You meet familiar faces, and new ones, that are doing the comics cosplay group.

You finish your conversation with Michelle, and the twin sisters--Alita & Sakura. Knowing that it won't be long before the group of cosplayers you've already met earlier will gather for the cosplay group photo session, you decide to wait for them out in the lobby, which is where the meeting area will be. After about 20 minutes, you see the exotic dancing trio of Mia, Abbie, & Chrissy, arrive, having made some needed fixes to their "Executive Assistants" costumes. You hug all three of them, and gossip with them while you wait for the others that will complete the group. The next two to arrive are "Holly Appleseed" as Grace from "Soulfire", & "Saint Cassandra" as Vanyss, also from "Soulfire". Mia, Abbie, & Chrissy take turns hugging Holly & Cassandra, then you hug them after, being careful with their wing props. "Neko-Sana" arrives a few minutes later, with her full purple body paint, and her gold-colored costume and matching sword prop for her cosplay as Princess Ara of "Jirni". You check your smartphone to see if the last two that are due to arrive, are on their way, while you talk with the six ladies. After about 5 minutes, you see the last two arrive.

Hailing from Long Island, the black-haired, brown-eyed cosplayer known by her real name, Simona DiCassia, is a natural-born U.S. Citizen, who's proud of her Italian heritage. The 24 y.o. daughter of a family that runs a handful of pizza parlors in the New York area, and Long Island, Simona is a 6-year cosplaying veteran, who's just starting to fan out from doing comic cons in the New York/New Jersey area. While there were many choices in costume pieces for her cosplay as "Fathom" protagonist Aspen Matthews, she's opted for a semi-decent blue wetsuit, that is sleeveless, but otherwise covers her torso, that forms the core of her slim frame, and average-sized breasts. The top part is cut in a way that allows her to add the comic character's trademark necklace. On her forearms, thighs, and shins, are foam or worbla pieces that she's worked into armor pieces that is also customary of the character's heritage. Otherwise, she's wearing a pair of slippers for comfort, and easy for her to slip on and off, when she's ready to pose barefoot. She's even brought along a customized surfboard, with the Aspen Comics logo on it.

Next to Simona, is a New Jersey native, known by her cosplay name, "Ellie Violet". Like Simona, Ellie is also a slim woman with average-sized breasts, about the same height as her Long Island counterpart, but her hair is a natural auburn color. Her natural hair color helps make for a great cosplay as "Fathom" anti-hero character, Kiani; in that she just has to dye in the blonde streaks. Unlike Simona, Ellie has gone with a full black leather bodysuit, to match a depiction of the character from a recent comic book issue. The pants portion are tight enough, to allow her to tuck them into a pair of flat knee-high boots. She's also added a few armor pieces to form bracers, shin guards, and even "protection" for parts of her thighs. Her sword prop looks like it was made from pieces of hard, clear plastic, and given a slight coat of blue paint. Some blue athletic tape is wrapped around the hilt of her sword prop, a necessity for optimal comfort whenever she holds it.

"Looks like we've got everyone." You tell the ladies, after hugging Simona & Ellie. "Are we all ready?"

The eight ladies nod, and you walk with them to a part of the convention center that is not in use, but gets regular foot traffic of convention attendees that are coming and going. Getting the settings dialed in, you start taking the photos, starting with the individual ones first, then moving on to the group photos. Along the way, other professional photographers, as well as as regular attendees join in, taking their share of photos of the cosplayers that aren't busy posing for you. The cosplayers themselves, flesh out their character roles, with Simona & Ellie playing out a violent quarrel scene between their respective characters, and Holly & Cassandra, recreating a scene from a recent "Soulfire" volume, where they come together, wrap their arms around each other, and kiss each other's lips. To finish the otherwise long but very productive photo session, you have them stand at the empty stairway, and pose for the big group photo. Many others take their share of photos as you do, so you give a final countdown, before the ladies break off for a water refreshment, then come back to you, to review the photos you've taken.

"Perfect timing and shooting, Alex!" Mia tells you, looking at the photo of her & Chrissy posing as if her Iris character is leaping over the railing, continuing her battle with Chrissy's Rose character.

"It really does look like we're fighting each other, doesn't it?" Chrissy adds in, looking to you, and to Mia, who nods in agreement.

"Alex's direction definitely helps us play it out, right?" Abbie asks her fellow exotic dancers.

"Yes, I agree." Mia replies.

"Doing that kissing part at the stairs really helps, eh?" Holly asks Cassandra in French, as they look at the kissing photo.

"Yeah, it helps you offset my taller height." Cassandra replies in French, then speaks again in English. "That is so adorable, Alex! I love it!"

"So what are you going to do with that raw photo of me with the open water bottle?" Simona asks you, as she looks at the photo of her tilting the water bottle with one hand, and positioning her free hand up, and curled open.

"I'm going to work my imaging and editing magic, of course." You tell her. "I'm going to make it look like you're using your powers to take some of that water from the bottle, and work it into the comics logo above that free hand."

"I look forward to that." Simona replies with a smile.

"What about that photo of me recreating that Kiani pose from the corresponding artwork?" Ellie asks you next.

"Similar to what I will work on with the Aspen photo that Simona asked about." You tell Ellie. "It may take awhile to get it right, but when I'm done with it, I hope it will come out great."

"I hope so," Ellie tells you, "for our sake."

"I love the angle you did with me reaching out to you with my free hand." Neko-Sana tells you. "I like how you worked the flash to help make the gold armor stand out."

"Where possible," you tell the Hong Kong-based cosplayer, "I'm going to work on making the gem on the bracer glow. For the photo, where you're on the stairs, posing sideways, I'm going to see if I can make it look like you're morphing into the djinn form."

"I'd love that." Neko-Sana tells you.

With all the reviews done, the eight cosplayers give you a big hug, then you watch them head off. After all, most of them have other photo sessions to do, or need to return to their booths, to interact with their fans. After a few minutes, you head back to the convention floor yourself.