The Responsible Adult Photography Policy

It should be understood that given the pervasive and evolving availability of photographic technology, there is no way for any event or individual to guarantee that your photo will not be taken at any kink event. Please evaluate your own risk accordingly.

This Responsible Adult Photography Policy is an effort to create an environment where, like many kinks, a dangerous activity can be enjoyed in a safer and supported space.

All photography at ROPECRAFT is strictly opt-in.

Two kinds of photography exist at our event in event spaces: official event photography by photographers with camera gear and responsible adult cell phone/mobile device photography.

Official Ropecraft photography will only be allowed by photographers who have been selected by the event beforehand. These are the ONLY folks permitted to use professional looking camera gear outside of our dedicated photo rooms. They have been vetted for a history of discretion and responsibility in regards to consent and privacy concerns and will be taking photographs of only of enthusiastically consenting staff, presenters and performers for personal and promotional purposes.

If you are NOT an official event photographer and would like to bring and use photography-specific gear, you will need to keep all that professional photo gear confined to the event photo rooms for your personal use and share those spaces conscientiously without monopolizing them for personal gain.

Please see the Responsible Adult Photo Policy attendee cell phone photography guidelines below for information on consensual cell phone photography.

How do I create consent for photography?

Any and all attendee photography requires enthusiastic affirmative consent including for anyone EVEN PARTIALLY in the background of any pictures taken. Please see below for guidelines on risk-aware and polite consensual attendee photography.

NOTE: Witnessing another attendee or staff member taking photos does not grant additional photography permissions.

If two (or more) people create consent for photography together, this does NOT give consent for any other photographs to be taken by any other parties or by those parties at any other time than the one discussed.

ROPECRAFT considers personal (i.e. cell phone) photography to be a kink activity

An example of a kink activity with similar guidelines would be something like a single-tail or fire play scene:

Active non-coercive enthusiastic consent must be created between all participants
- This specifically includes anyone even partially in the background
- Asking to take photographs of a person you do not already have a friendly trusting relationship is highly discouraged and impolite. People will ask if they would like help taking pictures!
Decisions about “aftercare” (i.e., where the photo ends up) should be negotiated beforehand. Like any kink, if participants don’t fully trust each other in the activity of photography, they should not do it together. Only play if you are comfortable with and aware of the risks.
If you can’t control the scene, don’t play – that means no video or sound recording. People can be identified by voice, and it is impossible to control those media the way photography can be. Only specifically authorized Ropecraft staff (such as the official photographers) can make video or sound recordings.

Absolutely no official photos will be kept in which a person who does not have a clearly visible name badge with photo consent ribbon in the shot (or from another shot taken during that scene).

Cell phone usage is allowed at ROPECRAFT.

Attendees are expected to use common courtesy and leave any area that they might disrupt if they must take or make a phone call or text. Do not call or text in the dungeon spaces – please use the hall. Cell phones or tablets may be used for text note taking but video or sound recording by attendees is prohibited. We encourage the use of notebooks and hand-written note-taking.

Please limit your personal photographic equipment in general event spaces to cell phones – not larger cameras or tablets. The only people carrying cameras around in any space besides the designated photo rooms should be Ropecraft photographers. If we are wondering “is that a cell phone or a camera?” then it’s too big and you will be asked to take it out of the general event space.

Attendees who are not official photographers for the event are not permitted to take unsolicited photos. If a staff member is alerted to an attendee taking such photos, they may contact security and request that the attendee review the photo gallery on their phone with them. If any photos or videos of ROPECRAFT staff or attendees are present, they will be required to delete them and then be subject to the below consent violation guidelines.

Intentionally photographing an individual or group without their express consent will be considered as cause for removal from the event, at the organizer’s discretion.

Any deviation from these guidelines will be treated like any other consent violation, including but not limited to removal from the event without refund, notification of other event organizers, and/or involving law enforcement.