Relevant to my interests, I can't pose worth a damn.

>>1862005
I also suffer from doing that from time to time when I cosplay ryu. I try to take different martial arts poses or do different video game reenactments to avoid the problem you're having.

when you're at home practice different kinds of poses, stand in the mirror and think of different scenes from the show/manga you're character is in or cool photos that you'd like to see yourself in.

Generally, facing the camera head-on is not such a good idea. I think if you rotated your entire pose slightly to the right, it would have looked much better.

I think it might help to "get in the character's head". Do you know what I mean? Like...not really act like the guy, but just know the mentality of the character and understand the guy. I think something like that might help with posture and just tiny details. Maybe...

Thoughts?

Also, all in all, that's a good costume you got there, OP.

Look for poses from the show / game / book / whatever, try and find ones that are very easy to get into. Also look for poses that are done often (and therefore are recognizable) and action poses, so you aren't just standing there you are doing something cool.

Then practice these poses in front of a mirror. This is best done with the costume on, or as much as possible. Choose 2-4 of the poses:
- that show off the costume. Learn poses that won't block your hard work.
- that you can actually do. Some costumes don't allow a lot of mobility and may restrict you from the pose you want
- that make you look good. If you look like an idiot, or it makes you look fat etc... don't do that pose.

It is good to have at least one pose you can hold for a long time, especially if your costume is really nice and you expect a lot of photographs

Try to keep the complication of the poses to a minimum. Don't expect everyone to have a good camera, and don't expect those with good camers to know how to use them.

>>1862038

thanks; I kinda fucked up on the hood, though. It was hard to get on and off.

>>1862043

is it at all rude to ask photographers if they have a preferred pose, or to just forgo the formalities and do whatever you think looks best?

cool cosplay bro

I hated my poses as Kisame, Fanime 07/08, but w/e. You're just being self conscious.

>>1862060
>is it at all rude to ask photographers if they have a preferred pose, or to just forgo the formalities and do whatever you think looks best?
Do whatever the hell you want. As a longtime con goer, I'd just ask someone for a photo and I'd wait for them to pose. I'd much rather have someone in character than in some cheesy pose I'd want them to be in.

>>1862060
It is never rude to do that. If it is for a shoot with someone then definately ask their opinions and ask them for advice on your poses. Since they are looking through the lens they can help you look better.

If it is for a random hallways shot it is probably better to just strike a pose, since most people don't have an idea of what they want and will probably be surprised if you ask. Though if you want to ask them it wouldn't hurt

>>1862079

very true.

>>1862066

thank you too you as well. I think the Zoro cosplayer I was with did a better job than I did, though.

>>1862038
getting the mind set of a character is always good. it really helps to bring out the emotion in your look when you're trying to feel for who you're dressed as.

>>1862090
Yeah, but Zoro is an easy cosplay. It takes a lot to do a hard one like Trafalger Law, not to mention he's a relatively new character with little manga/screen time.

>>1862107

But still, the guy pulled it off really well, though; neither of us had our swords with us because we were at the private dinner with the guest of honor Sunday night, but he made all of the blades as well as a pretty kick-ass holster. His earrings were also spot-on accurate.

>>1862134
easy cosplays are often the hardest

>>1862107
>Zoro.
>Easy cosplay.
HA. That's why the majority of people fuck it up right?

Anyway, your posing seems a bit stiff. Try to act more natural when posing to make it look less forced. Try not to face the camera directly and avoid keeping your posture too straight. Practicing beforehand in a mirror is the best way to figure out good posing.

>>1862125
man, quit your bitchin'. You did a damn accurate job with yours as well and your Law turned out great

>>1862125

>>1862150
FFFFFFFFFFFFFFF!!!!!

If it's any consolation my friend who's a One Piece buff loved your costume and was so excited to see someone doing that character. She thought you were pretty cute too.

As for poses I suppose just try to come up with some generic guy poses. When I'm at a loss I usually just do a generic cute or sexy pose.

>>1862150
...

.

Here's some posing tips:

-Research what your character does. If he's constantly flying around the page or holding a sword in his mouth, look for a pose (either from a magazine, dA, or another character/cosplayer) that's more simple.

-Put your whole costume on. Practice in front of a mirror, but even better is to get a friend to take some pictures with their p&s. You'll get a much better of what a camera will 'see' which is much different than your reflection in the mirror.

-Pick simple poses to strike when people are snapping 'hall' shots. As much as you want that 'epic' picture, it's probably not going to happen with only one shot. Save the cool poses for shoots- ie, you getting a number of pics with a specific photog.

-Have more than one pose, so that even if you do screw up, you've only screwed up a third or a fourth of your possible con coverage.

Cont;

>>1862232 cont;
Actual Posing Tips:

When posing for a camera, stand straight on only long enough to take a step back with one foot. That will angle your hips, and as a bonus make you look less wide. You can hold your shoulders square to the camera if your character should be big and imposing, or at an angle if they're supposed to be slimmer, or have more attitude. Turn your nose to the photog's shoulder- you're now not looking at them dead on, which is the most unflattering angle. Your choice to look at the camera or at the shoulder, but try not to look off to the distance- you get 'zombie' eyes that way.

-If you're going for an action pose, be careful- make sure to drop your shoulders or you end up without any neck. Don't point things at the camera- you end up with a 'dot' instead of your finely crafted sword. Having your sword over your shoulder, or pointed down at your feet (like in op) is usually safe.

-Stick your chin out. It's a stupid sounding thing but it SERIOUSLY helps remove double chin (which nearly everyone can get from a stupid pose) and helps define your neck/jawline.

For OP, I'd probably suggest standing large instead of hunching down- he's a tall guy after all- and throwing your shoulders down and back, keep your feet at shoulder distance apart and don't bend your knees, and keep your sword loose at your feet. You could experiment with having your left hand up slightly to your side for some pics- that's a matter of angles that's hard to judge at a con with random photogs.


Whenever you see a pic of someone who has a nice basic pose, save it- and look at that file of pics whenever you're in need for some inspiration.

I'm cosplaying as Kyoko from Skip Beat this year but I'm not really sure if she has any signature poses.
I have a corn and some stamps and book already if that helps.

>>1862227
don't lie, you fucking see it too!

>>1862269
Yes...yes, I do.

Hey man I saw you at the con and thought you were pretty spot on!

I feel you about the poses though. I was pretty limited in my Sanji poses during Fanime as well.

>>1862090
You saw it here first, folks. Zoro wears tuxedo pants.

After you got your poses in the mirror pretty check set your camera to timed (10seconds) and she if you can replicate it under pressure.

O hay! I think I got a picture of you on Monday. If it helps any, you were holding a slice of watermelon in mine.

...It probably doesn't, and sorry for taking a picture at such an inopportune time, but yeah. You were cool dudes, bro. As for poses, you could try doing the same pose, but from different angles, if that makes sense. So keep doing the hand thing, but maybe from a side view. And, of course, take poses from the anime/manga. You totally should've given the finger to some people. If they were One Piece fans, they would understand.

>>1862751

now I kinda want that picture, if you're willing to share it.

One guy actually asked me to give the camera the middle finger, but I was still pretty hesistant to do it even though it would have been in character.

>>1862751

Ha. Must of got it from us. We sliced up the watermelon in the hotel room and brought it down to the convention center to share with people.

Would have been more, but the rest kind of slipped of the counter and fell in the toilet. A good few pounds of melon gone to waste. Should have left it floating in the toilet(we took it out and set it with the rest of the trash), would have been one hell of a surprise for the maids.

>>1862901
Delicious watermelon, you must eat!

Sorry it's so blurry. Half of my pictures for that weekend were like that, either because I was shaking like an excited dog or... Well, yeah, that must've been it. idklol

>>1862910

How did you do the sword?