MCM Comic con 

AshleyGPhotography

24th - 26th May

MCM Comic Con is an event where loads of creators can be themselves without any problem being classed as strange or anything of that kind. The cosplay community is a community no one can beat because they are all there for the same reason to show off their creations and have a good time and they all show so much respect to us photographers it is crazy over the weekend I had so many people from all over the world come to me for a shoot and it was fantastic, yeah I am not fully on board with all the cosplay and quite new but they still come over and don't mind me asking questions and I have built some amazing friendships with most of the creators I have met over time.


FRIDAY

This day is always a meet-up start day for all fellow photographers to meet up again and catch up but it is also good for everyone to meet and organise the weekend ahead with shoots and that so yeah Friday can be quiet but also busy meeting all the people you haven't met for the year

or since the last event. For me, it is normally year after year and I get to see the Irish and Swedish there are a few groups from those countries that love shooting with me, and I feel so happy but also shocked every year.


SATURDAY (The Mad Day)

This day is always one of the busiest days of the weekend It is crazy with people in the thousands coming through the doors and outside doors is a bit of a no go so I do try to stay outside all day because you can't swing a cat in there some times and also bring resources for yourself and whoever is coming unless if you like queuing for a long time then go for it don't say I have not been warned. Saturday is still an amazing day but it can be so overwhelming it's crazy. Even when I am outside in my area I have to have breaks thanks to other fellow photographers

vizrodmedia and cecaptureyephotography. Thanks to them we all get breaks and time to rest and reframe ourselves. To then get ready for the next mad rush of cosplayers. We have our regulars that come and make sure we have eaten and are ok keep us calm and collective what is so amazing to have. Overall on a Saturday, it is just a mad day for everyone from cosplayers to photographers to even the public.

Sunday (The Final Push )


Sunday is a lovely chilled nice relaxing day not too busy It is when everyone is tiered in pain from the last two days mentally or physically it is crazy normally photographers have a slow morning a bit of a mid-day rush then a slow stage again and then at the end have a bit of a final shoot. Sunday seems to be more for also people who didn't come the Saturday because of how mad that gets so they come on one of the calmest days of the weekend.



Overall
 The weekend is fun and all go go go inside and out, I met new people and old friends across the world had a load of amazing feedback and sent out a load of photos what is always amazing to do. Here are a couple reviews I had that made me feel so happy with the job I done.

 Littlemissanniekins
" This is the first time I've shot with Ashley and he was an absolute sweetheart! I went to con solo this year, so it was a bit daunting heading outside on my own! But I bumped into Ashley and he was lovely! He made me feel super comfortable and we had such a laugh! He also took some epic shots, so I'm looking forward to working with him again in the future! 😊"

valkyrie_of_berk

"The photographer was very kind. It was my first time at a convention and I was afraid to ask for photos but Ashley was very welcoming and made me feel comfortable during the shoot! They turned out incredible, I especially appreciate how much the colours were brought to life. He´s so talented! Thank you so much for your amazing work and skill!"

Secret con

11 March 2026
Saturday. A new location for me is always a learning curve i feel it can be a big test and this one was a test in its own way from lighting mainly and settings also finding locations and following a map that was hard. I will say the cosplayers that attended that day where amazing sadly I didn't get to shoot with everyone that i wanted to shoot but i feel that's because there busy and i was busy but also trying to find each other was a nightmare because there was no phone signal what did not help at all. i will be looking into a radio system / base so when my next shoot is ready they can call me through it. It was definitely a test for lighting as well flash works well but also looking into more still lighting so then i can see and do a bit of both still and flash photography especially in the dark places where I really needed more light. overall the day went well it went too quick i think i had a little panic on seeing people and getting to shoot but I fell I will be changing things on how i work for the next one and will be doing some sort of booking for the first half of the day and then the second half having it open. I will say a big thank you to thecaptainvader for helping me with a lift for both days and thank you for Just_stephk for helping me out find the ride I needed there and back. Sunday. now i have semi learnt where to go but still getting lost was a nightmare but it was getting better still trying to find new location was a pain but was a ok thanks to the cosplayers out and about also the helpers it was always fun turning left when pose to turn right. Another day getting the lighting right and prepared and everything but it tested me and opened my eyes to get more still lighting. it was amazing to see different people and shoot with more different people i sadly feel i still didnt shoot some of the people i wanted to but how time flies when having fun creating it happens but i hope to shoot with them in the near future at other events. i am also in the making for a new top and jumper just for two amazing people to press the shit out of it and have a right laugh with them i will say a big thank to them because they kept the laughs going and fun going through out the day shooting trying to hide from each other and press my shoulder i fount them doing it a couple time but other times i was like what was that. and see them in the distance the two people are just_stephk and switch_8.9. thank you but just wait for the next one. And more of the double taps (hugs) inside confusion happened then. At the end there was a big smoke shoot what was amazing to see i was not there photographing but there to see how other people work and everything else so they had the thickest fog/ smoke in a part of the bunker was lit red and well you could just about see well when i was in the smoke i could only see the weapon of the co only see the cosplayer and that was fun so i will say a big thank you to Iphotouk and Declanscammell letting me be there to help out. I went there as a helper and to see what creations can be made and that is always a plus on my side of things because they all know that am not just here for my own creations but also to help out where needed. overall thank you to everyone for the fun and giggles during and after the con event i cant wait for the next one and cant wait to spend more money on lighting thanks to Iphotouk seeing his shots and sets he did. It has inspired me to add a few more to my collection. Also a new lens to get more creative as well. there will be a new layout and setup for how i work at the next con I may have a time slot thing half the day and then the other half leave empty. so then i know 100% I will get to shoot with the people that want to work with me but also work with new people on the fly. next secret con in June bring it on.

OCTOBER MCM

by AshleyGPhotography • 29 October 2025
Thursday Get into hotel I was staying at Moxy hotel what was an amazing stay and had bar and food and also pool really everything i needed. I do wish the bedrooms had proper allocated wardrobe for clothes so got there dead on 3pm chilled for a bit saw a couple of the friends clock in and all that then we just chilled I tried to get but passes early but there was some stupid rule just to put more money into the pockets of excel so I didn't do that. so back to the hotel waiting for one of my mates Ducky and then we went to the pub for pre con drinks and a chill met so many other con mates on the Thursday went back to the hotel and prepared for the weekend.

BSB

by AshleyGphotography • 29 October 2025
It was a mad time we get there Thursday with the caravan early and there was already a que to get in but the organisation skills were not the best at all. They got us to que then they started to let in the first lot but they had not enough people people to organise it correctly so people did just jump in the lines and everything not the best, once got there we got the normal sport and set up and hit the drink. Then in the morning got up cooked the breakfast and then that gets the day on the go prep the camera and then go to the track get some shots look at the stalls and all that to see if we get a barging but there was nothing . walk the track and then see some more racing and then go back to camp to start dinner most of the weekend was the same except Sunday because it was a bit wet from Saturday and then Sunday. but the racing was really good i wished it was closer on the points. lets bring on all the changes from systems to engines to teams its going to be a mad one next year i feel but also a really fun one.
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