Photoshoots! Part One

So. One my new years resolutions was to do more with the section of this blog that wasn't just me making cosplays for myself. Well, here it is! The first thing I'm going to do is talk about photoshoots. This post is going to be an intro to photoshoots--photoshoots basically starting off as a cosplayer with no money and no one to photograph you. (FYI: You are going to have to bare with me through this post as I couldn't find my tripod and took these photos with no intention to put them on this blog and changed my mind at the last second by telling myself, "Why not? You haven't posted anything in a while--you might as well." When I originally put gray makeup all over my face it was just to amuse myself and my friends--not the internet as well. Yeah.)

PHOTOSHOOTS LEVEL ONE:
These can be described as you finishing a piece of your cosplay, or the wig came in, etc. and you instantly want to share it with everyone so you throw it on not caring what anything around you (or even you yourself) looks like and quickly take a photo and upload it to your computer. For examples of these types of "photoshoots" look at most of my previous blog posts.

PHOTOSHOOTS LEVEL TWO:
These are also just selfies but they differ from level one because this time, you are showing your complete costume to the world (not just a part you have acquired). An example of these photoshoots would be the post before this one titled, "The Underwater Hemisphere." In it Danni is using level two photoshoot techniques.

PHOTOSHOOTS LEVEL THREE:
These photos are the photos taken of you by random people you meet at a convention. You're in character in your complete costume, but the setting isn't right as there are tons of other characters from other fandoms swarming around you. (Also, the badges... and the carpeting...) If you click on the "About Me" tab above, you will see a picture of me cosplaying as Rei Ayanami at Anime Boston 2013 in a level three photoshoot.

PHOTOSHOOTS LEVEL FOUR:

Okay. Here's where I may differ from the obvious. To create a level four photoshoot, you want to have your own back drop (so that your audience isn't focused on how messy your room is instead of you). If you draped a solid-colored sheet or blanket over a door, wall, railing, etc., you will automatically find that your photos look more professional. If you use a tripod and set your camera on a timer, you can even make it look as if you had your photo taken. Although I couldn't find my tripod, here are some photos of me with a solid background and I hope that you all can see how much of a difference it makes to my photos. (Also, don't mind the fact that every piece of dust in the world appears to be on my mirror right now. *takes out cleaning supplies*)















As opposed to this. Which can probably be considered a level 0.5 photoshoot. The backdrop really does make a difference. Well, I hope this post helps you improve your cosplay photos a little but if it didn't, there are more photoshoot levels coming soon! (Yay!) And with that, MadDog out!










PS--I'm not working specifically on a Homestuck cosplay at this time--I was just goofing off with makeup that I had, a random wig that I had, and some horns that I had previously made for my own amusement. However, if you all want to see a Homestuck cosplay, I can make that happen (they seem pretty simple to make). Hey, suggestions in general, shoot me an email at wickedcosplay@yahoo.com or leave a comment below. Thanks!

The Underwater Hemisphere

Hello everyone! I know it's been a while but unfortunately this is not a progress post. Today I just wanted to share something that I'm going to be doing from now on. My best friends and I (there are five of us total) have decided to make an official cosplay group called: The Underwater Hemisphere. We have a lot of cosplay goals and we thought it would be fun if we had some way of sharing our odd creations with everybody. That's about all. You can check us out by Clicking Here. Hope you'll enjoy! MadDog out!

Seras Victoria (aka Policegirl XD) Part One: Shirt

Well, I told you I'd have a Seras post today and here it is! I've worked on her shirt a lot but I haven't quite finished it. I still need to hem the sleeves to the right length, hem the bottom, alter the collar, and add all the buttons, patches, etc. Anyways, here are some pictures. MadDog out!

Happy New Year! ...and MORE COSPLAY!!!

So I dunno about you, but my new year started a few minutes ago. Just wanted to wish you all a happy new year!

POST UPDATE (1:12 PM):
So I was going to post all of this stuff when I originally posted... but then I was tired and that didn't happen. Well, here are all of the other things that I wanted to say:
I hope your cosplay of 2013 was everything you wanted it to be and if not you have some wicked resolutions. Even if it was I hope you all have some goals and things (I certainly have a list).

• This year I have resolved to finish my Alois and Seras cosplays which have been missing out in progress making due to the fact that I lost cosplay partners and events for both of them due to busyness this past year. (Get all that?) 
• I also resolve to make more helpful posts for beginner cosplayers like wig tutorials and boot covers (because I just realized that I have totally been neglecting that part of this blog). 
• I also want to start a project that is going to be very difficult. I was going to wait on telling you all this because this project in particular is going to be ridiculously out of my comfort zone, but I'm going to attempt making a cosplay for Hajime's Gatchaman form from Gatchaman Crowds. To those of you who have a clue as to what I'm talking about may instantaneously realize why this cosplay is going to be insanely difficult for me (maybe not for someone else but it's me we are talking about). To put it in simple terms, I want to make light up robot armor.  I don't plan on starting this project until the summer but hey, it's out there in the world. Look forward to it. It may be a complete success or a complete failure but it should be fun either way. Stick around.

Just a few more things I would like to say. I got this wonderful thing called Worbla Thermoplastic as a Christmas gift. (It's expensive but I know that you can find it on places like yayahan.com.) I have never used it before but it's what experienced cosplayers use for making armor. It's something I've wanted to try using for a while and I'm excited to say I now can. I will hopefully be using it for the first time in my Zelda cosplay and then again in my Hajime cosplay. (You can see it to your right--like my pjs?) Also, I just bought some beautiful fabric for my Levi jacket. I know that a lot of cosplayers have been using leather or leather-like material for their Attack on Titan jackets but I won't be. I'll be using a material that is thick and rough and militaristic. (I think that it's pretty wicked.)












And lastly, hopefully I'll have a new Seras post up today because I worked on her shirt for hours yesterday. That's about it. I'm looking forward to this year and I hope you are as well. There should be some great cosplays in store for us all. MadDog out!

Levi Boots

Hello everyone! Just wanted to post my new Levi boots! I was given them as a gift for Christmas. I asked for these a long time ago (and have no recollection of the cost) but I do know that they are from Forever 21 (as I received them in a Forever 21 box). Anyways, check them out! I'm probably going to try and alter them to make them look a little more like the boots in Attack on Titan but that will more than likely be some time from now. Sorry it's just a quick update but I hope you enjoyed. MadDog out!

Homestuck Troll Horns

Well. You should've known that this was coming. Anyway this is how I make Homestuck horns. It's really pretty simple. I Just use Model Magic, some tinfoil, a headband, assorted paints, and some hot glue.

STEP ONE:
Roll a piece of tinfoil up into a really thin cylinder.













STEP TWO: Cover it model magic shaping it so that it's a larger cylinder. (Having the tinfoil inside creates a much sturdier horn that can support itself and is therefore less likely to break.)











STEP THREE:
Shape it a little more to look like a specific horn. Then just let it just sit for a day drying.











STEP FOUR:
When it's done drying, paint it and let it dry.













STEP FIVE:
Hot glue to a headband.

STEP SIX:
Wear. Kk.

So it's really simple I just felt like sharing some of the horns I just made for myself and for my friends. (I made one pair and suddenly I just made like ten other pairs. It just happended.) Hope you liked this post. MadDog out!

Homestuck Troll Nails

I'm feeling the holiday spirit today, so naturally, I've decided to make a post on how to create the Homestuck troll nails look. Yeah. If you want to re-create this look, you are going to need yellow, orange, red, and clear nail polish. (Or you can be a moron like me and use orange acrylic paint. Facepalm.) You will also need some tape. Well, let's get started already.









STEP ONE:
Make sure your nails are nice and clean. Then, put a full base coat of yellow nail polish on your nails.









 


STEP TWO:
After your nails are COMPLETELY DRY, tape the top third of your nail over. Then paint orange nail polish over the bottom part. When you are done with this, take the tape off. (If you are like and jumped the gun putting the tape on before they were dry, after you take the tape off, you can always retouch the yellow.)

















































STEP THREE:
Make sure your nails are dry and then tape the top two-thirds with tape. Then paint over the bottom part with red nail polish. Once done, remove the tape.








































STEP FOUR:
Again, when your nails are dry, add the top coat of clear nail polish.

STEP FIVE:
When dry, throw on some horns (hhmmmm... maybe I'll make a horn tutorial post) and sit there feeling great. (Cause you know what, you are great. The end.)

Well, I hope that you at least somewhat enjoyed this post. (If you did, make sure to check out my tutorial on Medusa Nails as well.) You can always use this for your actual Homestuck cosplays. (Tip: to make this more accurate, sharpen your nails to a point.) If you like these random nail tutorials, let me know and I'll make more. I apologize for not posting these past few weeks and I also apologize because I've made no progress on my actual cosplays. When I last posted I truly thought that my Seras cosplay (and my Alois cosplay for that matter) would be finished soon however things just decided to get busy on me. Winter break is coming though so I'm hoping that you'll see a whole lot of progress then. Wish me luck. MadDog out!