Secret Identities: Archie Brown
Scoop: What did you have an interest in first – photography or cosplay?
Archie Brown (AB): I had an interest in photography first, during my senior year of film school (so, 2012) I took a single-semester low credit hours course in still photography, and since I was going to my first anime con during the course, I figured on taking photos of the cosplayers there as basis for my final assignment.
Scoop: What piqued your interest in photography?
AB: My interest in photography stemmed from my love of movies, and while I’ve sorta moved away from it in my own work, that connection still exists for me in the form of a huge soft spot for cosplay photos and photosets that “tell a story.”
Scoop: What about cosplay?
AB: My interest in cosplay comes entirely from the friends I made in the community starting in 2011, through the Philadelphia branch of the Homestuck fandom at the time. I met them at a very important time in my life, and I credit the community as it was then for who I am today.
Scoop: What are the biggest challenges that a cosplay photographer tends to face?
AB: In my experience, cosplay photography is much like any other profession, in that the part you are actually seen as “doing” is the easy bit. Finding the location, posing the subject, adjusting light, taking the photos, presents little difficulty, and is fun to boot. What makes cosplay photography in particular a challenge is the aspect of managing your online presence. Cosplay is linked with social media on virtually every level, and so to stay on the radar you need to have good word of mouth, an easily trackable and regularly updated portfolio, and a recognizable brand. This in effect makes you into a creative entrepreneur as a cosplay photographer, even if all you ever wanted to do is take pretty pictures of your friends.
Scoop: You also do videos, which have become pretty popular recently. How are you able to make your videography stand out from the pack?
AB: Making videos that stand out from the trend is like shooting fish in a barrel. I apply common-sense principles like shooting variety, showing diversity, and producing videos that are more about the cosplayers themselves than whatever BS song was stuck in my head that day!
Scoop: Would you say there are trends in cosplay photography in the same sense that there are noticeable trends in cosplay itself?
AB: There are plenty, but there are two noticeable trends in particular in the cosplay photography scene I hate the most. First is that derivative shot of a two-to-six person group all laying down on the ground with their heads together and their eyes closed. Also I’m bored to death of the current fad of repetitive, slapdash-edited generic dance-music cosplay music videos taken with a cheap steadicam that the photographer doesn’t know how to use.
Scoop: As someone who both acts as a photographer and as a cosplayer at conventions, how are you able to find a balance between the two at cons?
AB: As a cosplayer and a photographer, I more often than not have to sacrifice one for the other. And if I manage to pull off both at a con, then I don’t have time to hang out with anybody.
Scoop: Do you have any memorable moments from your time as a cosplay photographer that you’d want to share?
AB: My most memorable moment as a cosplayer comes from Otakon 2013, when I cosplayed Fred from Scooby-Doo. I’m sure we all have a memory like this, but I was minding my own business in the Marriott lobby when a little girl from the city suddenly rushed over to me, clutching a pen and a pad of paper. She wanted my autograph! I was the real Fred, to her, tall and strong and brave, and I felt so deeply honored in that moment. I hope the feeling never leaves me!
Scoop: Where can we find your work online?
AB: You can find my photography work on my Tumblr page, or you can visit my YouTube channel for my cosplay videos.
Scoop: Anything else you’d like to add?
AB: Cosplay is firmly a hobby where you get out what you put in, and there’s no such thing as wasted effort. If you go the extra mile, in any aspect of your costume or your photos, it’ll show. And people will appreciate it!
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Secret Identities: Archie Brown
Scoop: What did you have an interest in first – photography or cosplay?
Archie Brown (AB): I had an interest in photography first, during my senior year of film school (so, 2012) I took a single-semester low credit hours course in still photography, and since I was going to my first anime con during the course, I figured on taking photos of the cosplayers there as basis for my final assignment.
Scoop: What piqued your interest in photography?
AB: My interest in photography stemmed from my love of movies, and while I’ve sorta moved away from it in my own work, that connection still exists for me in the form of a huge soft spot for cosplay photos and photosets that “tell a story.”
Scoop: What about cosplay?
AB: My interest in cosplay comes entirely from the friends I made in the community starting in 2011, through the Philadelphia branch of the Homestuck fandom at the time. I met them at a very important time in my life, and I credit the community as it was then for who I am today.
Scoop: What are the biggest challenges that a cosplay photographer tends to face?
AB: In my experience, cosplay photography is much like any other profession, in that the part you are actually seen as “doing” is the easy bit. Finding the location, posing the subject, adjusting light, taking the photos, presents little difficulty, and is fun to boot. What makes cosplay photography in particular a challenge is the aspect of managing your online presence. Cosplay is linked with social media on virtually every level, and so to stay on the radar you need to have good word of mouth, an easily trackable and regularly updated portfolio, and a recognizable brand. This in effect makes you into a creative entrepreneur as a cosplay photographer, even if all you ever wanted to do is take pretty pictures of your friends.
Scoop: You also do videos, which have become pretty popular recently. How are you able to make your videography stand out from the pack?
AB: Making videos that stand out from the trend is like shooting fish in a barrel. I apply common-sense principles like shooting variety, showing diversity, and producing videos that are more about the cosplayers themselves than whatever BS song was stuck in my head that day!
Scoop: Would you say there are trends in cosplay photography in the same sense that there are noticeable trends in cosplay itself?
AB: There are plenty, but there are two noticeable trends in particular in the cosplay photography scene I hate the most. First is that derivative shot of a two-to-six person group all laying down on the ground with their heads together and their eyes closed. Also I’m bored to death of the current fad of repetitive, slapdash-edited generic dance-music cosplay music videos taken with a cheap steadicam that the photographer doesn’t know how to use.
Scoop: As someone who both acts as a photographer and as a cosplayer at conventions, how are you able to find a balance between the two at cons?
AB: As a cosplayer and a photographer, I more often than not have to sacrifice one for the other. And if I manage to pull off both at a con, then I don’t have time to hang out with anybody.
Scoop: Do you have any memorable moments from your time as a cosplay photographer that you’d want to share?
AB: My most memorable moment as a cosplayer comes from Otakon 2013, when I cosplayed Fred from Scooby-Doo. I’m sure we all have a memory like this, but I was minding my own business in the Marriott lobby when a little girl from the city suddenly rushed over to me, clutching a pen and a pad of paper. She wanted my autograph! I was the real Fred, to her, tall and strong and brave, and I felt so deeply honored in that moment. I hope the feeling never leaves me!
Scoop: Where can we find your work online?
AB: You can find my photography work on my Tumblr page, or you can visit my YouTube channel for my cosplay videos.
Scoop: Anything else you’d like to add?
AB: Cosplay is firmly a hobby where you get out what you put in, and there’s no such thing as wasted effort. If you go the extra mile, in any aspect of your costume or your photos, it’ll show. And people will appreciate it!
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