Colossalcon always felt like a wild cosphotography fantasy to me for years AND YEARS. Each time it would come and go, I’d stare in wonder and envy at these photographs taken in a dusky golden field with soft grasses and long unobtrusive horizons dotted with trees. It looked like everything I ever sought in my own location shoots, but wrapped up in a convention weekend with fun, waterparks, and lots of partying. Well, dang it, I was tired of pining!

It was finally time to make that happen for myself! So I hopped a plane to Ohio from Boston and ended up having the absolute time of my life. Oh, and I def used it as an excuse to party hard because my birthday was earlier that week. Treat yo self. (Spoiler: I did. It was worth it)

I went easy on bookings this time around (though anything feels easy compared to my 25 shoot weekend at Katsucon, oops) and went with the intention to place emphasis on FUN rather than WORK. When you’ve been going to cons as long as I have for JUST work (9 years…) it’s a hard thing to rewire my brain to do. I could have booked more but I told myself I wanted to give con life a try… and boy did it not disappoint.

The rooming situation was rad. I shared a suite with a group of wonderful, talented, supportive girls who mostly all Colossalcon veterans and showed me the ropes…plus they knew how to throw a rad room party to boot. Rooming with them was a dream! It’s always nice when your con rooming situations are secure and peaceful so you can focus on having fun.

I was the first to arrive on Wednesday night at the Kalahari in our giant suite, and the first thing I did after a gross flight was dunk myself in the jacuzzi tub in the bathroom. We’re off to a good start. I wish I had more to tell you but that was essentially it before I plotzed into bed. To be honest I was feeling pretty anxious about Colossalcon; it’s been four years since I’ve been to a new con and I’ve become so used to knowing the ropes that approaching a new landscape felt intimidating. Would I do it justice? What if it rains (spoiler: it really rained) or there arent a lot of spots to shoot? All I’ve seen in the past were the fields and the pool–but Thursday morning I woke up and scouted around to prep myself for the weekend, and the more I saw, the more jazzed I became. There were definitely a lot of fun, unique framing opportunities I could use to make the images my own. Don’t get me wrong. There are still plenty of Ye Olde Colossalcon Field photos, because I didn’t come all the way out here to not do that. But other than that, I’m quite happy with the weekend’s shots!!

ON TOP OF ALL THAT, I COSPLAYED MY BEST BOY WITH SOME RAD PEOPLE!! I am still GLOWING from this and it happened a WHOLE WEEK ago…I can’t believe I got to photograph Final Fantasy XII and cosplay at golden hour in the Colossalcon field. If you know me at all you know how much I love FFXII and this! was! a! dream! come! TRUE!!! My heart is so full!!!! It was such a magical time just chilling in this field surrounded by cosplayers and friends, shooting and posing and goofing off. It was so special to me! 

I roomed with new friends, I made some newer friends, I saw some old OLD friends from high school who I cherish so deeply. At night, I partied hard, laughed a lot, sang and danced, and did it all over again for three more days. I finally understand what a post-con depression is…I kind of wish I could just live at Colossalcon, and I know I share that sentiment with others. Y’all, I am definitely coming back. And you’ll see me at Colossal East too, with a Kalahari cup in one hand and a camera in the other.

For now, here are some of my personal favorite “photographer’s choice” images from the con which are just a handful out of my private bookings, plus one or two for-fun shots because I can’t resist photographing FFXII at sunset… Catch me next at Otakon, booking is now OPEN! ONTO THE PHOTOS!

First up is  _sammills on IG as Bakugou! She had such a striking profile and embodied him so well. She loves him a LOT and it showed. Shoot, she even made me a Bakugou stan by the end of it…

I absolutely adore this expression itsladylillie (IG) was serving me in this dramatic, rainy lighting. This shoot was during the thunderstorm, but we made it work with a trusty umbrella and this spot right next to the lobby awning!

Say hello to Colossalcon’s 1st place Journeyman winner, Balthier! Audrey/Ligerscout (IG) slaved over this beautiful cosplay and I’m so STOKED I got to photograph them in it and hang out with them all weekend doing FFXII shenanigans. SO HANDSOME. We snapped these in-between my private shoots because I couldn’t resist shoving them in those shadows!

I was a bit starstruck when Mica Burton booked with me! She wanted magic hour field photos on Sunday, and I was Big Anxious because beforehand a GIANT angry cloud loomed over us. But it cleared and we got this gorgeous lighting fit for her FFXIV cosplay! She was a dream to work with! Mica hmu when y’all do that sexie Wizard of Oz worbla group LOL #theresnoplacelikecolossalcon

I. am. so. glad. I got to WORK WITH THIS ANGEL!  Mimikobaker and I have been twitter mutuals for ages and getting to photograph her at Colossal was such a highlight. She looks so beautiful in the honeysuckle!

Remember that fiery Bakugou from earlier? Here’s sammills again in another BNHA cosplay! She has this amazing ability to transform.

Bethany of bep.cosplays (IG) serving real sultriness for the camera in her Shuten Douji cosplay! I was super stoked to finally work with her and would love to again! We had fun exploring new ways to frame the poolside perimeter.

How gorgeous radiant lovely beautiful is wannabedeli as her girl Aera?! She is such an angel!!! I guess also literally because Aera dies!! WHY!!! Now I’m sad. But I loved this spot to have a nice formal fullbody of her looking regal and lovely.

When jjpyropi chose me to photograph her legendary never-done-before full Akatsuki group, I was so down. When a lightning storm happened during it, I was…still, somehow, so down. We made it work! Look at them! They’re epic!!!

Meltingmirror serving me sexy demon boy looks *fans self* HELLO??? she was rad to finally work with. I’d seen her work over the years and when she hit me up I was stoked!!!

Commiaownist in his huge Monster Hunter build was a serious treat to photograph during golden hour on Friday. The lighting was so good to us and I had a blast capturing all these incredible details he poured his skill and time into. Just look at that armor weathering and the textures!! AHHHH!

Jackerufu (IG) is so ethereal in his Jaeha cosplay from Yona Valley of the Dawn. I was so happy to finally meet him and hang out - his full group was a labor of love and I was honored to be one of the few to capture it!

How. fricken. cute. is. CHRYSA. AS. PENELO!!!! Im dying. Chrysa (CautiousAmber) is a talented cosplayer and artist - she often is cranking out rad enamel pin ideas for all sorts of fandoms so check her out! We shot this spontaneously for fun while goofing off in FFXII and I’m glad I got to snap a little leisure shot in between bookings. She embodies her so well!

Ravracos split her shoot time with Mimikobaker - even though they weren’t cosplaying from the same series, I don’t mind if two friends split the shoot cost together to still get some rad photos for a fraction of the cost. Her armor and prop work were gorgeous.

Damn, what a weekend! Thanks for stopping by and go give these folks a follow. Again, I’m booking for Otakon now! Grab me while you can!