Science Fiction Conventions are large and exciting events with many opportunities for photographs. That being said, there are a number of things that everyone must keep in mind before snapping away. Note that many of the guidelines and restrictions that appear in this Policy apply equally to all Participants, not only to Photographers. Violations of the terms of this Policy will be considered to be violations of the Code of Conduct.
For the purposes of this Policy, all references to photos will refer to any form of visual recording via any device or media.
The LAcon V press office is located in the Balboa A room on the fourth floor of the Hilton. All Photographers are requested to communicate with the press office to coordinate their activities.
Interactions with Others
- You may not occupy or block any spaces designated for accessibility purposes, even if only for long enough to get one photo.
- You may not occupy reserved seats or sections not marked for press use; if all press spaces are occupied for a particular event, please look for a local press office staff member or contact the press office directly.
Interacting with the Code of Conduct
- Please do not take picture(s) or record video(s) of individuals without their explicit permission. There are a number of circumstances where doing so could be considered as harassment, and violate the Code of Conduct.
- Creating and/or publishing even a single picture of any person in a public space (e.g., a crowd shot) may require their consent, unless:(a) that person is clearly not the main subject of the image; and (b) the picture does not cause them any damage, suffering, or harm.
Interacting with Convention Activities
- You may not use flash photography during the opening and closing ceremonies, mMasquerade, or Hugo Awards ceremony. Flash photography is a safety hazard to the people on stage and, therefore, strictly prohibited.
- Photographers are not permitted to bring in additional lights unless specifically negotiated with all relevant participants.
- Flash photography is also disallowed within panel rooms.
- You may not disrupt a program item or other event. The moderator/organizer of any activity event has the right to ask anyone to leave the room if they believe they are being disruptive. Please ensure any photography is non-disruptive, and respect the moderator/presenter, and/or the wishes of any Participant(s) regarding taking of photos that may include them.
You may not record autograph signing sessions. Many people are present and identifiable at these events, not just the author, and for many people, meeting their favorite author(s) in person is a very personal moment. In addition, many authors and stars have strict contractual requirements regarding having photos or videos taken.
Policy Definitions
Common definitions for terms found in this and other LAcon V policies can be found on the Policy Term Definitions page.
