2009 conventions & cosplay events: [link]

Otakuthon convention schedule released: [link]

Tue, Jul 21, 2009 - Rest of July shoots, Convention preparation

I participated in 3 cosplay photoshoots in 7 days:

1) Hetalia shoot with at the Olympic Park
2) Mixed shoot with at the Old Port
3) Mixed shoot with at the PDC and ICH fountain

Con preparation:

- Panel PDFs/JPGs to revise/prepare
- Make Display Models for Papercraft workshop
- Rent the dSLR
- Checkup on photoshoot gear (cleanup, testing, etc)
- Finish my cosplay weapon (will post progress pics)
- Watch some anime episodes to know the characters of the cosplayers in my private shoots

The things that could make me panic if my free time is cut drastically are my PDFs, my papercrafts and my weapon - especially my papercrafts, since I have to make 8 of them and it takes 2-4 days per model.

Tue, Jun 30, 2009 - Otakuthon & Worldcon 2009 photoshoot slots

Actual journal entry will follow.

Hello guys, as you may know, I'm renting out dSLR cameras for conventions. G-Anime 09 was the first con I've used a dSLR, and it wasn't too bad lugging it around, despite its heavier weight than my superzoom compact. Anime North was my 2nd time, and I've had a great success with it.

I'm renting out a dSLR again for Otakuthon (and maybe for Worldcon, I dunno yet). As you may know, dSLRs take better pictures than compacts, since they're more powerful, have larger sensors, etc. I'm willing to hold some small, 15-45 minutes semi-private photoshoots with cosplayers at Otaku and WC this year, for free. If you feel obliged to give me something in exchange, then you can trade some Pocky or other snacks for me.

Here's what you get:
- 15-45 minutes of dedicated time with me and my assistants* in an area with few or no people
- Higher-quality pictures than those taken with compact cameras
- Professional-style shots while having fun

*: I may be by myself most of the time, but I can find some lighting assistants and pose directors if they're available.

And here's what I should get from you once the shoot is done:
- Your devART/CosCom username and/or email address to send you the pictures*
- A "Thank You!"
- A snack (Pocky, cookies, etc) if you want to give me something in return

*: I'll post them here on deviantART as well, but slightly edited. You'll get the original unedited ones.

List of Time Slots:

And now, the time slots. Comment on this journal to reserve or confirm your slot. I can hold a photoshoot almost everywhere around the Otakuthon & Worldcon venues* (provided it's not off-limits or too dangerous to get there).

Location acronyms:
- PDC = Palais Des Congrès (Montreal Convention Center), site of the Dealers Room, Artists Area and Main Hall among other things.
- HIH = Holiday Inn Hotel, site of minor things, official hotel of the con.
- ICH = InterContinental Hotel, site of concrete staircase and catwalk. Has a Roman statue fountain, but it's closed (but not the last time I was there ).

*: Don't know a good photoshoot location? We'll use the area outside of the PDC near the flagpoles.

Note 1: "Unconfirmed" means the person is interested in that time slot, but haven't confirmed with the rest of their group yet. They have to notify each member of their group about the photoshoot. (Not required if the people are "Let's Do Whatever Now" types. ) I'll send a Reminder Note on the Friday before Otaku. (Won't send one for WC) They have until Wednesday to confirm their time slot. Otherwise, I have no obligation to stand and wait for them at their designated meetup point. (Usually, a semi-pro would accept upfront payment as a confirmation, but since I shoot for free I had to find another way...)

Note 2: *WILDCARD* are multiple slots which the same cosplay group has booked, but only one will be chosen and the other will be released. The most likely reason for having wildcards is the current unavailability of information on panel schedules.

OTAKUTHON FRIDAY: 8 slots, 3 left
On arrival: I get my Panelist badge around 3 pm or 3:30 pm (hopefully). I don't need to stand in a long lineup for a regular con badge!

Unlike AN, I'll only do 1 photoshoot per hour. It'll be less hectic this way.

Friday will start slow, then things will accelerate.

1. (confirmed!) & + 4 other people (unconfirmed)
Time: 4:15 pm (as able)
Duration: 45 mins max
Group size: 5-11
Series/fashion/theme: Final Fantasy VII: The Turks
Photoshoot location: Outside where there are the benches and trees
Meetup point: Bottom of escalators leading to main con floor
Reward: Strawberry Pocky

2. (confirmed!)
Time: 5:15 pm
Duration: 45 mins max
Group size: 5
Series/fashion/theme: Eternal Sonata
Photoshoot location: Place d'Armes Fountain
Meetup point: Near PDC Tim Hortons
Reward: Dinner meal

3.
Time: 6:15 pm
Duration: 15 mins (minus walking time)
Group size: 1-5
Series/fashion/theme: Naruto - Kakashi Gaiden
Photoshoot location: In Old Port near Science Center
Meetup point: Red structure in stairs of Science Center
Reward: Cookies or Just a Thank You

Meal time: I'm eating dinner from 7 to 8 pm.

4. (Vacant)
Time: 8:15 pm
Duration: 45 mins max
Group size: N/A
Series/fashion/theme: N/A
Photoshoot location: N/A
Meetup point: N/A
Reward: N/A

5. (Vacant)
Time: 9:15 pm
Duration: 45 mins max
Group size: N/A
Series/fashion/theme: N/A
Photoshoot location: N/A
Meetup point: N/A
Reward: N/A

Panel: I'm hosting the Cosplay Photoshoots panel at 10 pm.

6. (Closed - Hosting panel)
Time: 10:15 pm
Duration: 45 mins max
Group size: N/A
Series/fashion/theme: N/A
Photoshoot location: N/A
Meetup point: N/A
Reward: N/A

7. (Vacant)
Time: 11:15 pm
Duration: 45 mins max
Group size: N/A
Series/fashion/theme: N/A
Photoshoot location: N/A
Meetup point: N/A
Reward: N/A

8. (Closed - No hotel room)
Time: 12:15 am
Duration: 45 mins max
Group size: N/A
Series/fashion/theme: N/A
Photoshoot location: N/A
Meetup point: N/A
Reward: N/A

END OF OTAKUTHON FRIDAY

OTAKUTHON SATURDAY: 9 slots, 4 left

Saturday is still a bit sketchy at the moment. It'll depend mostly on my cosplay group's participation in the Masquerade. If we're accepted, then 3 pm to 10:30 pm is completely blocked off (yes, 7.5 hrs, fireworks included).

9. (Vacant)
Time: 9:15 am (pre-opening shoot)
Duration: 45 mins max
Group size: N/A
Series/fashion/theme: N/A
Photoshoot location: N/A
Meetup point: N/A
Reward: N/A

10.
Time: 10:15 am
Duration: 30 mins
Group size: 2
Series/fashion/theme: D.Gray-man
Photoshoot location: Somewhere in the PDC
Meetup point: Otakuthon Info Desk
Reward: Pocky

11. (confirmed!)
Time: 11:15 am
Duration: 45 mins max
Group size: 5
Series/fashion/theme: D.Gray-man
Photoshoot location: Somewhere at the ICH
Meetup point: Near Registration Room entrance
Reward: Lots of Pocky and Oreos

Meal time: I'm eating lunch from 12 to 1 pm.

Series gathering: I'm attending the Bleach gathering at 1 pm.

12. (confirmed!)
Time: 1:30 pm
Duration: 15 mins
Group size: 3
Series/fashion/theme: Black Lagoon
Photoshoot location: Flagpoles outside PDC
Meetup point: Otakuthon Info Desk
Reward: Panda cookies and pocky

Series gathering: I'm coordinating the Tales games photoshoot at 2 pm with and .

13. (Vacant)
Time: 2:30 pm
Duration: 30 mins max
Group size: N/A
Series/fashion/theme: N/A
Photoshoot location: N/A
Meetup point: At the Tales gathering
Reward: N/A

Evening activities: I'll be at the Masquerade from 7 pm to 10 pm, Green Room from 3 pm to 7 pm, fireworks from 10 pm to 10:30 pm.

14. (Vacant)
Time: 10:45 pm (after the fireworks)
Duration: 30 mins max
Group size: N/A
Series/fashion/theme: N/A
Photoshoot location: N/A
Meetup point: N/A
Reward: N/A

15. (Vacant)
Time: 11:15 pm
Duration: 45 mins max
Group size: N/A
Series/fashion/theme: N/A
Photoshoot location: N/A
Meetup point: N/A
Reward: N/A

16. (Closed - No hotel room)
Time: 12:15 am
Duration: 45 mins max
Group size: N/A
Series/fashion/theme: N/A
Photoshoot location: N/A
Meetup point: N/A
Reward: N/A

17. (Closed - No hotel room)
Time: 1:15 am
Duration: 45 mins max
Group size: N/A
Series/fashion/theme: N/A
Photoshoot location: N/A
Meetup point: N/A
Reward: N/A

END OF OTAKUTHON SATURDAY

OTAKUTHON SUNDAY: 7 slots, 2 left

Sunday should be pretty relax. I expect 2 out of my 3 panels/workshops to be held on that day, though.

18. (confirmed!)
Time: 10:15 am
Duration: 15 mins
Group size: 3
Series/fashion/theme: Pocky box, Gloomy Bear, Ranma 1/2
Photoshoot location: Flagpoles outside PDC
Meetup point: Otakuthon Info Desk
Reward: Giant Pocky

19. (unconfirmed)
Time: 11:15 am
Duration: 45 mins max
Group size: ~5
Series/fashion/theme: Persona 4
Photoshoot location: PDC tinted windows, yellow hallway between PDC & ICH, ICH concrete staircase
Meetup point: Otakuthon Info Desk
Reward: Probably a Tim Hortons breakfast

Meal time: I'm eating lunch from 12 to 1 pm, probably while attending the Hetalia gathering.

20. (unconfirmed)
Time: 1:00 pm
Duration: 30 mins max
Group size: 1
Series/fashion/theme: Lenneth [Valkyrie Profile]
Photoshoot location: An old church in Old Montreal
Meetup point: ???
Reward: ???

Series gathering: I'm attending the Kingdom Hearts gathering at 1:30 pm.

21. (confirmed!)
Time: 2:00 pm
Duration: 30 mins
Group size: 3-4
Series/fashion/theme: Vampire Knight
Photoshoot location: Photoshoots Area / Photo Station / DROO's Cosplay Studio
Meetup point: Near Bag Check desk
Reward: Pocky

22. (Vacant)
Time: 3:15 pm
Duration: 45 mins max
Group size: N/A
Series/fashion/theme: N/A
Photoshoot location: N/A
Meetup point: N/A
Reward: N/A

23. (Vacant)
Time: 4:15 pm
Duration: 45 mins max
Group size: N/A
Series/fashion/theme: N/A
Photoshoot location: N/A
Meetup point: N/A
Reward: N/A

Panel: I'm hosting the Cosplay Photography panel in French with at 5 pm in Room 520cf.

24. (confirmed!)
Time: Delayed to 6:00 pm
Duration: Whatever
Group size: 1: Lu Xun
Series/fashion/theme: Dynasty Warriors 6 / Strike Force
Photoshoot location: Steam & Fire Fountain
Meetup point: At the 520cf panel room
Reward: Some Pocky

END OF OTAKUTHON SUNDAY

Please note: I submitted 3 entries for panels/workshops suggestions for Otaku:

- Organizing Cosplay Photoshoots (EN/FR)
- Cosplay Photography (FR)
- Papercraft (EN/FR)

So far no conflicts! But in case there are, you have 3 options:

1) Re-schedule the shoot to an empty slot.
2) Become a model for my panel.
3) Cancel the shoot altogether.

You choose.

WORLDCON PHOTOSHOOTS

I won't open fixed-time slots for Worldcon. Since I've never been to this convention before, I won't know the workflow of the events. Also, I'm only taking Friday off work; the con runs from Thursday to Monday, and these 2 days I'll be working.

Here's how we'll proceed:

- You tell me when (which day) you'll wear a costume, and when (at what time) you're free for a photoshoot.
- I mark your free time as an appointment on the time table, on a first-come-first-serve basis.
- We meet at your designated time at your designated meeting point, and we head to the photoshoot location to do the shoot.
- The shoot lasts 15-45 mins, like at Otakuthon.
- I can shoot many cosplayers in same time.
- At the end, you give me the pocky or snacks, and we part our own way.

Equipment: Depending on how many people will request me for private photoshoots, I'll either rent a dSLR (for lots of people) or use my own current point & shoot (for very few people). It's more worthwhile for me to rent a dSLR if there are a lot of cosplayers with outstanding costumes than just 1 or 2 with average ones.

And now, the slots/appointments (please use the same form as Otakuthon to make an appointment):

WORLDCON THURSDAY
- h:mm pm, Nobody

WORLDCON FRIDAY
- h:mm am, Nobody
- h:mm pm, Nobody

WORLDCON SATURDAY (Masquerade day?)
- h:mm am, , 1 person
- h:mm pm, , ??? people, Anima by `Wen-M

WORLDCON SUNDAY
- h:mm am, Nobody
- h:mm pm, Nobody

WORLDCON MONDAY
- h:mm pm, Nobody

Note: I won't have a dSLR on Thursday or Monday of the con.

FAQ & Form:

Click the links below to read the FAQ for AN. I'll use the same policies for Otakuthon.

FAQ Part 1: [link]
FAQ Part 2: [link]
FAQ Part 3: [link]
FAQ Part 4: [link]

Here's the "form", for those of you who want to book available slots or add/modify info:

dA/CosCom username: __________
I would like to: (Choose; default is to Reserve a Time Slot) Reserve a Time Slot|Add or Modify some Info on My Slot
Day: (Choose) FRI|SAT|SUN
Time: (Choose one from available slots in the master list above; default is the earliest slot available that day)
Duration: (Choose; default is 15 mins) 15|30|45 minutes (will actually vary with size of group and the time of series gatherings I want to attend)
Group size: (Choose; default is 1-5) 1-5|5-10|10-20|20+ cosplayers
Series (or fashion/theme): (Examples are Kingdom Hearts, Bleach, Final Fantasy universe, etc): __________
Photoshoot location: (Defaults are Area near Flagpoles by day and Interior of HIH by night) __________
Meetup point: (Defaults are Near 5th Floor Info Desk* by day and Bottom of Escalator Benches by night) __________
Reward: (Choose; default is Just a Thank You) Pocky|Cookies|Chips|Granola Bars|Just a Thank You (give nothing)
*: NOT the PDC Info Desk on the 2nd floor, which is handled by PDC staff and not Otakuthon people!

For WORLDCON:
- Mark the time you want, and choose the day among these 5: THU|FRI|SAT|SUN|MON
- State which character/series you or your group are doing
- "No" times: THU after 3 pm, SAT Masquerade Night, MON after 3 pm, all days between 12 am and 9 am

List of Assistants
If you would like to be one of my assistants, please tell me when you're available, and come help me at your indicated time if your name is here!

I don't have much gear to haul around, perhaps a reflector, some electrical wires and a couple of lamps. But I'll need people to hold them while I take my pictures.

OTAKUTHON FRIDAY:
- (None)

OTAKUTHON SATURDAY:
- (None)

OTAKUTHON SUNDAY:
- (None)

WORLDCON ANYDAY:
- (None)

Any help you can give is very much appreciated! If you help me for several shoots, I might reward you with a box of Pocky that the models will give me (if any).

List of Partners
Here are some people that you might see at my photoshoots and panels:



List of large series gatherings that I'll try to attend:
OTAKUTHON FRIDAY:
h:mm pm - Series, location

OTAKUTHON SATURDAY:
1:00 pm - Bleach, meet at bottom of escalators
2:00 pm - Tales games, shoot at Steam & Fire Fountain

OTAKUTHON SUNDAY:
12:00 pm - Axis Powers Hetalia, meet at bottom of escalators
1:30 pm - Kingdom Hearts, meet at bottom of escalators, shoot at Terrace or outside stairs

Master list on OtakuCom: [link]

Of course, my photoshoots with you are more important that these gatherings, so I'll try to stay as short as possible at those meets!

You have my cellphone number. If not, send my a Note before Friday 12 pm!! I won't have Internet access at all during the con.


[Update 1]
- Applied for the Cosplay Photography panel in French.
- OT slots left: FRI = 7, SAT = 7, SUN = 5.
- WC appointments so far: 0.

[Update 2]
- OT slots left: FRI = 7, SAT = 7, SUN = 4.
- WC appointments so far: 0.

[Update 3]
- OT slots left: FRI = 7, SAT = 6, SUN = 3.
- WC appointments so far: 0.

[Update 4]
- Papercraft workshop has been set to SAT at 5 pm. My co-host will have to solo it if the slot is final.
- OT slots left: FRI = 6, SAT = 6, SUN = 1-2.
- WC appointments so far: 0.

[Update 5]
- Camera reserved.
- Papercraft co-host has agreed to solo the workshop.
- OT slots left: FRI = 5, SAT = 6, SUN = 0-1.
- WC appointments so far: 1.

[Update 6]
- ~Elemental-Sight attends Otakuthon!
- Canceling hotel room request for 2 reasons: lack of money and laptop. Unless!! Someone has a laptop in their hotel room and a free spot, I'll join them and re-open the 3 late night slots.
- OT slots left: FRI = 4, SAT = 5, SUN = 0-1.
- WC appointments so far: 1-2.

[Update 7]
- Received panels schedule!
- OT slots left: FRI = 4, SAT = 5, SUN = 0-1.
- WC appointments so far: 1-2.

[Update 8]
- Convention schedule released: [link]
- OT slots left: FRI = 3, SAT = 4, SUN = 2.
- WC appointments so far: 1-2.


The actual journal entry - Back from MCP7! Photos should be up tonight.

[edit]
And the MCP7 pictures are up! Download in 2 parts:
[link]
[link]

Well! I'm back from 4 consecutive cosplay photoshoots.

1) June 20: Wasabi Mangas June 2009 Cosplay Photoshoot, organized by the daughter of a anime/manga shop in Laval. We walked for long distances along the Mille-Iles river, up to the old hydro barrage and back to the metro. Among the participants were and .

2) June 24: June 2009 Bleach Cosplay Photoshoot, hosted by . A small village north of Repentigny, with farmlands, woods and a river. We did our shoot on the riverside. Among those present were and .

3) June 28: Montreal Cosplay Photoshoot 7, the 2009 Montreal Cosplay Picnic & Photoshoot, organized by me! We went to Jean-Drapeau park, staying on St. Helen's island near the base of the Biosphere. About 25 people were present at the shoot, among which were , , and , which was her first time. We later moved to Chinatown and the steam & fire fountain, where we did the last parts of our shoot with .

4) July 1: Canada Day 2009 Cosplay Photoshoot, 6 people. We entirely did our photoshoot in Chinatown, on Canada Day, in the "Chinese Temple" square and stage, with lots of tourists around. We ate at a resto shortly after everyone arrived, then began the shoot at sunset. Among those present were and . We later joined & company at L2, where they were playing PSP multiplayer.

I have at least one one upcoming shoot this month, not hosted by me. Keep watching my gallery for the latest in cosplay photos!

[edit2]
5) July 4: July 2009 Hetalia Cosplay Photoshoot, organized by ! Participants were mainly her and . and later decided to join with them. The shoot was done at the Olympic Park, around the Stadium. It was overcast and drizzly at times, and some flags didn't flap properly in the wind. We later went to Chinatown, then to the steam & fire fountain.

On a last note, I just completed 5 cosplay photoshoots in 15 days!

Latest Quizzes/Memes

None.


Ten Amazing Artists:

[List to be updated]

My Friends:

[List to be updated]

Clubs I joined:


Clubs I might join:



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