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gailsimone:

cosplaying-and-con-etiquette:

The last thing anybody wants to do is find themselves on a bad cosplay blog. Bad cosplay blogs aren’t exactly nice to people, and can say really mean things. The only reason you should submit to a bad cosplay blog, is if that picture is of yourself, and you want to submit it because you know its bad. I once saw somebody take a picture of a pinky pie, and I later over heard them talking about how they only take photos of bad cosplays because they want to submit it to a bad cosplay blog. Its just not right to post pictures of complete strangers on websites and blogs that make fun of them.

If you actually do this? You are a far bigger loser than you can possibly imagine.

This is rather connected to the industry I’m in, which is print industry (newspaper publishing).  I work at a very small weekly newspaper in West Central Saskatchewan, there are only three of us in the office.  At any given time, one of us could have photos lined up for that week’s edition.  We use a very simple question when taking pictures that aren’t what are called “grip and grins” or “ribbon cutters” or “action sports shots”.  Those three previous examples are ones where it’s expected that a picture is being taken.

But if you’re interviewing someone, or taking pictures at the local pool, or even individuals having a good time at an event (like, say a comic con) it’s sort of an unwritten rule that you ask first before taking the picture.  This is what we say:

“Hi there.  I with with the Outlook, the weekly newspaper.  I’m wondering if I could take your picture.”

Usually after saying this we’d say that we might not use the photo for certain, but we do keep them on file.  A lot of times, people ask if we’ve still go the picture and ask for copies of it.  This wasn’t much different when I worked in radio, you had to ask if it was alright to record an interview.  It was common sense and common courtesy.

Now, take all of that, and if the photographer uses those simple little rules, and still ends up posting the photo to a bad cosplay blog, then the guy is just a lying douchebag.