It’s been another challenging year for me.Â
With the pandemic still in full force at the beginning of the year to now, it’s been hard to attend any comic con events are they’ve been postponed throughout the year until the summer months where they started to open up and smaller events began hosting events and then the bigger organisers opened their doors to the public.Â
With the lack of events, again like last year has been very hard to keep up with my social media trying to post photos within a reasonable time period that I’ve not already posted on my website but that task got harder and harder. Had to dig deep within my collection of photos to keep up. I’ve had one or two backlashes from people not liking me sharing older photos. Hopefully, by attending a few comic cons and having a new laptop to replace my broken laptop, new photos will be posted on my social media from 2022.Â
I have had a few location shoots for both my food and cosplay brand as well as my alternative aitchkaycee brand to keep things touching over. It’s been a huge relief to be able to keep shooting, making sure my skills are still being pushed. I’ve had so much fun on these shoots, shooting with the likes of Purple Muffinz, Bekzxx, CeleryMoonDesigns, Nastaka Cosplay and Caelien. I’m still busy trying to edit all of those photos.Â
I think it’s no secret that I’m very pro-vaccine and pro-mask-wearing in public. With the announcements of comic con events able to now nail down dates when they’ll host their events, I was hoping the organisers will do the right thing and make sure there is a covid policy with needing a covid passport or negative lateral flow test, sanitation stands, attendees needing to wear masks indoors. For the most part, the organisers such as REEDPOP they’ve had a great policy for the event which made going to the event feel very safe for me. Still, room to improve for REEDPOP when it comes to their event in Birmingham but overall had a great time over their two events. I did attend another event in the Midlands called Meanwhile which was held outdoors which again made the event enjoyable and reminded me of what I miss about going to a comic con.Â
To events such as Showmasters London Film Comic Con and Wales Comic-Con, not having a covid policy really worries and bothers me as to me, these organisers have no consideration for their attendee’s health and safety. And for events such as Thought Bubble who implemented a policy that mask-wearing indoors was mandatory as well as other points, shows any event can implement a strong covid policy to have install a sense of safety at the event.Â
From a personal mental health standpoint, it’s been tough. Very much up and down year similar to last year. Again, I’m very much a people person so not being able to meet and see different people on a regular basis such as comic-con, affected my mental well-being. I however attending these comic-con events and seeing friends throughout the year has really helped.
Also, a highlight of the year was going to the Shang-Chi film Premier in London in August. This premier was so much fun day out for me. Not only did I get to shoot photos with the cosplayers who were also invited to the premier, but I got to see the cast who appeared in the film. I have always dreamed to be at a film premier and not this has been ticked off my bucket list.
Another highlight is making all the podcasts “Ed Talks About”, where I get to talk to all my friends about topics either from the cosplay world, comic-con news and other things which interest me. I have to give a special shoutout to Natasha of Twisted Sisters Cosplay and Charlotte Woolrych Photography who are close enough to regulars on the podcast and contribute so much to the podcast. I have such a blast on the podcast with each and every guest, having a good laugh but also chatting over some serious topics. I do enjoy discussing a particular topic as it helps with understanding an idea I have and hopefully helps others as well. Another special shoutout to Well That Worked who constantly feeds me quotes to use on social.
I like to say I’ve had an enjoyable year. I like to think I have gotten through the year with a smile on my face, made new friends, created new photos, learnt a lot of skills from the re-edited photos and lots more. Any negative experiences I’ve endured doesn’t outweigh all the good I have experienced this year. Looking forward to 2022 and doing a lot more with people.
