Cosplay is a subculture where participants dress up in costumes that represent a character from media. It is a growing part of geek culture and has recently also been growing in media attention.
Before I shot LARPers, I shot Cosplayers. After doing a short project of Convention Portraits where I asked them about their careers, I wanted to explore the concept of the person behind the costume further. I examined the personalisation of Cosplayers, specifically their interests outside of cosplay and what appeals to them aesthetically. I show this through photographing them in their homes and activities while they wear their cosplay, and I try to portray more of their identify through the images as a result. Alongside personalisation, I wish to include the diversity of the Cosplay Community. Whilst the series started off with very specific requirements for cosplays, I now want the idea of being a cisplayer to be both achievable and aspirational. In doing this, I now photograph different types of costumes that require different skill levels; as well as photographing different types of people. My goal is for the series to shot the achievable part of cosplay as well as the aspirational side.
People are more than what we see at first glance, and this is what the series is about. Someone is more than a costume they wear and the hobby they join in with, and I wanted to show that through this series. We get a rare glimpse into a Cosplayer’s life outside of their costume, and we see so much more of them as a result!
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