Photo etiquette

[jere7my.livejournal.com]

Hi! I had a lovely time at my first Arisia—thanks, everybody! A con report will show up on my journal shortly.

So, I spent most of Arisia with my camera tucked away in my hotel room, because I wasn't sure what the etiquette was for taking pictures at the con, and was shy about asking strangers if I could steal their souls. Now I find this LJ group, and I wish I'd been braver, since everyone is clamoring for pictures of themselves and their friends. :) What should I have done? Is someone who's unfamiliar to Arisians wandering around with a camera likely to be seen as sketchy, or as a valuable resource for future memories?

Comments

[c1.livejournal.com]

I've been taking pictures at con for years. Sometimes I ask, sometimes I don't, but rather rely on the person to indicate if it's OK. If you raise your lens in someone's direction, a quickly turned head or a raised hand will tell you well enough to stay your trigger finger. (This is useful practice in places where it's not practical to ask, such as in the drum circle or club dance.)
In all this time, I've never once had a problem with a fan. Most of them are more than happy that you're paying attention to their outfit, dance moves or whatever and may even ask for copies.
But certainly be wary about crossing the line when someone really doesn't want it. Above all, listen to your subject. You don't want a crummy picture of someone's scowl anyway.

[flyingwolf.livejournal.com]

Legally people are fair game in public places. But it's not always polite.

I only took 1 pic at the con & I asked - but haven't always in the past. It's really hard to get candids if you ask first and with a digital camera you can always delete if somone growls at you. Click first, ask permission later works much better when you can delete right away & people trust you enough that they know you will do this. There's also asking permission and then waiting to get a more candid pic - that works too. (sometimes asking doesn't have to be verbal... just be obvious that you have a camera, do some test points and see how people react.)

[doeeyedbunny.livejournal.com]

Hey, can you send me the pictures you took of me in my naughty nurse outfit? That would be much appreciated.