ICoN Cosplay Photo Fest - About

ICoN Cosplay Phot Fest 2025

When: September 5-7 2025

Where: nipaluna/Hobart, lutriwita/Tasmania

 This event will take place on lutruwita (Tasmania) Aboriginal land, sea and waterways. We acknowledge, with deep respect the traditional owners of this land, the muwinina people.

Queries should be directed to iconphotofest@gmail.com

ICoN Cosplay Photo Festival is a three-day collaborative photography event which brings together photographers and cosplayers of all skill levels for a weekend of creative art photography shoots. Each participant will be assigned at least one (1) shoot.

Assigned shoots are only the beginning – each participant will have the opportunity to organise as many other shoots during the event as they are reasonably able to

COVID and Health policy

It is expected that all participants be in reasonable health. Mask wearing is encouraged in enclosed spaces and were reasonably possible.

Regular RAT or PCR testing as well as flu and COVID vaccines are encouraged.

How does all of this work?

Each cosplayer will be assigned at least one (1) photographer for a shoot.

Each photographer will be assigned at least two (2) cosplayers for individual shoots.

Pairings will be assigned so as to deliberately mix up skill levels and styles. These assigned shoots are mandatory and must take precedence over other shoots booked throughout the event. If you cannot work with another participant for any reason, please let us know as soon as possible and we will try to accommodate where possible.

Do I have to pay anything to attend the event?

ICoN Cosplay Photo Festival is a free event.

All photo shoots are TFP – all assigned shoots and any additional shoots organised at this event are expected to be offered freely and not pay-walled.

How many shoots can I do?

After all participants have organised their assigned shoots, you will be given the green light to start adding extra individual and group shoots.

Please respect all participants – do not plan shoots before you are a) accepted into ICoN and b) have been given the green light on the event Discord.

Cosplayers – think about how many costumes and locations you are physically able to attend without hurting yourself.
You should only take part in ICoN with the understanding that you will only have one (1) assigned shoot.

Photographers – think about how long it will take you to process each shoot to your regular standards. You should offer each cosplayer you work with a minimum of 3 finished images.

• All participants (cosplayers, photographers, helpers) must be aged 18 on the first of September 2025.

• All shoots are TFP and should be offered without pay-walling.

• Assigned shoots take priority – if you are unable to complete an assigned shoot for any reason please let the organisers know.

• Communicate clearly and promptly with your shoot partners about how many photos to expect and when these will be delivered.

• Time keeping is an important part of a successful Photo Festival. If you are running late for a shoot for any reason let your shoot partner know as soon as possible.

• Realistic military attire or first responder attire and realistic firearms must not be worn or used as part of ICoN Cosplay Photo Fest. This includes fantasy military attire that looks like Police riot gear. Please contact the organisers if you are unsure.

Tasmania has strict gun control laws.
Fake and prop firearms, including gel blasters should not be brough into Tasmania and may be illegal.
Tasmania has strict restrictions on the use of knives in public places so use prop blades (foam or wood).
Keep all prop weapons covered and secured when not in use so as not to alarm the general public.

• ICoN Cosplay Photo Fest will not take any responsibility if you are detained for any reason.

• ICoN Cosplay Photo Fest will not take any responsibility for any injuries that occur as part of the photography festival.

• Please pay attention to all guides for shooting in Tasmania, including shooting on Kunanyi/Mt Wellington and in Tasmanian National Parks.

• Cosplay Photo Fest aims to provide a safe space for all, and we will not tolerate harassment, discrimination or hate speech of any kind. Inappropriate conduct will result in your removal from the event and a ban from future events.

• Please respect each other’s pronouns and preferred names. If someone asks you not to use their real name when publishing your images please respect this.

• Raceface (blackface, brownface, yellowface, racebounding, racebending etc) make up or costume will absolutely not be tolerated. This includes both makeup (including body paint) and masks.

• Face taping is allowed, but be careful not to change the shape of your eyes.

• Costumes must not be offensive or discriminatory in nature – any imagery or symbols related to hate groups (including historical figures) – eg. Nazi symbols including swastikas and totenkopf etc; flags such as the Confederate Battle Flag or the Rising Sun Flag etc – are not permitted at the event. It is recommended that you do not wear realistic military or first responder uniforms as part of ICoN.

• Do not solicit nudes or lewds from participants. This includes after the event has concluded.

• In line with funding, we ask that you do not stage boudoir or erotic photo shoots.

• Any shoot concept or imagery that conflicts with Tasmanian or Australia law is prohibited, and no responsibility will be taken by the organisers for participants who land themselves in legal trouble.

• It is recommended that you take out travel and/medical insurance. In the event of an emergency ICON will make every attempt to contact your Emergency Contact as supplied but can not take any further or financial responsibility.

• Respect the locations you work in. Clean up after yourself – do not leave anything behind at shoot locations and do not remove anything from any location. Be respectful of those around you including your fellow ICON participants and the general public.