Marielle Doyle

In order to generate ideas on how to structure my upcoming portfolio, I started off by asking ChatGPT two questions. Firstly…

“Can you tell me what a portfolio for a freelance artist in the cosplay industry might look like?”

Here was it’s response…

Certainly! A portfolio for a freelance artist in the cosplay industry should showcase the individual’s skills, creativity, and versatility. Here are some key elements to include in a cosplay artist’s portfolio:

1. Introduction:
   • Start with a brief introduction about yourself, including your name, background, and a statement about your passion for cosplay.
2. Portfolio Title:
   • Consider giving your portfolio a catchy and relevant title that reflects your style or niche within the cosplay industry.
3. Contact Information:
   • Include your professional contact information, such as an email address or social media handles, so potential clients can easily reach out to you.
4. Portfolio Sections:
   • Cosplay Designs: Showcase high-quality images of your original cosplay designs. Include a mix of different characters and genres to highlight your versatility.
   • Costume Construction: Display photos of the construction process, demonstrating your craftsmanship and attention to detail.
   • Makeup and Wig Styling: Include before-and-after photos to showcase your makeup and wig styling skills. Highlight any special techniques or transformations you excel at.
   • Photography: If you take your own photos, include a section dedicated to your photography skills. If not, credit the photographers you’ve collaborated with.
   • Collaborations: Feature any collaborations with photographers, fellow cosplayers, or brands. This can showcase your ability to work well with others and your versatility in different projects.
5. Detailed Descriptions:
   • For each cosplay project, provide brief but informative descriptions. Include details about the character, materials used, challenges faced, and any special techniques applied.
6. Progress Shots:
   • Share progress shots of your work to give potential clients insight into your creative process. This can build trust and demonstrate your commitment to quality.
7. Skills and Services:
   • Create a section outlining the specific skills and services you offer. This could include costume design, construction, makeup application, wig styling, and any additional services like event appearances or workshops.
8. Testimonials:
   • If you’ve received positive feedback or testimonials from clients or collaborators, include them in your portfolio. This adds credibility and can help potential clients feel more confident in hiring you.
9. Resume or Bio:
   • Include a brief resume or bio that highlights your relevant experience, achievements, and any notable awards or recognition you’ve received in the cosplay community.
10. Call to Action:

• Conclude your portfolio with a call to action, encouraging potential clients to reach out for collaborations, commissions, or any other business inquiries.

Remember to keep your portfolio visually appealing, easy to navigate, and regularly update it with your latest projects.

Wow… once again I am very impressed with ChatGPT’s capability to give advice so specific to my desired industry. I truly couldn’t have written it any better myself.

Though I was sure it would give similar results, here is the second question I asked it (for the sake of being thorough)…

“Can you give some ideas about what to put in a portfolio as a freelance artist in the cosplay industry?”

And here was it’s response…

Certainly! Creating a diverse and comprehensive portfolio is crucial for showcasing your skills and attracting potential clients as a freelance artist in the cosplay industry. Here are some specific ideas for content to include in your portfolio:

1. Character Designs:
   • Feature high-quality images of your original character designs. Include front, back, and side views to showcase the entire costume.
2. Costume Construction:
   • Document the step-by-step process of constructing a cosplay costume. Include images of pattern-making, fabric selection, cutting, sewing, and detailing.
3. Makeup Transformation:
   • Create a before-and-after series showcasing your makeup skills. Highlight your ability to transform into different characters through effective makeup application.
4. Wig Styling:
   • Display a variety of wig styling projects, demonstrating your expertise in creating accurate and visually stunning hairstyles for different characters.
5. Photography Showcase:
   • Share a portfolio of your cosplay photography work. Highlight your skills in composition, lighting, and post-processing. Include both solo and group shots.
6. Collaborations:
   • Showcase any collaborations with photographers, fellow cosplayers, or brands. Highlight your ability to work within a team and produce exceptional results.
7. Convention Appearances:
   • If you’ve attended conventions, include photos and highlights from your appearances. This can demonstrate your engagement with the cosplay community.
8. Props and Accessories:
   • Feature detailed images of any props or accessories you’ve created. Highlight your proficiency in working with various materials to achieve realistic and accurate results.
9. Special Techniques:
   • If you have mastered specific techniques (such as armor crafting, weathering, or special effects), create a section to showcase your skills. Explain the process and challenges overcome in each project.
10. Fan Art Cosplays:
    • If you’ve cosplayed popular characters from movies, games, or anime, include those in your portfolio. This can attract fans of those franchises and demonstrate your ability to capture the essence of well-known characters.
11. Commissions and Client Work:
    • If you’ve worked on commissioned projects, include them in your portfolio with client permission. Highlight your ability to bring a client’s vision to life.
12. Workshop or Tutorial Section:
    • Consider adding a section where you share tutorials, tips, or insights into your creative process. This can establish you as an authority in the cosplay community and attract those interested in learning from you.
13. Awards and Recognition:
    • If you’ve won awards or received recognition for your cosplay work, create a section to showcase these achievements. It adds credibility to your skills and experience.

Remember to provide concise yet informative captions or descriptions for each project, explaining the inspiration, challenges faced, and unique aspects of each cosplay. Regularly update your portfolio to reflect your latest and best work.

Now, I’m very glad that I asked the 2nd question because the results from this one were much more thorough. While the first question suggestion gave me a feel for how the website itself could be structured, the second really expounds on what should be included in “Portfolio Sections”. BRB, taking furious notes.

So many things that it suggested are things that I do personally believe would be very effective to include in my portfolio. It made me realize as well how good of an idea it would be to include makeup transformations as well as documented awards (of which I have two!).

AI is super cool in this way. It almost feels a little… lazy lol but it effectively gave me in two seconds what would have taken me probably 30 minutes to draft up myself, on top of giving me a handful of fresh ideas in a very coherent format. I will take some time soon to jot down some notes of what I have for each category and perhaps try to come up with anything it may have not suggested.

Okay, so I fiddled around with ChatGPT for a little while this evening and asked it some questions about my plans post-graduation. I got nervous typing in my first query because I wouldn’t guess that “freelance costume maker for the cosplay industry” is a common career aspiration and was worried that the results would turn out either sparse or strange. The AI’s response, though, was actually incredibly specific and knowledgable!

Here is a summary of the relevant information I gleaned of this session that is most relevant to curating a successful portfolio (as a freelancer)…

Portfolio Skills to Demonstrate:

1. Costume Design and Construction:
   • Showcase a portfolio of costumes you’ve designed and created. Include detailed photos, progress shots, and close-ups of intricate details.
2. Sewing and Fabrication Skills:
   • Highlight your proficiency in using sewing machines, hand-sewing techniques, and working with different fabrics. Provide examples of garments you’ve made.
3. Attention to Detail:
   • Present examples of meticulous detailing in your costumes. Close-up shots of well-executed accessories, embroidery, and fine finishes will impress potential clients.
4. Knowledge of Materials:
   • Demonstrate your understanding of various materials used in costume making. This could include foam, fabric, thermoplastics, and more. Explain how you choose materials based on the character design.
5. Time Management:
   • Discuss projects you’ve completed within deadlines. Show that you can efficiently manage your time to deliver quality work.
6. Communication and Collaboration:
   • Emphasize your ability to understand and incorporate client preferences. Showcase instances where you’ve collaborated with others, especially in group cosplay projects.

Artifacts to Showcase:

1. Portfolio:
   • Create a professional portfolio showcasing your best work. Include a variety of projects to demonstrate your versatility.
2. Detailed Documentation:
   • Include progress photos, sketches, and notes on your creative process. This not only highlights your skills but also provides insight into your creative journey.
3. Resume and Cover Letter:
   • Tailor your resume to emphasize relevant skills and experiences. Write a compelling cover letter expressing your passion for costume making and your understanding of the cosplay community.
4. Online Presence:
   • Establish an online presence on platforms like Instagram, Twitter, or a personal website. Share your work regularly, engage with the cosplay community, and build a following.

Resources to Help You Learn and Connect:

1. Cosplay Communities:
   • Join online communities and forums like Reddit’s r/cosplay or cosplay-specific Facebook groups. Engage in discussions, ask for feedback, and learn from experienced cosplayers.
2. Workshops and Conventions:
   • Attend cosplay workshops and conventions to learn from experts, network with fellow cosplayers, and gain exposure.
3. Online Courses:
   • Explore online platforms offering courses in costume design, sewing techniques, and material usage. Websites like Skillshare, Udemy, and YouTube have valuable resources.
4. Networking:
   • Connect with established cosplayers, costume makers, and industry professionals on social media platforms. Attend local events and meetups to build your network.
5. Internships or Apprenticeships:
   • Consider internships or apprenticeships with experienced costume makers to gain practical experience and mentorship.

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Okay so whew, that’s a lot of information! Most of it, upon having digested it a little more, seems accurate to my prior experience as a fledgling cosplay freelancer. I have no doubt that it is pulling from accurate sources here, given how specific and relatable the details are.

I like the noted separation of ideas here for this portfolio advice. When I consider my portfolio, usually I’m focused on wanting to showcase the costumes as a whole, aka I’m not really thinking about the individual skills they showcase. So organizing my portfolio not just by project but by skill I think would look most impressive. Maybe this could entail selecting a prominent fabrication skill to feature for each project? I really like the sound of that idea.

I’m also validated by its suggestion to include copious works-in-progress content or even before-and-after photos, as I truly think its the best way to demonstrate one’s skill with making costume pieces from scratch. I may have to dig in order to find some of this content for my costumes that are more dated, but I think it would be worth it.

Overall in this exercise, ChatGPT proved to be 1) insanely knowledgable and 2) quite inspiring. It voiced some much-needed structure into the ideas I had floating around in my head for how my portfolio will take shape.

I was compelled to ask it a few more questions along the lines of, “What are different streams of income available to freelancers in the cosplay industry” and “What are some good business practices for someone establishing themselves as an entrepreneur in the cosplay industry?”. Though these questions don’t pertain much to cultivating a portfolio, they also proved to provide valuable insight. It certainly might help spark my inspiration in the future to expand my cosplay endeavors in different directions.

Hello world! My name is Marielle, though “professionally” most folks would call me Elle, or Elle Enchanted Cosplay. At heart, I am a dreamer and enthusiast of all things fictional and fantastical. Books, video games, animation, puppetry- anything with an interesting story to tell. Though out in the world, I’m a self-made costume maker and wearer… I guess you’d call that cosplay!

I first dipped my toes into the world of cosplay when I was a teenager, and it clicked like no other artistic hobby I’d ever tried. The compound joy of learning to fabricate the look of your favorite characters from scratch and then giving yourself the freedom to become them (even if its just till the makeup wears off) sparked my soul fire, and I’ve dedicated myself to the craft ever since.

I’d like to consider myself experienced in my own right, which could partially be blamed on my obsessive nature. I’ve lost count of the amount of costumes I’ve made and conventions I’ve attended since starting this journey. While I’m no professional, I’d like to think that I have enough experience to back up a future career as a freelancer in the cosplay scene. What form this freelancing would take is the real question on my mind as I approach graduation…

Freelancing takes a different form for every artist, depending on the community they root themselves in. I’ve experimented with selling my skills in a few different ways over the years, though none have been successful enough for me to be satisfied (we’re talking both creatively and financially). My most recent endeavor (2019-2023) was advertising myself as a wig stylist for-hire to the larger cosplay community, which ended up working pretty well!… until it didn’t. Ultimately, I pushed myself too far. I had the audience and the skill required, but taking on commissions as my only source of income drove me away from my love for the craft and straight into burnout territory (out of which I’m still attempting to recover). I have alternatively found moderate success in writing/selling digital tutorials for various cosplay-related crafting techniques, but I haven’t had the energy or courage yet to turn it into anything substantial.

The problem I seem to be facing in terms of what a potential future in costuming would look like revolves around 1) form and 2) sustainability. I’ve already had to learn the hard way how difficult it can be to turn something that you love into a way to make money, but I’m still a firm believer that it can be done successfully. Also for me, as an artist, making business decisions doesn’t always come naturally (though, pursuing an entrepreneurship degree has been tremendously helpful). I think the way forward is to open myself to learning more from other successful creatives and to find new ways to reconnect with the community. I’d also benefit to consider new streams of income, perhaps multiple (both passive and active) that could be compounded.

Whatever happens, I know that finding balance will be key. Too much focus on making money will drain me of my passion for the craft, but too much focus on doing things my own way will likely not prove to be successful in the long run.