T5W#205-Top 5 Photoshoots I Try to Attend at Any Convention

An attack plan is always a must when it comes to attending a convention.  Me personally, three things are most important: hanging out with friends, going to the Dealers Room…and photoshoots, lots of photoshoots.  Each time I come home from a convention, I usually have a good couple thousand (yes thousand) photos from the weekend and most of those come from the half dozen or so photoshoots I attend.  I could explain the method to my madness of so many photos but that’s not the reason for this weeks Top 5.  In looking at some of the recently announced photoshoot gathering events for Otakon, I noticed that I tend to gravitate towards and attend the same photoshoots at every convention, I make as much time for them as I do a screening or panel.  And I think I’ve narrowed down five of those…well really there are three primary ones in particular but I could come up with 5 for the sake of this feature anyway.  So here we go, as part of my “Countdown to Otakon 2019”, I present my Top 5 Photoshoots I Try to Attend at Any Convention.

#5-My Hero Academia

Anime’s biggest juggernaut continues to thrive in the cosplay community and the more new characters and costumes you see on the show, the greater the chance you’ll see them at a convention.  Hero Aca’s photoshoots can rival a combined DC and Marvel photoshoot in their attendance.  Dozens of cosplayers are aching at the chance to show off their genderbent Deku or Bakugo or the cutest Tsuyu or Uraraka.  There are even a few All Mights and older heroes like Mt. Lady and Midnight.  The only reason im putting this at the bottom of the list is because I make time for most Hero Aca shoots but it’s still new to the community, kind of like our next entry but ive been to more of Pick #4 than My Hero Academia, that could always change though, I actually don’t keep score.

#4-Overwatch

Though still relatively young compared to most titles on this list, Overwatch can still draw in one helluva crowd for an official photoshoot.  At Katsucon 2018, the ground was so large that the whole of the fountain area had to be utilized to accommodate both photographers and cosplayers.  Everyone wants to show off their own official or personal skin for their favorite characters like Tracer, D.va or Mercy.  Someone wants to attempt a heavy duty build of Reinhardt or Pharah.  Some individuals characters need to have multiple groups just to get through them all.  It’s insane just how crazy Overwatch photoshoots can get and it is glorious.

#3-Disney Universe

A long time ago, someone saw my collection of Otakon photos and seemed ignorant of the fact that just because it’s an Anime convention, that means all of the cosplay is Anime exclusive.  NOT TRUE!!!  Doctor Who, Game of Thrones, Steven Universe, you name it, it’s there (Hell there was a Les Miserables photoshoot at Otakon 2013 and it was great).  But the one character every girl (or sometimes guy) wants to be outside of Sailor Moon is a Disney Princess.  The Disney Universe photoshoots are a marvel (no pun intended) not just because of the craft everyone puts into their cosplays but how deep everyone digs into the Disney play box.  Naturally you have your Princesses like Aurora, Cinderella, Mulan and Elsa to name a few.  But then you also have Prince Eric and Phillip, Tarzan, and even some newly aquired characters like Indiana Jones (Lucasfilm) and the occasional Marvel hero (though they usually have their own separate shoot.  Point is, come to a Disney Universe not just for the pretty cosplays but for the excellent look back at over a century of imagination on display.

#2-Fate/Stay Night

If you ever wondered just how enormous the multiverse of Fate/Stay Night (or Type Moon) in general is, look no further than a photoshoot event.  Katsucon 2019 single handidly delivered the biggest one yet with literally HUNDREDS of cosplayers from more than 10 plus titles in the Fate franchise.  Ive been going to Fate/Stay photoshoots since Otakon 2015 and between there and Katsucon, theyre usually run by the same pair of event runners and they often prove why their continually chosen as hosts.  Beyond that, everyones got their favorite Saber, various servant, drop dead gorgeous Rin Tohsaka that they’ve been working tirelessly on bringing to life and they want to be seen with hundreds of peers who appreciate this multiverse far more than I do.  BTW that same 2019 Katsucon Photoshoot?  Normally most photo events begin with a mass pic of all the gathered cosplayers…they had to break it down into 4 separate photos just so everyone could get into at least one group photo…damn.

#1-Sailor Moon

This is never in question, this is always a priority.  Sailor Moon photoshoot events are some of the happiest places you’ll ever visit at a Convention.  There’s so much joy and welcoming vibes and everyone is included no matter the level of craft.  If you’re into Sailor Moon, you will be welcome with open arms and urged to join in the fun with every group set.  Little tykes dressed as Chibi Moon always steal the show and most event hosts are pros at handling large crowds and injecting them with tons of energy (Rizuki looking right at you Senshi Commander).  Sailor Moon is the one photoshoot I have attended since my first Otakon and ive seen so much amazing cosplay and displays of world peace at every one.  The Katsucon 2015, 2018 and 2019 (both of them) will always stand out when it comes to exemplifying their pure magic.  And you better believe this is one photoshoot tradition not dying out anytime soon.