+

[Elemental]

Firstly: This is not a 'I look like :BLANK: who should I cosplay as' thread. :P

Because I'm getting rather bad at this, and because I'm quite out of the 'current' loop, I have come to you all for help.

I'm female and a photographer- I carry my gear for essentially an entire con, and it normally consists of a shoulder bag, a side bag, and maybe something on a belt. I really like cosplaying, but it's getting harder and harder to do in costume, and so I need some new suggestions:

I need a costume, hopefully female (Binding is possible, but sucks for an entire weekend)
It needs to have pants or capris, and normal shoes or boots. Open vests/shirts or costumes with detailing down the front are no good (the shoulder straps normally go across my chest). Short wigs are fine, but long hair's a no go (camera straps again) and it needs to be not seventeen layers of shiny vinyl or spandex. (Sweating to death at con sucks). I've shot con as Tseng from the Turks for a number of years, and it's passible, but the jacket can be a hassle, as can be the heat. I have several Prince of Tennis outfits, and they're great standby's, but I'm looking for something new.

(As an example, the last two costumes I did were Fuu from KH2 and Zuko from Avatar. Fuu's shoes killed me, as did the bare knees because I kneel a LOT at con. Zuko was good but the chest binding killed my back by Saturday and the closures on the front kept opening/ripping off due to camera straps.)
Sadly, both costumes were supposed to be 'perfect' photi-ing outfits, and neither have worked out so far.

I'm fine with obscure, though being recognized is nice. I'm up for any difficulty level (I'm hoping I'll like several suggestions and can make them all) and any source- Video Game, Anime, Live Action area all good.

My gallery for the 'I look like this" part is here.

Any and ALL help is appreciated folks! I have, at current, ONE upcoming photoable costume (Slotted for MAY) so having some fresh input would be awesome.

((I have hit the 'dress like an anime photographer' threads, and really, nothing is female/cosplayable/recognizable/comfortable to work with, and I honestly don't mind if my cameras are obvious. It helps the whole 'me take your photo' part. XD ))

[nadesico81]

Perhaps you can do a Mithrill Cosplay from Full Metal Painc. The Mithril Uniform is comfortable and durable. It should hold up to the wear and tear of camera equipment. Melissa Mao could work for you and if you need a wig it would be very short.

I have seen many photographers carry there equpiment in a small rolling lugage. It makes it easyer and it can saves your back from hurting. Perhaps that could be a option instead of a camera bag?

[Kiarame]

Not strictly manga or anime. But the RPG (actually there is also an anime too) Ragnarok has some outfits that are useable. Go as a merchant and you will have every excuse to have hip bags and shoulder bags and everything else....just dont let people try to buy your camera gear. People always know the ragnarok outfits yet, not many dress in them.

[Kiarame]

Whoops, just read that it needs pants...in that case, the look at some of the other ragnarok outfits...blacksmiths have pants, theifs too (^0^)

[Mangochutney]

Maggie of the Paper Sisters from 'Read Or Die' might suit you. She doesn't get much cosplay love, alas. Here's some reference pictures of her combat outfit:

Full length
Lotsa screencaps
A fellow cosplayer's take on her

[Technowraith]

Red XIII and Cait Sith from Final Fantasy 7 are pretty off the wall characters to try. Red XIII, however, might be a bit of a challenge, because you might roast in all that red fur in the summertime. Cait Sith shouldn't be too hard, however.

[Elemental]

Much thanks for the suggestions so far. ^_^ Especially the ROD option- that's noticeable and do-able, and I like her hair. XD

nadesico81: I don't use a rolling cart because I tend to change lenses and shoot a varity of angles/vantages when I cover cons. Because of that, having my gear close at hand (my sling back gives me near-instant access) and not worrying about losing it (I'm forgetful, it's expensive) is best, and so on my back it tends to stay.
(Which is fine and dandy, unless I try to be a guy and bind my chest. THEN I get massive back spasms. XD)

[Rayonea]

Perhaps...

Ada Wong (the Resident Evil 2 Version) - You may also want to look at RE1 Jill (but the armour might be a problem).
Ouran Host Club - The uniforms especially, but some of the costumes they wear might work too.

That's all I can think of right now that fit into the "recognizable" category. (I think I need to read less obscure stuff for a while...) If I think of any more though, I'll add them. ^_^

[AVAAntares]

Riza Hawkeye's sniper outfit from Fullmetal Alchemist. Pants, short hair, and a short-sleeved, undecorated shirt. It's not too warm, and it works GREAT with shoulder straps -- I carry my rifle around all day on a diagonal strap, and sometimes a laptop bag on my other shoulder. I've carried a small camera case on the back of my belt. It's also super-recognizable, and you don't need to bind for it, either. ^_^

The manga version has a black shirt; the anime has a brown one. Here's my version, which is based on the Series 2 model:

http://members.cosplay.com/costume/76717/

[vampirate]

Utena's non-transformed movie uniform. The one on the right here, and you can find lots more pictures at ohtori.nu: http://www.ohtori.nu/gallery/moviedvd/Sketch01.jpg

Sailor Uranus's school uniform: http://www.geocities.com/zigph/

Fuu in her Fahren outfit. There's some detail, but nothing too elaborate:
http://rallihir.rubberslug.com/galle...p?ItemID=32974
http://home.earthlink.net/~skorp/Fuu9.html

And Maya from Evangelion: http://www.absoluteanime.com/eva/maya.htm

That's all I've got for now.

[MysCy]

The first thing that comes to mind is Kagome from InuYasha (what with that massive bag of hers). Depending on how tall you are you could always do a chibi!Chrono from Chrno Crusade cosplay (where he has the case/bag strapped to his back full of Rosette's weaponry. They show it in the first episode if you don't know the series.)

Yeah most of what I can come up with would include some way to hide the bags you have by making something to go around them or temporarily covering them with a different fabric of some kind, I'm not sure if thats what you were looking for but if it is then I have a few more suggestions.

[corpsebride1994]

Is any area good. HAve you ever hear of "Invader ZIm" why don't you try the human version of the charater, TAk. She wears a backpack (called a Pak), She has a short hair

http://members.aol.com/MillwardWebDsgn/Zim/chip_tak.gif

The only thing is she wears boots.