#richard bui

[cosplaycreepers]

Recently another victim of Richard T. Bui has contacted me wanting to share their story. This is what she had to say: "Alrighty. Decided to post this now since it has been blowing up my feed for the past 2 days. This guy, right here, is a photographer. A PROFESSIONAL photographer. As you may have known, i did 3 different shoots in San Francisco back in mid April. Remember those three donation sets that i put up for sale and the photographer didn't want his name credited? This is the guy. Why am i posting this? Well, even though i am of age and most of you know that i am beyond extremely comfortable with my body but this guy made me think entirely different of him. He has been asking girls that are under age 18 to send him nude photos, just so he can "get and ideal view of a girl's angles when he shoots them."

First off, why the fuck would you stoop so low to ask UNDERAGED girls to do this when they've constantly told you that they aren't not comfortable, yet you continue to be pushy and persistent? Shit like this makes my stomach turn...

He practically did the same thing to me also but i was just brushing it off, which i shouldn't have. I then noticed that he had a bit of a....well not sure if it's a fetish or not but he asked if he can do close up shots of the pubic areas of my body (and i'm not the only person he's asked this). He's asked my other friends this as well and this guy is a cosplay photographer but does other genre's as well but i really don't understand why one certain photographer has to make that entire community look bad. You all might be wondering if this is effecting me in a really bad way and to be honest, it's not too bad. I'm actually fine that i actually found out about the truth and how much of a scum this guy is. It breaks my heart but nothing i can do.

Also, please spread this!!! This needs to get out as much as it can. Everyone, please be safe and watch your surroundings! Don't EVER make someone push you out of your comfort zone. It's not up to someone else to make you do something you don't want to do "

[cosplaycreepers]

Maybe some of you have heard about Richard T. Bui lately on your Facebook feeds. He was one of the creators of the Cosplay Photographers website. He has left Cosplay Photographers over a year or so ago. In any case, he is well known in the NorCal cosplay scene. I have not lived here that long, however those I know here tell me he was a familiar face at conventions and cosplay gatherings in the area. He had a large circle of friends in the cosplay and cosplay photography communities including well known (or “cosfamous” as some people say) photographers and cosplayers. A lot of people who have known him for years were completely shocked and appalled by this behavior, which proves to me even further that he was selecting cosplayers who were not as outspoken or known in the community in hopes they would not speak out. He used this position to lure and groom these ladies into giving him nude photos of themselves in order for him to be able to “trust” them. -- First question that comes to my mind is what fucked up kind of logic is that? It should be the cosplayer who would need a reason to trust the photographer!!! And in some instances, these propositions for nude photos were made to underage girls. Minors. In the messages above, it is pretty damn clear that he was using classic grooming tactics in order to have the victim doubt themselves. He made it seem like it was “no big deal” and that others were doing it, so therefore the girls should feel more comfortable in giving in to him. He also mentions that he deletes the photos, but then immediately afterwards says he’d share a few examples, even some of “well known” cosplayers -- this means he in fact DOES NOT delete them. These brave girls have spoken out about him. At first it was just one comment, then it seemed like a flood of others came to speak out in hopes to raise awareness, and in hopes that he doesn’t victimize any more people. Please, BEWARE of this guy. If you are a victim, please speak out, I understand it is a hard thing to do, and scary, but you could potentially be helping victims in speaking up, as well as preventing this shit from happening to others. Remember, NO ONE SHOULD EVER need nude photos of you to get an understanding of your body type for a photoshoot. If someone asks you, tell them HELL NO and do not communicate with them any further. This is not professional behavior! The cosplay community should be a safe place for all of us -- let’s work together in making it that way. Edit: Photo of Richard added as to know what he looks like in order to avoid him.