"May I have your picture?..."

[Ariolander]

Me: "May I have your picture?..."
/me gestures towards camera in hand

Thats how I greeted so many people when I attended Comic Con International with my shiny new Sony W50 camera in hand, excited and wanted to take as many pictures of the event as possivle.

Since I never cosplayed and dun know how it feels I thought I would ask since I am sorta feeling bad about bugging so many people after sorting through all my cosplay pictures, croping them, editing them and choosing which to upload.

How do you feel when someone stops you and asks you for a pciture when you cosplay at a convention?

I know I got a huge variety of responses. One time I had a motherwho actually thanked me for asking to photograph her son in his cute little homemade Naruto outfit to another time when I had a FF X-2 Riku cosplayer who responded by giving me a sceptical look and asking me if I even knew who she was. When I responded "Riku" all I got was a skeptical look so I took another guess and with that I was left in the dust with the guy next to me saying "You know your first answer was right dude". I have been on the receiving end of a variety of responses from strange looks, perky grins, rolling eyes, to the classical exhausted sigh.

... or was I approaching this wrong altogether? What would you as a cosplayer suggest for something wanting to have your photo?

[Hokutochan]

1stly, wow, what a bitch. Good you didnt take her pic- dont need her stuckup self in your albums/memories anyhow. Why cosplay if you're not prepared to get [OMG!] bugged about it? Thats what makes it fun- speading your love of the chara around. I'm massively happy when someone takes my pic, although it's only been twice u_u [always get stuck sewing until con's almost over...and i'm usually doing obscure sets with my more popular bud] and would probably bug the photographer by constantly asking 'is ths good? hows this? or this??'
As long as you don't snap without permisson I dont see how you can go wrong. Although! Don't block traffic- try to move to the side or just get away from the crowds- /that/ makes a lot of peole sigh. Asking after eating or pooping is a big no-no, and lavishing with actual praise is always nice ^-^

[lulu]

yeah i love getting taken pics by ppl it really doesnt bother me ^-^ that girl really needs to rethink wat she did...and i dont think u did anything wrong!i mean u only asked for a pic of her and like Luna P said it is nice to ask >.> (its considered rude if u dont) and u did..its kinda weird that she answered like that...maybe she was having a bad day? and i find it cool that u asked ppl how it felt u know that ur actually genuinly interested.

[Kyattsuai]

Whoa. That was a weird reaction. I ask for permission first, because that way the cosplayer's prepared and they don't look like a total dork when you get the picture. They get a chance to put down shopping bags, shove unneeded friends off the scene for the mo', pose and take off glasses for the piccy if need be. And if you're getting asked, you get the warm fuzzy feeling inside that someone liked your cosplay. <3 Blocking traffic isn't such a smart idea either, I had to take a picture of a Neji cosplayer from across the dealer's room aisle at Anime North once this year, she was waiting right inside the entrance to the dealer's room for someone when I asked. ^^; So, basically, I just straight out ask 'Excuse me, can I take your picture?' The people I asked didn't seem to mind, they even waited while I remembered that my finger was still on the power button on my cam. -sweatdrops-

[FishiesG0Pook]

I absolutly love getting my picture taken. I'm a total camera whore. Hahaha. If someone asks for my picture I'll just say sure and step back, take a pose or something.

I remember one time last year I got asked to take a picture with some people. Their mother yelled at me because I wasnt smiling. Thing is, not smiling was supposed to be part of the character! Hahaha. They probably had no idea who I was.

[ZeKarmiSama]

Honestly, if you don't want your picture taken, don't do a good job cosplaying... Isn't the whole purpose to run around going, "Yeah... I know I'm awesome... love me!"

The only thing connected with cosplaying I'd disprove of is those crazy freaks who think it's okay to run up to a cosplayer and smack them for reals with a wooden yaoi paddle... that's wood remember?! ...and probably sexual harassment...

I took a good hundred pictures at Anime Expo, but forgot my camera at Comic-Con...

I cosplay, but I never seem to do an butt-kicking job enough to have someone to want to take my picture. @_@

Overall, I always ask permission unless they're already posing for a crowd of people.

[KaYoKitten]

Honestly, I'm extremely shy, and if I'd had a single reaction like that girl's I prolly would have run off crying and hid under a table or something. ^^; But most of the people I asked at A-kon a couple years ago were really nice about it. Most of the time, they love having their pictures taken. ^^

I tried cosplaying just one of the days, and someone stole my rose and ran away...T__T I prolly looked utterly retarded, anyway. I made the white pants okay, but the white vest got all weird-looking after I put it together and...eh, who am I kiddin', the pants prolly would have fallen down if I hadn't made a belt for it. V_V No one asked for my picture or anything...well, no one knew who I was supposed to be, anyways. =P Eh. Comes with being stupid and doing a random character whom I did not know. (And still can't find again, to this day XD)

[lulu]

Honestly, I'm extremely shy, and if I'd had a single reaction like that girl's I prolly would have run off crying and hid under a table or something. ^^; But most of the people I asked at A-kon a couple years ago were really nice about it. Most of the time, they love having their pictures taken. ^^

I tried cosplaying just one of the days, and someone stole my rose and ran away...T__T I prolly looked utterly retarded, anyway. I made the white pants okay, but the white vest got all weird-looking after I put it together and...eh, who am I kiddin', the pants prolly would have fallen down if I hadn't made a belt for it. V_V No one asked for my picture or anything...well, no one knew who I was supposed to be, anyways. =P Eh. Comes with being stupid and doing a random character whom I did not know. (And still can't find again, to this day XD)
i disagree with u totally on that actually when i take pics i dun always take pics of well-known cosplays cause theyre all over! i'd rather take a pic of an Ash than of someone cosplaying Alucard ^-^' just because lol. and alot has to do with wat kinda con u go to ex. if u go to a smaller con ur definatly gonna get more attention cause theres less ppl. dun feel bad if no one asks for ur pic kk its not cause they think u look stupid! and hey when making ur cosplay trust me ALOT of things come out messed up XD

[Zenriek]

Although I've never cosplayed (I'd feel silly unless I did it with a friend), I'd say I'd love to have my picture taken. I'd give you a big smile and say, 'Of course!'

[ParaKiss]

I generally do a routine:
- Praise their outfit - Stroke their ego. If you do it right they'll have no problem with you taking a photo.
- Be polite
- If you don't know who/what they're cosplaying, ask. E.g "Wow, that is one great outift... Who are you cosplaying? Wow haven't heard of that anime before... Recommend it?"
- Don't take too many photos. One or two good pics are enough. Don't hold them up for too long.
- Thank them for the photo
- Also ask if they have a camera and want a good photo of themselves while your at it.

If they want to be bitchy about, however great the costume is, let it go. Their not worth the time and effort.

[Jacku]

If you're going to cosplay but don't want your picture taken just say no in a polite way, like "Sorry. No pictures. please." Having good manners is not overrated.

I normally don't go up to random strangers so when I take pictures of cosplayers I just wait for a big group of people to be taking someone's picture or have one of my friends tell that person I want a picture.
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