed with your friend that if you say it to them it means you feel really uncomfortable and need to GTFO NOW! Or even call for backup.
For example:  Say I’m cosplaying 2B from Nier Automata and have a wrap skirt on — sure she doesn’t always wear the wrap skirt and I’m posed for a shot and the photographer comes and undoes the wrap skirt so I’m down to the “alt costume choice.” I’d then look over to my friend and say a pre-discussed line of something like; “OH! I’m getting kinda hungry. How about pizza after??” Sounds like a normal thing right? Honestly, I hate pizza. So this works well. And also gives the friend an excuse to call someone to “see about getting food.”

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Bonus round! Boudoir Shoots

Lately boudoir shoots have become super popular to do at a convention. Here are a handful of things to note.

1. If you’re under 18… DO NOT DO THESE!
Even if they are implied and the photographer says something along the lines of, “you won’t actually be naked, it’ll just look like you are.” this is not okay. And you don’t need to!

2. If this is your first shoot with this photographer, do a regular shoot first.
You have to know if you feel comfortable with your photographer for this to work and look good. I usually don’t boudoir with a photographer I haven’t shot with at least 5 times before, OR have been good friends with for awhile before. I have 2 friends who I have known for years and never got to shoot with them until we started a boudoir shoot for both of our portfolios. Trust is the key point here.

3. Always have a chaperone or friend come with you.
A photographer doing a boudoir shoot should always give you the option of having a friend or person come with you. This should be a person that YOU are comfortable being seen in various states of dress and undress. It does not have to be a significant other. Infact, a photographer might specifically request that you NOT bring a significant other. This is a common thing as sometimes SO’s can make you more anxious about what is going on or nervous that the SO is going to be upset if you look a certain way. The photographer might also have had a bad experience with another photoshoot in which a SO got confrontational about something that was perfectly reasonable. However, with all that being said, if you cannot find another person who is NOT your SO to come with you, always err on the side of safety and let the photographer know that you are bringing a friend or SO. If they tell you they only work without chaperones then that is a huge red flag and you need to cancel immediately.

4. The photographer never has to touch you. Period.
If you aren’t posing correctly to their satisfaction that is totally a thing that happens. They can see the finished photo in their head and through the lens. Their job is to get you to do it. However, they should be practicing a “talk before touch” policy. “Do you mind if I move your hair over here so it’s not covering this part?” “Can I move your arm or elbow sl it looks like this?” Or better yet, ask that friend they allowed to be present to make the adjustments for them.

5. Expect the photographer to talk professionally.
If their word choices are juvenile and they use slang to refer to body parts or lewd poses or activity, it can be an uncomfortable experience. Feel free to tell them, “I’m sorry, can you use anatomical words instead.” Generally they should be okay with that. If they aren’t and continue to say things that make you uncomfortable, that’s a red flag as well. I would normally give examples of this, but this is an all-ages site and it would be inappropriate.

6. Expect the photographer to talk professionally, Part 2.
This point is closely associated with point 5. Have you ever watched a show or movie where photographers will use “sexy talk” to make the mood feel sexy so you emulate sexy? Yeah… that’s not really a thing. Nor is it necessary. If a photographer tries to talk sexy at you and you don’t like it, tell them to stop. If they don’t, refer to the above safety procedures. If you are uncomfortable, you’ll look scared and rigid in your photos. Not sexy and not at ease. My best boudoir shoots have happened when the photographer and I were talking about random food or fandom stuff we both liked — or shipping our OTPs. 🙂 If you’re relaxed enough to genuinely laugh, then you’ll be better able to get good pictures. Feeling comfortable with and trusting your photographer is vital to that

To wrap things up, always err on the side of caution. Safety during photo shoots should always be a priority. Cosplaying is all about enjoying yourself and having fun.

(Edited 8/17 9:35 a.m. to clarify the section on slang use.)