If you’re a cosplayer in Europe, and even abroad, you may have heard about the Il Volta. It is a once a year event based in Volta Mantovana (Italy) where selected cosplayers and photographers from all over the world collaborate together, in exclusive locations that most times are not available to the public. From churches to thetres, from abandoned factories to rococo villas and medieval castles, every costume can find the right setting and the right mood.
The event has a strict selection to join, and every year the number of applicants increase. Speculation on how the admission process is go on since the event took place the first time, and people left out tend to spread rumors.
This is why I wanted to give my own advice on how to join.
I have to say I had already written this article, but with the website migration it disappeared. so here I am again. All the pictures in this post have been taken during the event. Photographers are credited, otherwise they are all self portraits with the help of assistants.
Why take my advice?
Easy: I did not apply to attend all editions. but every single time I did, I got in. As a photographer as well.
While looking at portfolios of possible collaborators, both photographers and cosplayers, I have seen what has worked and how those with more collaboration requests set their profiles. And I know how I selected my own portfolios.
The selection process
This is one of the speculation topics. However Marco Tramonte, the event creator, has always been rather clear on how it works.
There’s a series of secret judget, each one not knowing who the others are. They’re asked to judge differently for photographers and cosplayers. For cosplays, they judge the quality of the costume, how expressive the cosplayer is (after all we’re here for photographs, not for sewing contests) and an all around vote. For photographers the judges are asked to vote on the shooting technique, the post production technique, and the overall effect of the images.
There is a closed number of available slots for the event, the artists with the higher votes get to join. Easy, logical, straight-forward.
There are also factors that may affect the evaluation: retiring from the event for futile reasons, improper behavior during the event or in the preparation and delivery phases and so on. Marco has stated multiple times that retiring at the last time can really compromise your selection for next editions, as there is a balance between the number of photographers and cosplayers, andif other people committed to working with you and then find an empty spot in their schedule they may not be able to fill… it is unpleasant. Same if you are not punctual at photoshoots or do not deliver the images within the 6 months time frame. Or anything going outside the event rules you sign upon accepting the selection.
How to set your application
Every year the number of applicants grows and the quality of the presented work does as well. We’re talking about 600 to 800 requests. And I was told most of them get in the last week of the time frame, which is usually a month.
Now… imagine the judges who only have a few days to work out 300 applications. They won’t have the time to open all the images you send, as someone who wants to collaborate with you would. It’s something impossible to think. So you want to be clever.
It is mandatory to stand out. If you’re a cosplayer, you need good photographs, if you’re a photographer you need to work with good costumes and models who can pose. Building a good 10 photos portfolio is something you need time for, it can not be arranged in a week before sending the application. You need to have the right workload and show versatility. You need to show you’re not a one-trick-pony, with just the same costume over and over, and you need to show that all of your work is good, that picking you is not a gamble.
Also, please do not use other people’s work. I have been reported that work done during Dreamorphosing is used every year for applications. Seeing a cosplayer trying to pass my costume work, my styling as theirs… is sad. Moreover the judges know my work and follow me and my usual collaborators. Such things are reported to Marco, who asks me if it is my work or the cosplayer’s, and trying to pass my costumes and styling as yours… is not really something that testifies in your favor. And it really pisses me off. Because it means you probably have no idea of how many hours it took to get to that result, to sew the piece, to design it and so on. But let’s get back to business.
So how do I choose my pics?
I can’t tell how to pick yours, but I can tell you how I select mine. They need to be evocative. Not just describe the costume and the location, they need to bring everything in and create the illusion of that world, when you look at them. And they need to show versatility.
If you are a photographer, great care is given to how you portray faces, costumes and locations. You’re going there to use the locations of the event, you can’t just get in with a portfolio of closeups. And the same if valid if you have so much landscape the costume is barely visible.
Also, having a distinctive and recognizable style is helpful.
Do costumes and photographs need to be perfect? No, but they need to be good, and to spark emotions. When someone sees the whole portfolio, they need to think: “Oh, THIS is an artist I want at my event, this person will rise the bar and improve the outcome!”. It is not just a convention where anyone can join. Even though anyone can try, the best ones will rise on top.
Also… there is a presentation space. A few lines for that and your cosplan. Every one I have seen while looking for collaborators is the same: “I have heard of this event by X and I really would really like to join to take nice pictures and know new people”. That does not really tell much of who you are. Everyone could write that. Why whould I pick you to work with me? What are you looking to create? What is your style? That is far more interesting.
That said, once you pass the selection, the fun begins. The atmosphere is very friendly and everyone’s been super nice. You need to be professional and be mindful that some want to maximize their effort, especially if they travel from abroad. So they may have strict deadlines and a half an hour delay may imply your set won’t happen. You need to reply to messages asking for feedback within a few days, otherwise you may halt the whole editing process on your shots. But everything goes by the rule of respecting other people’s time and effort. Once that is ok, you’re really in the right place to be creative and have fun.
Though I really recommend pacing yourself with appointments, and to get an assistant with you, both for cosplayers and photographers.
