Planet Comic Con 2026 with the 405th

There’s something about Planet Comic Con Kansas City that always hits a little differently—but this year? This year was one for the books.

I spent the weekend helping out at the 405th Infantry Division booth, bouncing between cosplayer, photographer, and honestly just fan-girling half the time. If you’ve ever been around the 405th, you already know—it’s not just costumes. It’s craftsmanship, community, and a whole lot of people hauling around armor that weighs more than it looks (and somehow still posing like absolute badasses).

And then… there was the cold.

Early mornings at the convention center were brutal. Like, breath-in-the-air, fingers-going-numb kind of cold. But those quiet hours before the crowds? That’s where some of the best moments happened. I got to pull aside a few of the cosplayers in full kit—Spartans, ODSTs, all of it—and capture these really raw, cinematic shots before everything got busy. No distractions. Just armor, atmosphere, and that soft early light creeping in.

Somewhere between trying to keep my camera steady and not freezing solid, someone handed me a coat—absolute lifesaver. So seriously… thank you, Oxide. You probably saved both me and my shutter finger.

One of the biggest highlights of the weekend was meeting Jeff Steitzer—yes, that voice. The iconic “Voice of God” from the Halo series. Hearing that voice in person is surreal enough, but getting to photograph him alongside the guys in full kit? Unreal. Watching Spartans and ODSTs standing there with the literal voice behind the game—it felt like everything blurred together in the best way. Game, reality, fandom… all of it.

Those are the moments I live for as a photographer.

Not just posed photos, but the energy behind them. The interactions. The quiet pride in someone’s build. The excitement of meeting someone who shaped a piece of your childhood. The laughter between shots. The clanking of armor in the hallway. The cold air that somehow makes everything feel sharper and more real.

By the time the convention floor filled up, the booth was alive—people stopping, asking questions, taking photos, connecting. And that’s the thing about events like this—it’s not just about showing off costumes. It’s about finding your people.

Walking away from this year’s con, I had full memory cards, frozen toes, and a heart that was very, very full.

Already counting down to the next one.