Info for Cosplay Impromptu Shoots
What to expect
If a photographer has asked to take photos of you, it would be considered an impromptu shoot. The goal of this page is to educate how impromptus work from a professional standpoint.
Before we move on, never set yourself with an expectation of receiving photos from an impromptu shoot for “free.” This is a common mistake that most cosplayers set their minds on, mainly because the cosplay space is filled with tons of photographers, and most may be hobbyists that may give you photos for free. But you should never expect that from every photographer. If you do, then you’re setting yourself up for disappointment. There are some that work professionally in the space as well. The truth is, once a photo is taken by a photographer, by default, they own the copyright and the photo(s). What they decide to do with them after that, is up to them. The art - in this case, photos - belongs to the person who makes it. You are not entitled to it, even if you were the subject of the photograph. The rights belong to the artist, not the subject. Unfortunately a lot of the times, photographers also get taken advantage of because they don’t know copyright laws, especially if they’re new.
So with that out of the way, every photographer will be different in how they go about for impromptu shoots. Professionals may either try to sell them to you, or they may give them for free. It’s up to them. For me, I do give away impromptu photos for free. However, it’s NOT going to be on priority. It’ll be added to my huge backlog of pro-bono photos. It also means I can’t give an estimate on when I’ll get to them. Paid work will always be on priority, after all, it’s our job and way of living. Always contact the photographer and see what their process is. If they’re a busy photographer, then you may be left waiting a long time before you see them. It’s generally the reason why I don’t do impromptu shoots often; I’m constantly busy and booked up. It takes time to edit photos. It’s not as easy throwing a filter on and it being done. It takes time to edit per photo, with color-grading, skin retouching, removing flyaways, etc…Not to mention the actual process of taking the photos. It’s not just point and click.
With all of that said, if you’re waiting to receive photos depending on the photographer’s process, then patience is key. A common problem is that some people feel entitled to free photos because they were asked to be taken photos of as the subject, therefore they think they can make demands, such as they should be given priority. But that’s where they’re mistaken. You should never demand something that isn’t be compensated for. Think about that for a second if you were in the photographer’s shoes; would you want to be asked to work for free and also put them ahead of everyone else that’s paid for their photos? I’m sure you would say no.
Another common mistake is asking for raw photos. It’s rude, especially if you didn't offer compensation for them. And most professional photographers don’t give out raw photos. The reason being is that every photographer develops their images in their unique style. They want to give you their final works, not half baked photos. The bottom line is that you have no rights to their art. You weren't a contracted model, so you aren't under any obligation to receive any compensation. It’s insulting because you’re asking for the source material for free, which says that you don't value or respect their work at all. That's horribly rude! If you have a friend that does it for a hobby and you’ve received raws, then that may be an exception. But that’s definitely something you should not ask a professional.
If you appreciate their work, then you should be willing to wait for it, especially if it’s being offered for free. Never rush art. Most times, photographer’s will ask to take photos of your cosplays because they love the work that you put into it. Think of it this way, you probably wouldn’t have gotten beautiful photos of your cosplay if they had not asked you. To return the favor, at least help them out by either sending clients their way, or even just tipping them. Or consider purchasing some of the photos from them. Or better yet, consider booking an actual shoot with them. If you show any sort of support for their work, then they may be more inclined to get your photos quicker.
Hopefully this helps you understand how impromptu shoots work, and what to expect.
My process
I provide two options for my impromptus:
Free - This option is what it sounds like. It’s free. This option means I’ll pick out a few that I like best and I edit and send to you. The main difference is, is that since it’s free, it also means it’s not priority. So you could be waiting for a while. However, you can expedite the process by at least referring clients, etc…Anything to help out business wise. Hopefully this will also mean that in the future, you’ll also consider booking shoots.
A la carte - This option means that you can purchase any of the photos, and that you’ll be put on second priority aside from booked sessions. So you’ll be sent a proof gallery, and you can choose what to purchase.
I keep it simple. If you expect service and priority, then don’t expect free photos to give you that. Always support your artists/photographers by compensating them in some form, whether it be referrals, etc…
Copyright Policy
Any photos taken is owned by the photographer, which means they own the copyright. The proofs that are sent to you will be watermarked to prevent un-authorized stealing, manipulation/editing and re-selling of the photos. It’s also to guarantee the quality of our finished work; the proofs are un-edited, and are not representative of our final work. Please respect this for any photographer.
With that said, I do not hand out any raw photos in any form (this goes for most professional photographers), because I have to control the quality (and brand) of my work. Only edited files will be sent out. Thank you for understanding! I will allow cosmetic changes to the final edits however (like liquifying facial features, etc…). Any other edits, such as color-grading, etc…Will not be allowed. A lot of people have a misunderstanding of what a “raw” photo is, which is basically a digital negative, which means it’s not finished. If you prefer a natural look closer to the actual raw photo with minimal edits, you can request it. But basically it boils down to this: it is the artist’s/photographer’s works, so only finished work goes out.
A good analogy to compare to would be this: you go to a restaurant, and you order some raw steak to be cooked the way it’s supposed to be by the chef. That raw steak is the same as a raw image; it’s not cooked and not finished. You go there to buy the food cooked, not raw. Just like paying a chef for cooking food, you’re paying a photographer to “cook” your final images.
Since most people don’t know about copyright laws and how professional photographers work, the goal of this topic on raw images is to understand and be educated on why they don’t give out raw images.
Why Photographers Say No
Protecting their style: Editing is half of the final art. Handing over raw files means someone else might edit them in a way the original artist dislikes.
Brand safety: An un-edited, poorly lit raw file with a watermark removed or poorly edited can hurt a photographer's business reputation.
When They Might Say Yes
Close friends: A photographer might share raws with a trusted friend or a long-term creative partner.
Paying for copyright: If you offer to pay a much higher fee for the copyright buyout, some professionals will agree.