I’ll be honest and say that I don’t necessarily have many close people around me. Nor do I have a huge portfolio that would make people interested to pose for me. This means I’m kinda just alone when it comes to photography. Yet, I want To experiment with portrait photography to learn and make myself a portfolio. I can’t really take pictures of myself either considering I plan on using an old 1970’s film camera when it comes to portrait. Though, I do have a digital one with remote control functions, but that one won’t be nearly as immersive. What are your suggestions?
Another vote for cosplay from me. You have a giant pool of models with very different levels of skill, assuring you can find someone on “your level” that will be more then happy to do TFP shoots. You also have conventions as a great way of meeting these people and the whole community is very connected, so you can easily connect with new people who are friends/acquaintances of people you have shot with. The convetions are not great places to take pictures (even when they have a “photo area”), but they are a great way to get to know people to connect with.
And even if cosplays are a little “too much” for your taste, in my experience most cosplayers dont mind modelling for “normal portraits” once you have built a working relationship/friendship.
Just please make sure you dont exclusivly ask the ones with the most cleavage and have them pose in a way to show it off. Theres sadly a lot of those kinds of photographer in the community (also a lot of cosplayers talk, once you have that reputation people will avoid you).