Patron Spotlight: KP11 Photos

Prakash goes by KP11 Photos online, which is unsurprising once you hear his full name. “My name is Prakash InexplicablyLongIndianName,” he says to me when I ask him to introduce himself to the other Patrons. His actual last name is Upadhyayula. “Not sure if that’s any better,” he jokes.

Prakash was born in India, but has spent most of his life living in the beautiful Pacific Northwest, where he lives today with his wife and golden retriever Midas. “My greatest talent is the ability to grow a decent beard,” he says. “You thought it was photography. Psyche!” Of course, in true artist fashion, he’s selling himself short here — not least of which because his beard is nothing short of magnificent.

With eight years of photography under his belt, five of which he’d consider “professional,” Prakash’s colorful and emotive photography style is entirely self taught. “Unless you count the one digital photography elective I took in Junior year, which I somehow managed to fail,” he admits. He was first exposed to the cosplay world through a friend he made while he was in the Navy. The two were stationed in San Diego at the time, so he jumped right into the deep end with big conventions like SDCC and Anime Expo.

I ask Prakash about what makes cosplay photography unique from other styles. “You're not shooting just a person, but a concept,” he explains. This, he says, presents a unique challenge. Because fans are so passionate about their favorite characters, it’s important to portray them in a way that aligns with the original media. It can be daunting, he says, “but if you pull it off, the outpouring of love and support from fans is like no other.”

I ask him if he has any advice for aspiring cosplay photographers, and he’s overflowing with it. He advises photographers to research the character and the source material beforehand, and to collaborate closely with the cosplayer both before and during the shoot. He encourages cosplayers to send him screenshots and reference images for inspiration. “The cosplayer has worked their butt off to make these cosplays,” he says. “They are just as invested in this shoot as you are.” He suggests asking cosplayers what specific details and elements of their cosplay they worked hard on and want to highlight. “These people put their blood, sweat, and tears into making these outfits, and the reason they want to shoot with you is to show these off.”

He also encourages photographers to put extra effort into angles, lighting, and backgrounds. “You are portraying fictional characters, who are usually more dynamic and over-the-top in some way,” he says. “Remember, you are not shooting just a regular person, you're shooting a character.”

I ask him to highlight a recent photoshoot that he’s particularly proud of, but he can’t decide between two different Critical Role inspired sets: The Jester and Yasha shoot he did with me and Kava Cosplay, or the Mighty Nein group shoot he did a few months later. “It was such an ambitious project, and dealing with the logistics of coordinating 8 people, all from very different faraway locations, was a truly epic undertaking. But we were able to pull it off and I am so happy!”

While Prakash’s usual place is behind the camera, he also recently took a stab at his very first cosplay. His Sean Gilmore cosplay from Critical Role was very well-received online. “The amount of love and support that came in when I nervously posted it was out of this world,” he says. “I am so happy I did it, and I look forward to continue to cosplay him in the future!”

If you want to keep up with Prakash’s work, make sure to follow him on his social media. And if you want to shoot with him, he’s currently booking shoots for Katsucon 2020!