[Two Years of Nikon DSLR Portraits, Outdoor Cosplay Photoshoot in the Lens]

I have been shooting portraits with a Nikon DSLR for nearly two years. Starting from June 2023 when I took out my D750, to now upgrading to the D850, I have shot many different types of themes during this period. The last post was the JK edition, and this time I have sorted out and released some of the long-buried cosplay photoshoots from my album.

I actually started out as a pure landscape guy before transitioning to portrait photography, and I found that these two types of photography share a wonderfully curious commonality in perspective. The habits formed while shooting landscapes make me particularly mindful of the relationship between composition and environment when shooting a cosplay photoshoot. I usually don't compose the frame in my mind and then go looking for a scene; instead, I walk to a place that feels right first, and then think about what kind of character, makeup, and costume this scene can accommodate. Precisely because of this habit, studio shoots account for a very small percentage of my work. In contrast, I thoroughly enjoy outdoor locations with greater operational freedom. Whether it's a damp industrial ruin or a path filled with blooming flowers at night, an outdoor scene always brings a magical chemical reaction to the photos, creating a wonderful outdoor portrait.

I've previously browsed through debates online about whether it's better to shoot grand views or close-ups. Personally, I feel that the two complement each other within a good photoshoot set—grand views establish the environment and mood, while close-ups freeze the gaze and details. That being said, I often lean toward grand views myself during a shoot. After all, having traveled thousands of miles carrying equipment to find a beloved scene, it always feels like a bit of a pity not to use a wide-angle lens to take in the entire large environment.

Looking through my albums from the past two years, I noticed a very interesting phenomenon: as I shoot more and more JK style, the proportion of Anime cosplay photoshoots that allow me to spend time pondering props and costumes is slowly decreasing. After realizing this, my upcoming shooting plans will have to shift the focus back toward main photoshoots a bit. After all, as a photographer, I always hope to maintain a sense of freshness across different themes.

The shooting techniques for this set of photoshoots are diverse: there are night shoots with blooming flowers using high-contrast nighttime lighting, forest portraits using towering trees and backlighting to create a woodland atmosphere, and wasteland-style frames using the structural lines under bridges and industrial smoke paired with water reflections. The dynamic range of the Nikon DSLR D850 is excellent, always leaving ample room for adjustments in Cosplay photography post-processing when handling these outdoor scenes with large lighting contrasts. The uncertainty of outdoor locations and the irreplicable nature of natural light and shadow are precisely the greatest charms of on-site shooting. If you enjoy this style of Anime cosplay and outdoor portrait sessions, feel free to reach out for a Chongqing photoshoot booking.