A year of conventions
From March, 2024 to February, 2025, I ran a photo booth at 6 separate conventions and shows. Well, it started as a simple photo booth. Two small lights on stands, small umbrellas, and a simple backdrop I grabbed last minute. But after my first show at Kawaii Kon 2024, I knew that I was holding back. I went home after the grueling 30+ hours of working and organized my thoughts. This resulted in the simple photo booth turning into a full fledge photo studio experience. I didn’t just want to take a simple, well exposed photo. I wanted everyone, every single cosplayer, to experience what a real photo studio experience was like. With a massive, seamless backdrop, larger lights and modifiers, and countless hours of research and practice, I feel that is what I created. I took over 20 thousand photos of attendees at conventions in this time, released over 6 thousand edited photos across a dozen or more galleries, and completely evolved my working knowledge and experience.
Kawaii Kon told me I needed more light. The Hawaii Tattoo Expo told me to experiment more. Comic Con Honolulu and Amazing Comic Con told me I could push my lighting and experimentation even further. PopCon told me that the addition of something as simple as a little budget fog machine could result in photos that left guests speechless. I went from carrying two Godox TT600 speedlights (and a ton of rechargeable batteries) and a small Lowepro Tahoe backpack to 4 studio lights from Godox in a Pelican 1650, 5 light stands and C stands in a Pelican V800, and a dual camera and 7 professional lens kit in a gorgeous Nanuk 935 case. While all very fancy and pretty and oh so impressive, it doesn’t really matter. It looks nice for clients, and that’s great. But what really changed the most, was me.
I went from imagining photos in my head, to taking photos that went beyond those expectations. My perception of what was possible by someone like me was entirely altered and for the better. I made friends that I will always treasure, experiences I will never forget, and knowledge that is only the beginning of this experience. In 2025, I’m traveling all over the United States of America to every convention that will have me and has anything close to a budget for a photographer. This is a huge step for me as putting myself out like this is, simply put, terrifying. I don’t like traveling by planes, and I don’t like being away from my family for very long. But I think it’s worth it. I think this photo studio experience is worth something to people. I think it’s worth more than zero, at least. Which brings me to my current situation, and that’s sitting on my last piece of furniture as I count the 11 days down until I leave my current home of Honolulu, Hawaii and land in Baltimore, Maryland for the next 4 years, at least.
I’m coming off of yet another recent rejection from a show. You have to be used to rejection, as photography is simply not valued the way we photographers would like it to be. Do we over estimate our importance, or is everyone else simply under appreciating it? It’s hard to say and I don’t care to answer that today. I have a show tomorrow, a smaller mini K-Pop convention held locally in Honolulu. It’s my last show in Hawaii, and my second to last event here before I leave. On the 23rd, three days before I fly out, I’m hosting a mini sessions day at Pauahi Street Photo Studio in Chinatown. Paul, the owner, was kind enough to really bend over backwards to accommodate me for such a last minute idea. I have a lot of work left to do here in Hawaii, and I’m optimistic that 2025 will be an amazing year.
Right now sucks, pretty hard if I’m honest. Tomorrow won’t though. It’s best to not wallow in the self pity, to dwell on the what ifs of it all, and instead focus on adapting to your situation and moving forward when possible. I’m reworking the way I approach conventions, and rethinking my overall strategy going forward until I find the results I’m seeking. To quote my brothers favorite saying, “This too shall pass”. I’ll use this blog more going forward in a more structured format, but tonight I just wanted to empty out these thoughts and feelings while they’re fresh. Until next time.