WHO AM I
Cosplay Photographer
Hi, my name is Stefan and I run a company called Hover Media Ltd, more commonly referred to as Hover Media Cosplay. I'm based near Newcastle Upon Tyne in North East England and operate throughout the UK.
My mission is to use my experience in commercial and event photography and make it accessible to the cosplay community. Photos I take at events are released via my website (check out the Events section).
MY INTERESTS
Anime
Sword Art Online
Steins Gate
How I got Reincarnated as a Slime
My Dress up Darling
Classroom of the Elite
Horimiya
Games
Final Fantasy VII series
Metal Gear Solid series
Halo series
Elder Scrolls series
Hobbies
Photography (obviously)
Judo (I teach this)
IT & Tech
WHAT I SHOOT
Photoshoots
Cons & Events
Meetups
Commercial
FAQ
I have been doing event photography for around 10 years. My intention was to start in Cosplay photography in 2020 (we all know what happened that year!) so I postponed until 2022. Stay tuned fresh portfolio in 2023.
I'm based in Newcastle upon Tyne in North East England. I'll travel anywhere in the UK for photography. I'm open to photoshoots and events abroad, get in touch if you would like to discuss this.
At events & cons, I'll shoot for free in most cases. Just come up to me and ask for a photo!
For a private photoshoots, it depends largely on your requirements and location, I always aim to make photoshoots practical financially, get in touch to discuss further.
For event organisers, I usually offer a flat day rate for my services. Check out more details on what I offer here
Images I take at events are released on my websites hovermediacosplay.com & hovermedia.co.uk.
I use an online gallery designed for photographers where photos are available to download in web sized resolution (ideal for sharing on social media) and also full resolution (great for printing and 4k backgrounds).
I also post online to social media, mostly Instagram @hovermediacosplay. If you spot an image where I have not tagged you, get in touch and let me know!
I'm almost all cases, digital copies of photos are free to download for those who are in the photos. If you spot yourself in a photo but can't download it, get in touch.
I have a online shop integrated with my gallery to allow you to purchase prints, posters, canvases and more, but you aren't obligated to purchase any of these.
All purchases have an approval process where I check to ensure the purchaser is in the actual photos. If they are not, I'll reject the purchase, or contact those in the photo to discuss if the purchase should go ahead.
I do not sell cosplay photos on stock media sites such as Shutterstock, Getty or Alarmy. If you spot any photos I have taken on these sites, please contact me so I can arrange for them to be removed.
I might sell photos to companies for commercial usage, such as event organisers, clothing brands and editorial companies. In these cases, I'll contact those in the photo beforehand to arrange a model release and any appropriate payment. I do not sell photos for commercial usage without prior permission of those in the photo.
It depends, some event organisers do hire me but I attend most events as an unpaid independent photographer.
Some event organisers provide free entry for press and photographers which I do apply for, the criteria for this varies between events. Event organisers still need my permission (and permission of those in the photograph) to use my images.
Events I attend unpaid are subsidised using other areas of income such as private photoshoots and my commercial drone business.
For events, I usually release photos roughly 1 week later. As long as you pre registered using the link I provided, you will receive an email the moment the photos are released.
For private photoshoots, it depends on your requirements. It is possible for same day editing if needed but more typically within 1 week.
Ok let's be honest, no one likes a watermark on their beautiful image!
The purpose of a watermark is mainly to protect to work of a photographer, and to advertise.
Watermarks are no longer an effective method to protect the work, they are trivial to remove with photo editing apps, even on mobile.
I rely on the trust and integrity of the cosplay community to fairly credit me in social media posts, through tagging and mentions, which serves the same purpose as a watermark.
In exchange for tagging and mentions, I engage with the post which benefits us both as a result.