Release the Kraken! - Los Angeles Comic Con 2019 Recap

Hi All! Happy 2020! I hope the new year has treated everyone well. I am working on mastering more photography and editing skills to provide you all with the best content I can. I do not personally believe in New Year's resolutions, but I do want to try and write more, if possible, regardless of what I end up writing about.

With that said, today's blog is about Los Angeles Comic Con! LA Comic Con is typically the very last convention that I attend in 2019. It also marks the end of the California convention season for most cosplaying con goers. Unfortunately, this year I was rather sick during the con so I only had the pleasure of attending for one day, so I tried to make the most of what I could. The process to check in was rather effective for press. Press, Staff, and Exhibitor entrance was separate from the general attendee check-in as always. They still had the metal detectors and bag checks for all, including multiple stations on the side for general attendee badge pick-up checks. However, once you already picked up your badge, you could enter from the front of the convention center. While many might have groaned about this being a minor inconvenience, safety was definitely Los Angeles Comic Con's first priority, and I commend them for it.

The booth to pick up the press pass was quick and efficient. A convention staff member was waiting with a friendly and excited face willing to help and explain. As I always say (due to being a staff member for other cons), represent the con well and attendees will always return. This particular staff member was a great reflection on Los Angeles Comic Con and made me feel like a welcomed attendee.  Overall, the entire check-in process was top notch. Over the years, Los Angeles Comic Con has exponentially gotten better with the entire process in the years I have attended. Going on year five, this year!

This time around, I was in a cosplay group based off of an art concept by Savannah Alexandra called The Puppettes. This was my first time in a group, so I wasn't sure what to expect. Luckily, it worked out well and we all had fun. For everyone, collectively, this was one of the best LA Comic Con seasons. I also did some video work with my collaborative partners, Beyond Fandom during the con as well involving other cosplayers. They are a great resource in video-driven fan-focused media, while I focus more on written word in the pop culture community and con photography. I ended my day dropping by the dealers hall to grab some fun con swag as always and to see if I could snag a few new comic books to add to my collection. Each year I have attended the con, I do different activities. Sometimes I might focus heavily on fan focused panels, with a few industry panels sprinkled in, and other times, I will focus on the attendee experience holistically.

End review: The overall vibe of LACC was friendly and relaxed, most people eventually got used to the format changes in security, the con felt safer and happier. Everyone I talked to seemed happy, energetic, and overall glad to be there. I think that LA Comic Con is probably the best con to end the season with given the location, the overall atmosphere of the con, and the people it brings. 9.5/10. 

I can't wait for the next year's con and what that might bring! 

 

Till Next Time!

- Hachi

Photography courtesy of Dapper Geek Photography

Come Out and Play at L.A. Comic Con!

Hi all! It's been a little while since my last post, but it's also been a little over five years since I've started my blog! I am so pleased I've kept this blog going for five years. :) Today's post has been a very long time coming, and the reasoning for that can be seen in a past life update blog. Since Los Angeles Comic Con is about a month away, now's the best time to hype you up for the con with a comprehensive recap from last year's experiences and a future outlook of 2019's con!


Previously at LACC 2018:

I had the opportunity to attend the con for two of the three days as press. Typically, I have a game plan when I attend conventions: Scope out the vendor's hall, interact with con attendees, do free scheduled cosplay photo shoots and if time permits, attend panels that interest me. Unfortunately, I was unable to make any panels or the fashion show that year, but I was able to interact with both con attendees and vendors. Overall, the outlook of the convention was positive.  Also, can I just say that the mascot for the con is awesome looking. I am glad that they kept the same design for 2019.

In 2017,  the process was somewhat unwelcoming when I picked up my press badge. However, in 2018, this was quite the opposite and I felt very welcomed throughout the whole experience from bag check to badge pick up. The staff members looked happy and like they enjoyed their assigned shifts. As someone who does staff for a different convention, maintaining a pleasant guest experience is important. I am always very pleased to see when cons improve upon themselves. Even the convention security situation was a much more pleasant experience than 2017.

When I had discomforts about an uncomfortable situation at the convention and expressed them with a staff member, they did not disregard my concerns. The staff member took my discomfort seriously and notified security. I was extremely pleased to be taken seriously in regards to this situation, as that has never happened before at other conventions. So, for future con goers to Los Angeles Comic Con, please feel free to voice your concerns to staff members, if need be. Never feel like you cannot say anything to anyone. From my experiences, last year, someone will listen to you.

In 2017, I rated the con 8/10, but based on how well they improved upon themselves from 2017 to 2018, I believed that they deserved an increase in rating to 9/10.  I cannot wait to see what 2019 brings.

Peep some photos I took from last year's con:

@januarycosplay - Star Wars

@thebigloserqueen - Snow White

@miss_madra_rua - Gwenpool

I JUST LOVE THAT MASCOT

Coming soon to LACC 2019:

COSPLAY COSPLAY COSPLAY!

I really like that this year is very cosplay focused. Anyone who has followed my blog or either of my Instagram pages knows that I am both a cosplayer and a cosplay photographer. In 2019, Los Angeles Comic Con will have both The Dark Crystal Cosplay Competition and the Cosplay National Championship. Click the links to apply for both competitions, if you're interested in competing! There will also be a Kid's Halloween Costume Contest and Indoor Trick-or-Treating. I like the idea of indoor trick-or-treating because it's a safe alternative for children that might not be able to go out at night on Halloween . It's also reminiscent of what malls used to do in my childhood.  As for me, I was asked to participate in a cosplay group based off of Savannah Alexandra's Puppettes and Purrlesque's fan art, so I hope to be able to fulfill that request to the best of my abilities. I've never done a cosplay group before despite cosplaying for over 14 years. Also, I've been on a con hiatus essentially all summer due to personal reasons and am looking forward to getting back into it. Los Angeles Comic Con is a relatively good sized con where you can wear a more elaborate cosplay and not worry about it being ripped.

There are a lot of interesting guests coming in 2019 as well. Some are giving panels, such as Gerard Way, while others are going to be making appearances and doing autograph signings.

Tickets: If you don't have a full weekend free and are interested in attending Los Angeles Comic Con 2019, the one-day passes are rather affordable for the size of the con. Also, the three day passes are rather decent as well. Children under 12 are free with a paying adult badge too! Very few cons do that, so that's a great perk, if you would like to take your child with you to the con. :)

Anyhoo! That's all from me for now! If you do happen to go to LACC 2019, I hope you have a safe and amazing con experience!

I've also recently created a photography portfolio & post my favorite photos from various cons in there now as well, so check that out too.

Me cosplaying as Blake Belladonna from RWBY (LACC 2018) - Photography courtesy of @jackofsometradesx11

Till Next Time!

-Hachi

Orange you glad I didn't say Banana - Facial Peel Review!

Hi All! It's been a while since I've done a product review, don't you think? I recently bought this at home facial peel by Derma-E at Sprouts. I've been really into the natural skin care options lately so I have been testing out different brands to see which work best for my skin as I have extremely sensitive skin.

 I am not sure if you remember, but a few years ago, I tested out the Yes-to brand and it left me with facial burning for over two hours. I have not used that brand since. Instead, I tend to gravitate towards brands with ingredients that are easier to decipher and have not been subject to several negative reviews; ie, products with over 4 stars on multiple sources. I read several written reviews too in depth. Believe me, I make the time for that. I have hyper pigmentation with sensitive skin and I want my face to be the best it can be, not worsen.

When I bought the Derma-E Vitamin C Instant Radiance Citrus Facial Peel (now my punny title should make sense), I got it for 25% off during the vitamins and beauty sale. I love sales, so if I can ever find something cheaper than original price, I will go for it.

The look of the box

Unfortunately, upon opening the box, the cap was cracked and then fell off on the ground. I debated returning it, but the contents inside were alright and undamaged so I just kept it. The product also comes with a little instruction pamphlet and an application spoon. The spoon is also utilized as a way of removing the product while massaging the skin to promote blood flow. You want to put an even layer of the product on your skin and leave it on for 3-5 minutes before using the spoon to remove it.

Unfortunately, the lid was cracked :/

After leaving it on for five minutes, I did feel a slight tingle in my face. It was no where near as unbearable as other products like this I have tried in the past such as First Aid Beauty. While I liked the end result of First Aid Beauty, Derma-E is really good for those looking for a more eco-ethical brand and want to know exactly what they are putting on their face without googling long, complex names.

It's made with orange peels :)

Upon removing it, and finishing with a rose petal toner, my face had a very nice glow with it. I have really bad hyperpigmentation, but pairing Derma-E with Sephora's Glow peel pads made with naturally occuring glycolic acid from sugar cane has helped me obtain a glow like no other. I have been using the Derma-E mask weekly for a month now paired with the peel pads 2x a day and the hyperpigmentation is staring to fade away. This paring is highly recommended if you have sensitive skin and hyperpigmentation like I do. I am also not sure if this is related or not, but I have combination skin, that typically produces really oily T zone, and even that is starting to calm down some since using this pairing! So try it out, if you please! :)

That's all for this post! Let me know if you have any eco-friendly, or cruelty-free make-up brands you would like me to try and and let you know about!

 I just recently got the Beauty Blender Bounce™ Liquid Whip Long Wear Foundation in 4.40N (Deep with Neutral Undertones). I wanted to give that one a try first since I feel my shade changes in the summer months. However, I am coming from using Fenty Beauty 420, but have to stop since it is not working for me in the way it used to. The comparable color according to Sephora's Shade Finder is actually 4.10 C/O (Deep with Cool Olive Undertones)  - so I might test that next time after this runs out. After I use it for a couple of weeks, I'll be doing a review blog on that brand as well! :)

Stay tuned for some Seattle blogs, I am going for an expo. In the meantime, check out my photography website- I just launched it! There are never before seen photos from my time doing photography at Los Angeles Fashion Week F/W '19.

Till Next Time!

-Hachi

Hear Ye! Hear Ye! Let me tell you a tale of the Renaissance Pleasure Faire!

Greetings fair knights and ladies! It has been quite a while, hasn't it? First new post of the year too! I'll have to explain my absence for another time and also fill you in on my previous con adventures another time, as well. For today, I'm here to tell ye about my experiences at the Renaissance Pleasure Faire. This particular Renaissance faire is quite possibly unlike any ren faire you have ever been to! Let me stress that there is something here for everyone!

I went on Saturday, April 27th - Renn Con weekend. As I had noticed, each weekend was designated a theme. Since I am both a cosplayer and a cosplayer photographer, I chose Renn Con weekend to attend the faire as press. This weekend was geared towards those who love cosplay and wanted to combine Renaissance styles within known cosplay fandoms. Also, Craft Beer weekend happened at the same time so beer enthusiasts came out to partake in delectible brews and enjoy the events This was also my first time ever attending the Renaissance Pleasure Faire.

The entrance into the event was pretty easy, a quick bag check and a ticket scan. Parking at the dam was only 10$, which is cheaper than pretty much every con I have ever attended. From scanning my ticket and onward, I was immersed within the Renaissance ages. I loved, and let me stress this again, absolutely loved the diversity of this con. I understand for some people, historical accuracy is more important, but for others, diversity can be just as important. Seeing individuals of varying ethnic origins, doing roles that would otherwise not have been assigned to them during this era made me so happy.

The events were pretty fun. The events I watched were dancing, swordplay, comedy, and jousting. Seeing the belly dancers be able to balance bladed weapons on their head and still move made me want to up my belly dancing game. I loved that the swordplay group by the maypole let both men and women fight together, regardless of size. I love swordplay as I was a kendo practitioner, myself for a few years. Jousting was also a good time; I cheered on the blue side. Even though we lost, it was exciting to see the fans taking the action seriously and how big the crowds around the arena got.

There was so much food to choose from as well, which is awesome for the diverse event goer. I opted for Caramel apples, and the workers at the booth cracked me up. I also watched my friend test his strength at a booth, as well, with the worker giving tips and encouragement along the way. If there is anything I can say about the Renaissance Pleasure Faire, they have amazing customer service at every turn. From the moment I got my ticket in the Will Call line to the moment I returned my media badge for the day, just about every worker I encountered was amazing. I only had one questionable experience the whole time with someone taking their character a bit too far in the jousting area causing a moment of discomfort, but everyone else's good energy dispelled that. For the most part, this event brought a very positive experience for me and I am very glad that I was able to attend. I hope to attend the Renaissance Pleasure Faire, next year and bring more of my friends with me.

Here are some photos from the event and when I finish processing other photos, I'll include a slideshow! :) As always, typically, I will post photos from any event I attend prior to writing about it in a blog on my photography Instagram.

Te Fiti by @adinn.cosplays

Daenerys by @kowaikohai

Maleficent and Princess Aurora by @criccicricci & @abracatrena

My event rating: 9.5/10 - would definitely recommend this event to others & want to return again

Pros:

• Diversity
• Themed Weekends
• Enthusiastic Workers
• Variety of Events
• Variety of Food
• Variety of Vendors
• Large event

Cons:

• Parking on grass/dirt
• Needs more Seated Spaces
• Some workers take roles too far - could lead to harassment
• A solution to that is a training weekend for preventative measures

My dear knights and ladies! The Renaissance Pleasure Faire is on it's last two weekends for the 2019 season! So if you can, get out there and go enjoy it! :)

Dr. Facilier - me ( Cosplay/personal - @bosshachi_08/ Photography - @himawarisayscheese)
Taken by @pyrozack & edited by me

Till Next Time!

-Hachi

The Wild, Wild CBD Expo West!

Hi all! I hope everyone has been well! Thanksgiving just happened in these parts! I think Canada celebrates theirs in October. Normally, I would be at a research conference around this time. I was in Vancouver, B.C. last year, if you all remember presenting my Master's Thesis, but this year I had no new research and opted out of attending. While I missed my colleagues dearly out in New Orleans, I am very pleased to tell you all about a fascinating convention I went to back in late September, CBD Expo West.

Being the spoonie that I am, that is, someone that is directly and personally involved with the chronic illness community, I jumped at the chance to be press for this expo. Over the past year or so, I have been trying to learn all there is to learn about the benefits of CBD. Why, you may ask? Well, I am the type of person who has utilized dozens of medications over the years for a multitude of aliments only to be riddled with numerous negative side effects and no relief. As a result, I turned to the magic of CBD. CBD to put it in simple terms does the same high effects that THC has. It's mostly non-psychoactive. I strongly prefer CBD for this reason. CBD is great for anxiety, pain, seizures, and a multitude of other ailments with virtually no negative drawbacks. Many (not all) CBD products will not show up on a drug test either, and you can check with certain manufactures to ensure this is the case. Some products have a 1:1 CBD/THC ratio along with other variations, so keep that in mind as well. There are many great articles out in the medicine world to learn more about CBD and it's uses for pets, adults, and children. :)

CBD Expo West was held at the Anaheim Marriott hotel near Disneyland and was a two day event (September 21st & 22nd, 2018) kicking off the CBD Expo Tour. Unfortunately, due to recently starting a job, I could only attend on the Saturday, but it was an AMAZING day. The Friday beforehand, the expo had a press and industry mixer, which was THC friendly, but I was unable to attend that event. I had never been to an expo of this kind before so I had no idea what to expect. I was greeted by some of the friendliest people I had ever met at any expo or con. I always say, as staff to two major comic book conventions, that what makes or breaks a con at times is how a patron is treated at first entry. First impressions are everything, and the CBD Expo West staff left a great first impression on me. They were unable to find my press registration information on their list, but instead of sending me away, provided me with a same-day registration pass and some useful pamphlets to get me where I was going. I also still had access to the press lounge and was so appreciative for their generosity.

Now, I am not the type to schedule one-on-one interviews with people as I feel they become too formal and less personalized. So I decided to opt out of doing one-on-one interviews and went to various vendors talking to them as if I was just a regular patron rather than a member of the press. When giving informal meet and greets as opposed to a formal interview, I find it as a way I could get a more relaxed feel of how they were as a person and what their company stood for. I met with Dr. Kerklaan Theraputics, Sativa by Design, Relive Everyday, Sagely Naturals, and Topikal Everything Hemp.

Main takeaways from each of these companies:

• Dr. Kerklaan Theraputics - Dr. Kerklaan truly believes in his product and wants his product to work for everyone that uses it. He was a very friendly person, who looked very eager to tell me about why he started his company, and what he hoped that his company could do for the consumer. I really liked that his company also had very focused and specific products for PMS, headache relief, and even sleep therapy. I got some nice creams from them too.

• Sativa by Design - This company was really cool because they will help people create their own products. It's really great for entrepreneurial minded individuals. The people that ran this booth were so friendly and absolutely hilarious and I purchased some CBD tincture for my partner and I from them at a great convention rate that you would rarely find anywhere in California. Their product, Hemp Life Drops work amazingly too!

• Relive Everyday - Probably my favorite booth because I learned so much about this company and what they stand for. The ladies running the booth kindly answered all my questions and even gave me insight of how the life of working the cannabis convention scene can be for CBD vendors. They also gave me the most samples out of everyone. Their pain spray was great, but their gummies and their tinctures were really top notch. I would consider using their company for gummies, if given the chance. The taste is not overwhelming at all and it does work :)

• Sagely Naturals - The rep for this brand had told me that she started out as a customer before becoming a rep and started using the product due to living a high stress lifestyle. Since I work a desk job doing tech based work, she recommended I try out their product called Tranquility to achieve a relaxed mind, while using the Relief & Recovery cream to ease sore muscles from my weight lifting/fitness lifestyle. Those products smelled really good, I must say that for sure. I am really sensitive to smells, and those were very pleasant to the senses.

• Topikal Everything Hemp - The girls running this booth were extremely chill, I mean EXTREMELY chill. They had strawberry lemonade, my favorite kind, and gave me a sample with 5mg of CBD in it, and it was the best. I was actually drawn to this table by their logo rather than the lemonade, to be honest. As a linguist, the way things are written interests me as it looked almost like a different writing system rather than just English. We discussed how the font can really draw in clients and they told me how the artist of it, who also happens to be the owner of the company was very proud of his work.

One of my favorite aspects of this expo was that many of these vendors were local vendors to California, so I could easily venture out and seek out these companies for myself. However, it was really nice getting to know vendors from around the country as well. That is the beauty of expos, meeting people you possibly would not have the opportunities to have met in any other contexts. If given the opportunity, I would love to go back.

Rating: 9.5/10 -
Pros:
I felt relaxed, rejuvenated, entertained, social, and at peace. I don't think it was all the CBD samples talking either. I tried so many samples (probably too many ^_^'), met some cool people, saw some demos, and learned new things about the world of CBD.

Cons:
The only true con was that they didn't have my press registration information on file, but otherwise, everything else was great. I was really glad that they were able to make up for it. Only one vendor rep was slightly standoffish and rude in how she spoke with me, but that might have just been her demeanor in general. I won't hold that against the company. The actions of one do not define the actions of many.

Anyhoo, that's all from me! I delayed this post until I had the time to go through all my samples from the various vendors and I finally got through them all, starting with CBD Living Water's gummy and ending my samples with the hemp infused olive oil by Due Santi that I cooked my baked salmon with. All of the samples were amazing and got me through some rough days the past couple of months. It was much needed and I am very appreciative. If you guys are interested in following the CBD Expo Tour, they have more stops coming through 2019! Their next stop is just around the corner at CBD Expo East in Orlando, Florida at the Hilton Orlando (December 7th & 8th, 2018). I wish I could attend, but alas, living on the West Coast has its drawbacks. I hope to catch them again on this coast!

Let me know in the comments below if you use CBD and how it's helped you :)

Till Next Time!

-Hachi

Ready or not! It's Almost Time for Nerdbot-Con!

Hi guys! This is a busy later half of the con season for me as some of my favorite cons happen in September! One of them happens to be Nerdbot-Con! Nerdbot-Con is an extremely affordable one day con that happens in Pasadena, California. This con is like a fine wine, it gets better with age. No joke! I have attended each year since it has started and it has become more elaborate and continued to the bar without breaking the bank. That is one of the reasons I am extremely pleased to be covering this event as a member of the press, this year. I hope to see you there! Read below for more info! :)




Date: August 14 th , 2018

NERDBOT MEDIA presents NERDBOT-CON 2018

Saturday September 22 nd , 2018
10am – 5pm

*ONE DAY ONLY NERD CULTURE AND COSPLAY CONVENTION*
*Over 120 Vendors*Celebrity Guests*Cosplay Contests*Nerd Karaoke*
*Nerf Gun Zombie Shoot Out*Photo Rooms*Panels*Live Music*Performances*

AND MORE!

*Tickets are on sale now for $18/will go up to $22 at the door*
*Kids under 12 are free with Adult Ticket purchase*

*Celebrity Guests Include*
Gregg Berger – Cartoon Voice Actor
Rikki Simmons – Cartoon Voice Actor
Suzie Plakson – Star Trek Actress

Rikishi – WWE Hall of Famer

Christopher Khayman Lee – Power Rangers Actor
Jack Guzman – Power Rangers Actor
Gigi Edgley – Actress
Eric Bauza – Voice Actor
And More!

All paid ticket holders have free entry to the Nerdbot-Con After-Party!

This will be NERDBOT MEDIA’S 3rd annual NERDBOT-CON at the Pasadena Convention
Center.
In 2018, we are going to go bigger and better with more activities, more vendors, more music,
more guests, more games, and awesome panels!

NERDBOT-CON is your alternative to huge, faceless and expensive conventions with long lines
and enormous crowds that steal your soul (and your wallet!). Our safe and family friendly event
is centrally located in the heart of beautiful Pasadena, California.

NERDBOT MEDIA, a leading company in new media and journalism, has been organizing great
meet ups, after parties, and night events in the Los Angeles area for the past three years,
including the brand-new smash hit anime convention Anime Pasadena.

Our staff has been attending and covering conventions for years now. We think it’s time for
something different! NERDBOT-CON is a fun and interactive event for all attendees.
Cosplayers, photographers, collectors, and all Nerds and geeks that just want to go out, see their
friends, and have an AWESOME time.

Our mission is to bring the very best photographers, videographers, vendors, and entertainment
to the beautiful Pasadena Convention Center. It’s going to be an amazing day of interactive
giveaways, panels, Cosplay contests and photoshoots.

Our official NERDBOT-CON 2017 Highlight Video is available on YouTube!
The Grand Geek Gathering reviewed NERDBOT-CON 2017 and had an amazing time!

Find NERDBOT all over Social Media:
NERDBOT-CON on Facebook
NERDBOT Media Official Website
NERDBOT Media on Facebook
NERDBOT Media on Twitter
NERDBOT Media on Instagram
NERDBOT Media on YouTube

For inquiries about Nerdbot Media and Nerdbot-Con please contact:
Elvin@nerdbot.com
Anthony@nerdbot.com
Loryn@nerdbot.com



Let me know in the comments below, if you'll be enjoying any cons this fall! 🍂🍂🍂
Till Next Time!

-Hachi

LVL on UP at this EXPO! - Press Edition

Hi all! Happy August! I hope everyone has been well and keeping cool, this summer. Southern California just got through a big heat wave of its own, this past weekend. IT WAS AWFUL. However, I digress. The real reason for today's post is to give my full on review for Lvl Up Expo in Las Vegas! This is a long time coming because I went on a brief con review hiatus due to harassment after my Long Beach Comic Expo post. I believe that situation is now resolved and I am looking forward to going to Long Beach Comic Con nearing the end of Summer.

So Lvl Up Expo is one of the most popular conventions in Las Vegas, if not the most popular one from a cosplayer's perspective. You will get crowds coming to this convention from California, Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico, and other surrounding areas as it is a good transitioning con from the Spring to Summer con season. By California standards, Lvl Up Expo would be considered a medium sized con. Everyone knows con season is in full force starting in May since there are so many back to back conventions that happen that month. I was pleased to start my "summer" con season with Lvl Up Expo. Would you believe that going to Lvl Up Expo was my second time in Las Vegas as an adult outside of the airport? It shocks the masses of Southern Californians that I know, as funny as that sounds.

I attended Lvl Up Expo on both Friday and Saturday, as I had to leave back to California on Sunday. Day 1, I received my press badge and was greeted by friendly, welcoming faces. That's a great way to start off a convention. As someone who as volunteered and staffed for Comic Con International, the first impressions you make on you attendees go a long way. Afterwards, I walk onto the convention floor. I arrived a little late on Friday, so the con was not extremely crowded, but still there was a hustle and bustle of people around me.

I am a cosplaying photographer, so I always float around the convention floor looking for cosplayers to shoot while in cosplay. It's a fun venture to do as it leaves me opportunities to be shot and opportunities to meet new people.

 For instance, the cosplayer below, Haley, aka H Cosplay is a Las Vegas cosplayer that happens to cosplay as Harley Quinn. Harley is one of my main cosplays even though I do not do any of her original forms, so I was happy to work with her on day 1 of the convention.

Instagram: @h.cosplay

On day two (Saturday), I cosplayed as Bumblebee from Teen Titans and encountered several Teen Titans cosplayers and we formed an accidental Teen Titans cosplay gathering. After we did group shots, I took individual photos of everyone.  The two below are J'son and Badger (Nightwing and Robin).

Instagram - @deku_to_dekiru_cosplay & @badgercosplays

 I also got to try out ax throwing, which was extremely hard to do with a corset and butterfly wings on 😂 I loved the opportunity though! It is not something I have seen at any con I've gone to in California or Canada. Also, the wrestling component of the con was hilarious. It was well orchestrated that it even got some chuckles out of this grown lady.

This was so hard. Photo courtesy of the Ax throw vendors.

So many laughs

All in all, I had a nice two days at Lvl Up Expo. Rating: 8/10

• My primary con about this con was that if you were looking for something, some of the staff was not very knowledgeable about where things were, which sadly caused me to miss panels.
• Perhaps some training sessions beforehand can alleviate this.
• Also, have more security roaming the floor of the convention center because there were some uncomfortable situations I had encountered on the floor that could have been remedied by more roaming security.

A few suggestions for next year are:

• More food truck vendors so that people have options
• Better instructions of how to catch a lyft to and from the convention center because I was dropped off on the wrong side of the convention center the first time and then almost missed my return Lyft because the staff didn't know how to explain where the lyft picks up at.
• More panels and better announcement of panel times/locations

I hope everyone has had a nice summer so far. Have any of you attended any summer cons or went on any fun adventures, this summer? Let me know in the comments below and stay tuned for my next con blog about Long Beach Comic Con! 😊

Till Next Time!

-Hachi

Merry Christmas Photography!🎄🎄🎄

Hi all! Merry Christmas! I know that this post is a little bit late in the day, but I hope that everyone has had a wonderful day with their loved ones. I would like to share with you all a few of the photos I received from my first ever Christmas cosplay, so I hope you can enjoy that as a present from me. Eat, drink, and be merry as we end our Christmas night in the United States.  Also, just one more week left until 2018, so try your best to make 2017 end on a positive note. End this chapter of your life full of greatness! Without further ado, here are my Christmas Morrigan photos from various photographers during the Inland Empire Cosplay Gathering. I'll also post a couple of the photos I took at the gathering as well since I am a cosplaying photographer as well. 😊

Photography courtesy of Shameless Self Photography

Photography courtesy of Matthew Keiser

Photography courtesy of John Matter

Photography courtesy of Shameless Self Photography

Cosplayer - "Casual Goku" MVious Cosplay

Cosplayer - "Gijinka Ninetales" Kira Masquerade

Cosplayer - "Kuzan" Snazzy Jazzie

That's all for now you guys! I hope the photos were to your liking. If you guys ever need a photographer, I'm free for cosplay gatherings, photo meets, and conventions due to personal preference, but all private shoots start at 25$/hour, cheaper than most because I am just starting out. Anyway, I hope your Christmas is amazing and if I don't post before the new year have a happy start to your 2018!!💖💖 Let me know in the comments below how you intend to ring in the new year.

Till Next Time!

-Hachi

Ready, Set, Shoot! 📸

Self-Portrait with my Samsung Galaxy S7 - I have since upgraded bags and my phone to S8+

Hi all! I hope everyone's weekend has treated them well! Today's blog is actually about my photography hobby. Last month, I purchased the Sony Alpha A6000 in black with some accessories to go along with it. I've also gotten very involved with the portrait photography world down in Southern California. By involved, I mean that I've been going to various "street meets. Street meets are typically informal photography gatherings where photographers and models meet and do collaborative shoots. Depending on the location of the meets, some models might do fire performances or smoke performing. It makes for really nice shots. I have a preference to attend street meets on the weekends because I am noticing that those tend to be at actual locations as opposed to the weekday meets that end up being on random streets. I avoid those mostly because they attract unwanted attention at times. My favorite street meet was actually mermaid themed at Cabrillo Beach in San Pedro. I'm really excited to show you guys my photography. I will photograph anyone that asks nicely at conventions, gatherings,  or street meets. I am the furthest from being a photography elitist that only shoots well known people. Open minded photography is the best kind of photography and allows a photographer to grow their skills. I don't think I would ever consider myself as a pro even when I start doing photography as a side-business next year because that means I'll stop growing. Here are my main takeaways from being a photographer: mutual respect between fellow photographers is an amazing thing, network and get to know your models, never stop allowing room for growth, and most importantly of all, just have fun. Not everything has to be a competition. Now without further ado, here's some of my favorite shots from my A6000. All of these were edited in the Lightroom App with portraits occasionally also edited in Airbrush.

Taken at the L.A. Cosplay shootout - Model: @annjelife

Taken at the mermaid themed street meet  - Model: @jayylivefastdiepretty

Taken at the mermaid themed street meet -Model: @jesssickaaa

Taken at Cabrillo Beach in San Pedro, CA

Taken at Irvine Spectrum Center and edited with color pop

That's all for now everyone ! I hope you like my work! Let me know in the comments below if you want to see my editing process & I'll try and make it happen. Also, portraits vs landscape, which do you prefer? (In general, I mean).

Till next time!

-Hachi 

Welcome to the Grave Harvest

Hi all! We are three weeks away from Halloween! Isn't that exciting?! I feel like Halloween is a favorite holiday of many cosplayers. As a result, several conventions, parties, and gatherings happen this month. I was recently at a Halloween con, this past weekend, called Grave Harvest in Fullerton, CA. I got to be a part of the press and spent a majority of my day there. I would like to tell you all about this con and hope you like what you see!

I decided to be Vampire Harley with a dress that I upcycled from the thrift store, my Timeless Trends corset (I'll be doing a full review on that later), and my Sony A6000.

Grave Harvest 2017 was the convention's second year in operation. It was at a very affordable price of $10, online only. It is also a one day con, which is good for conventions just starting out to do. It allows the organizers to gauge the interests of the attendees and eventually decide whether to change locations or add more days to the con. Guests were greeted by friendly and enthusiastic staff, which was a wonderful way to start out the day. As press, we were also welcomed with cookies from one of the vendors, Lucky 13 Sweets and Treats, based out of Costa Mesa, CA. They were some great cookies, as well! :)

There were two rooms full of vendors and I took it upon myself to interact with as many vendors as I could, collect their cards, and take photos of their goods. That will be shown below in slideshow format. The vendors were extremely nice, cordial, and welcoming. All of them were very enthusiastic about the con too. Some of the vendors stuck out to me more than others given the uniqueness of their craft, but all of the vendors that I interacted with were friendly and open to talking with me about their items.



I also attended two of the three workshops during the con. The first was Skeleton Corpsification led by Larry Carr. He demonstrated by usage of latex, cloth, and spray paint how to make a plain skeleton look like a mummified corpse. It was extremely cool and well received as I counted over 50 people in attendance. I don't even always see those numbers in my own panels I participate in at larger comic book conventions! The other panel I attended was in regards to making armor out of EVA foam called Foam Fabrication 101. That panel was very relevant to me as I am a cosplayer and have made my own armor before. While this panel had much smaller numbers, it made for a more intimate experience. The workshop coordinator, Dave King, did a very good job explaining the ins and outs of armor building and even stayed later to talk with us all.

I ended my day by looking at the hearses outside and left feeling good about the con's atmosphere. I really hope they do it again next year. Here is a complete list of all of the vendors at the convention, so I hope you check them all out and help support their passions!


Well everyone, that's all for today's blog! I hope you enjoyed it and stay tuned to my next con related blog when I "cosplay" as a member of the press for Stan Lee's L.A. Comic Con, always known as Comikaze Expo! Do any of you dress up for Halloween? Let me know in the comments below !

Till Next Time!

-Hachi