KoriStarfire

So I haven't touched my dA since 2015. I don't think I have much to say for that and I wont make any excuses because I don't feel a need to. But I will update you on some major events since the last time I logged in here.
I was in college again when I last posted and I was working toward another Bachelor's degree but paying for everything myself. I was working 2 jobs and going to school full time and I had to work night time shows for my theater degree. So I got extremely busy. I graduated in May of 2016 with a GPA of 3.8! I was very proud of myself because I had never really excelled academically like that before in my life.

After graduating I was hired my Royal Caribbean International as a backstage hand. I lived and worked in the ship for 7 months with very limited internet. I would get an hour here or there whenever I was in port and could find some wifi, so I spent that time talking to folks at home on skype. I basically had to go on board with just a bag of clothes and necessities so cosplay came to a complete stand still. After I completed that contract, I changed over to the costume department and now I currently work as an independent contractor instead of a backstage hand. I still go on cruise ships all the time for work to alter costumes and repair them but I only stay for a few weeks instead of 7 months.

2018 was.... hard. My relationship with my boyfriend in the midwest ended and I moved across the country to seek out more work opportunities. A lot of other personal relationships suffered while this was going on and so I ended up saying goodbye to more people that I had expected and it was very emotionally damaging, and on top of that I was moving from the mid west to the west coast. It was just not a good time.

Ever since that big move, I've been rebuilding my life. I couch surfed for about 8 months while a roommate and apartment situation ironed itself out. It didn't feel like I was that long because I was taking on ship contracts as much as I could. So I was out at sea for 90% of the time during those 8 months. Since December I've been more settled. I was able to move my belongings over to the west coast last April and now I'm just trying to work and recover from all of the major life change expenses. Cosplay and conventions have nearly completely stopped for me due to not being able to afford it financially. Anything I do manage to pop up at is entirely by coincidence or some stroke of luck.

So while it seems like I may have retired from cosplay, my heart hasn't I just have limitations and responsibilities that cannot be ignored. I am also not the kind of person who is comfortable with monetizing cosplay. It why I chose the professional costumer path instead. Cosplay is my time to work on something for me. I have also been struggling with my weight since I graduated. (Turns out cruise ship food is actually pretty terrible for your health, no matter how healthy you try to be...) I am seeing a doctor soon to discuss what might be going on with my health, but the weight gain has also made me extremely self conscious about wearing cosplay again. However, I do have a new boyfriend who thinks I'm fricken Aphrodite so that's been helping. His support is actually why I am able to feel creative enough to remember my dA and even consider really making something for myself again. 

So yeah, that's pretty much the update on the last 4 years. A LOT has happened and I think this is the first time I've really looked back on it myself.
I want to say, if you're still with me or even still on dA and support me whether it be with your kind words or from a quiet favorite here or there, thank you.
Thank You.

Be well my fellow deviants.

Hello Friends! The time has come! I am selling a Megara wig!
I’m sure you’re wondering if it is my original Meg wig? Answer: It is NOT.
This wig is fresh and new and never worn! Hooray for you!
www.ebay.com/itm/-/22178599009…?

Hey everyone. I know I've been fairly inactive this year with the exception of a few deviations. I've been very busy this year and I have returned to college to further my education in another field, so that keeps me extremely busy!

Now I wanted to address something that has come up.
PHOTO. PERMISSIONS.

I often get requests for photo manipulations, and/or people stealing my images without permission.

Here is my official stance on photo manipulations: "I DO NOT ALLOW PHOTO MANIPULATIONS" 

First: I don't even have the authority to give out permission in the first place. Yes, I am the model in the photo and it is my cosplay, but the intellectual RIGHTS belong to the photographer. I am allowed to post their photos of me with THEIR permission. I don't give out permission mainly because of this.
Second: If the person who took the photo wants to manipulate THEIR OWN photo of me, they are within their rights to do so. However if said photographer chooses to manipulate the photo into something demeaning or lewd or inappropriate, I will be very upset and possibly seek legal representation if an agreement cannot be reached.
Third: My photos ARE NOT STOCK PHOTOS.  DO NOT TREAT THEM AS SUCH.
Fourth: I don't actually like third party photo manipulations very much. To me it feels like the third party is completely dismissing all of the hard work the photographer and I put in to creating the image. The cosplayer puts in a lot of hard work in order to make the costume and the photographer puts in a lot of hard work to make the picture of the costume look great. So when a third party comes in and decides to take the photo and make changes, it really rubs me the wrong way.

Permission to manipulate photos should always come from both the photographer and the cosplayer/model with credit given to both parties. Not doing so means you've stolen the art and basically ripped it apart for your own fancy. 

Respect the cosplayers.
Respect the photographers.

End of story.

Hey friends! I've had inquiries about commissions. Well, I just wanted to update you that I haven't forgotten! I'm just working out some kinks about it and asking around about how to do things properly. (Tax wise. I don't want anyone to get in trouble here!) But I haven't forgotten!!