Cosplay Family Spotlight: Camillia Courts

Cosplay is becoming more and more popular around the world and at conventions. I’ve personally found a lot of joy and personal confidence doing cosplay at conventions, and the number one reason I started was as an activity with my son. After seeing a great panel about Cosplay Families at Rose City Comic Con a couple of weeks ago, I thought it would be a great opportunity to talk to parents and families who cosplay and spotlight them here on GeekDad!

Cosplay Family Spotlight is a new recurring segment where I interview and spotlight a cosplay family. This week, I interview Camillia Courts of Camillia Courts Photography. You may have seen her and her daughter recently as they’ve been quite popular on the Internet in recent weeks!

Interested in participating? Leave a comment here or reach out to me on twitter @billythebrick.

GeekDad:

How many members of your family are involved in cosplay?

Camillia Courts:

Just Layla (7) and me! My son, Aidan (10), agreed to be in one photo as long as it was Star Wars. We do like to go to Cons and Expos in cosplay, which Aidan dresses up for!

GeekDad:

How did you and your family get into cosplay and prop/armor making? Did one particular member start it or did you all jump in together? What was your first cosplay?

Camillia Courts:

We started after the first photo I took of Layla in a princess dress. I was aware of cosplay but not that knowledgeable. We started striving for more screen accuracy and that’s when I discovered these incredible communities. My first time making armor was for our Ursula/Ariel session. I want to make more!

GeekDad:

Do you have a favorite cosplay of yours? A favorite group cosplay you’ve done as a family?

Camillia Courts:

My favorite is Ursula!

Layla: Ariel! Because I liked the tail.

Aidan: Matt the radar tech from SNL.

GeekDad:

Speaking of group cosplay, do you always try to cosplay together? Or do you all do your own thing?

Camillia Courts:

Layla and I cosplay together as Disney princesses and villains. Aidan is a bit of a lone wolf but will get involved if we are heading to a Fan Expo.

GeekDad:

Do you have a favorite piece that challenged you?

Camillia Courts:

Ursula/Ariel was definitely a challenge. I spent my whole summer knee deep in craft foam (when I wasn’t shooting a wedding)!

GeekDad:

What’s your favorite “medium” to work in (sewing, EVA foam, resin casting, etc.)?

Camillia Courts:

I think I’m really getting the hang of foam. I’d like to try my hand at worbla sometime. Also, I’m dying to learn more sewing skills. I’m having to recall my sewing classes from high school.

GeekDad:

It’s been awhile, but I used to do quite a bit of scale model building and I see a lot of similarities in techniques between small-scale building and prop and armor building. Have you ever done any scale modeling or smaller scale builds?

Camillia Courts:

Oh my gosh, no. I wish I had, though. I’ve always been interested in making things, whether it’s been art, drawing, sewing, or dance. I am always rushing to the final product which is a bit of my downfall.

GeekDad:

Most of our readers are parents and, like me, want to share their geeky interests with their kids. I’ve been doing father and son cosplay with my son since he was born. Do you have any suggestions on how parents can get their kids interested and involved with cosplay and fabrication?

Camillia Courts:

Pick something that interests you and your kids! My daughter loves Disney, and that’s why we stick to the princesses and villains. If Star Wars is your thing, do that! It’s really just a fun way to spend time with your kids and make some awesome memories. Your kids love to see you having fun.

GeekDad:

Something along the lines of “Being a geek isn’t about what you love but how you love it,” is sort of the new geek mantra. Do you have anything, besides cosplay, that you consider yourself a geek about?

Camillia Courts: