Indoor photoshoot locations?

[Hazuza]

(hsdjkag new forum layout wts)

So I'm starting to lean more towards a cosplay photog than a cosplayer nowadays... And I want to start setting up more shoots, with friends and maybe soon with forum acquaintances. oUo

I got this _EPIC flash so I can take _EPIC pictures indoors now. But I'm worried about where I could even use it, outside of cons. ono; Most malls won't let you even have a camera out, and I doubt there are many places where you can have a giant flash since you might be "harassing" people with it. I don't get around much, so I don't know many public indoor spaces that would let you use one...

But does anyone know any photoshoot locations they want to share? Indoors as in... Mostly indoors, doesn't matter how poor the lighting. Just not places like the skybridge in pioneer place (although any suggestions/brainstorming would be cool ono)

_{(I guess some obvious ones would be your house or school but...)}

[plus-one]

Hm.. That's a tough question..
Maybe somewhere like.. a library or a museum might let you..
I would suggest calling around and see how many places are even open to the idea.

That's not very helpful, I know, but it's all I got.. XD

[Trumby]

Depends on the type of shoot you want to do plus the type of anime/video game/whatever it is from.

Libraries, schools (universities as well), hotels, train stations, the courthouse. You never know what places will allow you to do what until you talk to them about it. The best thing to do is either call 'em up or just go down there and talk with security or someone in charge, tell them what you're wanting to do and see if they'll allow it.

[Felix]

Museums rarely allow flash (the excessive light can damage things like artwork), and american museums tend to be stingy about photography in general. You would probably be okay in OMSI or something, but if you do decide to have your photoshoot in a museum you and the cosplayers would have to pay to get in.

I don't think a library would be against photography, but if you're using a bright flash they might tell you to stop because that could be disruptive. You also have to remember that these are very public places and likely to be crowded, which might prevent you from getting the shots you want.

You could always do an evening/late-night photoshoot just to test out your flash unit. :/  It's dark so early that if you scheduled it soon it wouldn't go too late. It depends on the age of your cosplayers.

I know people have done photoshoots at the airport, and you'd probably be okay in a train station as well. I agree with everyone else, though; you'll want to confirm ahead of time.

[princessmoon]

Church came into my mind (depending on cosplay), but I have absolutely no idea on photography regulations inside churches.

[Hazuza]

Oh well x-x

I do have a list with contact info on a lot of places, if I'm going to bother using money/talking to people. Even non-commercial, most places will charge you for taking photos or using certain equipment, and that's usually $50+ a day. More public places charge by the hour for the same or more x-x ffff.
Churches... Well some are really lenient, as long as you go when there aren't people there. It's too bad I don't go to any, since it'll be harder to find one xD

_{... Oh, and maybe parking garages?}

 
As for train stations, where do you guys have in mind? Ono *doesn't know Portland at all*

[Felix]

You'd be fine in a parking garage, if that's the look you want. It's not the most attractive location, but it would fit for certain cosplays.

It might be better to find someone who wants to commission you before you worry about locations because what will work really depends on the character/series.

[fleur_fraise]

PARKING GARAGES WOULD BE COOL. I've seen awesome cosplay photos in parking garages and they looked really cool; I wanted to do a photoshoot in a parking garage at MEW but we never found a garage.

Cute little shops, like the ones in Seaside or some places in downtown Portland, would probably allow you to take a few pictures. Arcades could be cool too. Maybe hotel lobbies or colleges campuses would let you take some pictures?

[Hazuza]

I can think of quite a few series' for parking garages. I tried getting shots in them before with a lame point-and-shoot, which obviously failed. But with this flash maybe I can finally get something. oUo
That sucks that you didn't find one... But it's pretty hard to get good pics in one if you don't have the equipment, so don't be too let-down. Was there a parking garage at the Kumoricon in Vancouver? O-o Because that was really close to MEW.

Arcades are a good idea. With all the noise and flashing, I doubt anyone would even notice xD; I can even think of a few series that have scenes in them, but... Iunno.


@Felix- I guess I don't need anything soon, I'm just brainstorming some places for future reference. I was hoping to get some specific places (like addresses or someth) but I guess those'll be hard to find until I can do some scouting on my own. ono

[fleur_fraise]

The main reason why we didn't find a parking garage is because we didn't look very hard lol XD My camera's battery was dying.

[Felix]

it's pretty hard to get good pics in one if you don't have the equipment, so don't be too let-down.

I'd have to disagree. Sometimes the person who gets the best shots is the person with the cheapest camera. Photography is an art form. A person with all the most expensive equipment might still only get mediocre shots if they don't have artistic vision. I'm sure it makes it a little easier with things like indoor shots, but ultimately having the best equipment won't make you an excellent photographer, just as buying really expensive paints won't automatically make you a brilliant painter.

[Hazuza]

I'm well aware of that, but it's true in some cases. A parking garage is very poorly lit. If you have simple point-and-shoot where you can't adjust the aperture low enough, your photos will blur, in which case you would need a tripod or a lens with great image stabilization. If you want the photos to not be grainy, and/or you want well-lit ones, you would need more than a simple on-board flash, and you would likely need a diffuser if it wasn't a speedlight.

You need the right equipment for certain situations. To use your comparison, even if you have the talent, you'll have trouble being a great painter with just crayola watercolors and some printer paper.

[NARUNIK]

Green screen much?

[fleur_fraise]

Green screen much?

Green screens are a b*tch. Have you ever used one? Do you know how difficult it is to match lighting and focus and everything?

[NARUNIK]

Yeah. I use it my cousins house. He has gear so...Just adjust the lights you have, adjust camera modes, use techniques you learn through out the process. I was going to take my shirt off and do a BIG BOSS picture with a backround of a jungle and yeah.. It's kinda hard but then you get used to it.

[fleur_fraise]

Not everyone has a green screen readily available :/

[Hazuza]

I do, but I'd much rather go to actual places. I don't really like studio photography with plain walls ono;

[Hazuza]

Haha, that sounds cool. Maybe we could even set up a group thing sometime. :'D

[LtCommanderRichie]

If you're ever in Eugene, The University of Oregon campus is so dang artsy-fartsy that nobody bats an eyelash at people taking pictures. They just move around the photoshoot location and get on with their lives.

Plus, we have a really, really, really old cemetery on campus full of headstones with dates on them that are pre-1900, if you're cosplaying from something that involves death and the 19th century. A lot of the buildings are very Victorian in architecture and the place is simply gorgeous in sunlight no matter where you are.