Cosplayers tend to pretty passionate about their craft. It makes sense. They’re big enough fans of a character to want to bring it to life through what they’re wearing. So it also makes sense that when I asked a few for a costuming tip to share, they shared alot more than that – tips for wearing costumes, meeting people, photo etiquette, and good advice that applies whether or not you do cosplay!

1. Think practically.

“Safety pins are very important! You never know when you’ll need them for your costume.” –Ryan DeFusco (The Indie Imaginarium)

“Break in your shoes ahead of time.” –Genevieve Eldred

“Drink lots of water! It’s easy to get dehydrated.” –Ryan D.

When designing your costume, don’t just think about the look. Think about how you will move around in it – especially in a crowd.

“I try not to take up space outside my immediate area. Wings and other things that stick out from your costume make it hard to get around at conferences.” –Genevieve

2. Talk to people

“Talk to people! If someone has taken the trouble to dress up as a character you like, say hi.” –Ryan Holmes (Justice League Arizona)

“If you like someone’s cosplay, tell them! If you want to know how they made something, ask them! The community is in large part very friendly and more than happy to share their tips and techniques.” –Genevieve 

“If you’re shy, wearing a costume that covers the face can be really liberating.” –Ryan H. (DIY masks, anyone?)

3. Keep learning

The cosplay community is another example of how the current wealth of online and offline resources for learning has helped makers flourish.

“Learning new skills keeps the brain active, and the worst thing you could do is remain stagnant.” –Genevieve

“The web is full of costume resources. Probably at least half the people into making things are also into talking about how they made them.” –Ryan H.

“If you ever get lost on something, there’s probably a cosplayer who has done it and can help you through.“ –Genevieve

Bonus tip: Photos of cosplayers

(a.k.a. Don’t be creepy.)

“Be respectful and ask before taking someone’s picture.” –Jill 

Cosplay is not consent for photos (or harassment). If you want to take a photo of a child, also ask the adult they’re with for permission.

“Don’t sneak up behind a cosplayer and try to get a photo without them noticing. People like to be able to put their best pose on, hide their con badge, look good.” –Ryan H.

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More resources and tips on the original Travelcraft Journal post!

Photos of Genevieve taken by Eileen Kane.