FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:
• WHERE WILL THE EVENT BE HELD? The 13th edition of HAIR OF THE DRAGON, Atlanta's Cosplay Photo mini-Con, will be held at STUDIO SPACE ATLANTA - on March 8, 2025 (3080 McCall Dr #2, Atlanta, GA 30340) from 6:00-11:00pm.
• IS IT TRUE THERE IS A "PRE-PARTY"? Yes, it's true! The night before HAIR OF THE DRAGON #13: Cosplay Photo mini-Con is the HALFWAY TO THE DRAGON Cosplay Celebration (21+) at Monks Meadery (579 North Highland Ave. NE) on Friday, March 7, from 6:00-11:00pm. This event is separate from HOTD #13 so an additional ticket is required if wanting to attend both the March 7 and March 8 events. If you attend the Friday, March 7 event at Monks Meadery please make note of what the WEATHER IS and dress appropriately as several of the event's elements are just outside of Monks Meadery (so dress warmly if it's going to be cold!). International rockers Ricky and Bambi of RADIO CULT will be performing from 7:30-9:30pm at Monks Meadery. You can claim your TICKET at this link HERE for the Friday, March 7 event!
• IS PARKING PROVIDED FOR HoTD?
There is ample parking all around STUDIO SPACE ATLANTA, and it is all free.
• IS THIS LIKE DRAGON CON?
Yes and no! Yes in that there are many, many amazing cosplayers and lots of photographers! However with this event Photography is encouraged by making use of various studios and standing sets in a 20,000+ sq. foot venue. Yes in that it's a very social environment. No in that there are no vendors or celebrities. No in that it's not an entire weekend, just one amazing night (however, there is a "pre-party" on Friday at Monks Meadery, the night before HOTD #13). No in that there is no $25 fee for parking like at the Dragon in downtown ATL, HOTD event has free, safe and plentiful parking just outside the building. We also call this "Halfway to the Dragon" because it falls approximately 6 months from the annual Dragon Con hosted in downtown Atlanta. It attracts many of the same type of cosplayers who are looking to get amazing photos in their cosplays while also mingling and networking with their peers in a safe and open space. NOTE: This event is not directly affiliated with Dragon Con, although we are a huge fan and attend annually ourselves.
• ARE COSTUMES REQUIRED FOR ATTENDANCE?
No, costumes are not required for entry. Yes, the majority of those attending will wear (or bring cosplays) but there will also be many who will be there to take their own photos and/or just mingle and enjoy the event. If you are wanting to just come and watch, you'll need a Spectator Ticket (doesn't include photo sessions)
• WILL THERE BE A GROUP PHOTO (like year's past)?
Yes!! We will do a large GROUP PHOTO later in the evening at 9:00pm in the main (larger) room. Details will be included in your Registration hand-out/map program. Participation in the GROUP PHOTO is optional but highly encouraged!
• ARE THERE PHOTOS OR VIDEOS FROM PAST YEARS I CAN VIEW?
Yes! You can view archive photos and videos at:
• VIDEOS – click HERE.
Yes!! We will do a large GROUP PHOTO later in the evening at 9:00pm in the main (larger) room. Details will be included in your Registration hand-out/map program. Participation in the GROUP PHOTO is optional but highly encouraged!
• ARE THERE PHOTOS OR VIDEOS FROM PAST YEARS I CAN VIEW?
Yes! You can view archive photos and videos at:
• VIDEOS – click HERE.
• PHOTOS – click HERE.
• CAN I CHANGE INTO MY COSPLAY(s) AT THE EVENT?
Yes, you can bring your costumes and change into them at the event. There will be multiple dressing rooms / make-up areas open for attendees to use. Please note that event organizers are not responsible for lost, broken or stolen costume pieces. If you do use one of the dressing rooms, please make sure to clean up after yourself and double-check to make sure all that you brought into the room, you leave with.
• WILL I BE ABLE TO WORK WITH ALL OF THE FEATURED PHOTOGRAPHERS?
Maybe. Many different things can affect that possibility (when you arrive at the event, how many costumes you bring and how long it takes you to change costumes, how many people are waiting for a certain photographer ahead of you, how long you take with each photographer, when you leave the event, etc.) We ask that everyone who attends be patient and understand in knowing that each photographer works differently and not to expect an hour-long photoshoot with a Featured Photographer. With this being a special event, photographers will not spend as much time capturing images of subjects as they would, say, during a 1-on-1 private photo shoot.
• WILL THERE BE FOOD?
Yes, event organizers will be providing tasty finger foods during the event (while it lasts).
• WILL THERE BE OTHER EVENTS LIKE THIS IN THE FUTURE?
Yes. For more info, please check www.MarksterCon.com for future events to satisfy your inner geek and party monster.
• IS THERE A FEE FOR PHOTOS?
No, there is no fee for photos. After the event is over (and photographers have a chance to edit/organize photos) the photos will be uploaded (via albums/links) to this web sites's homepage. Some photographers will start making their edited photos available soon after the event while some may take more time releasing images in batches as they are edited.
• ARE THE PHOTOS AVAILABLE ON A CD? Online worthy photos will be uploaded and available online. Contact the photographers directly after the event for additional inquiries if you want access to high-res images (which may incur an additional fee, payable to the photographer).
• CAN I CHANGE INTO MY COSPLAY(s) AT THE EVENT?
Yes, you can bring your costumes and change into them at the event. There will be multiple dressing rooms / make-up areas open for attendees to use. Please note that event organizers are not responsible for lost, broken or stolen costume pieces. If you do use one of the dressing rooms, please make sure to clean up after yourself and double-check to make sure all that you brought into the room, you leave with.
• WILL I BE ABLE TO WORK WITH ALL OF THE FEATURED PHOTOGRAPHERS?
Maybe. Many different things can affect that possibility (when you arrive at the event, how many costumes you bring and how long it takes you to change costumes, how many people are waiting for a certain photographer ahead of you, how long you take with each photographer, when you leave the event, etc.) We ask that everyone who attends be patient and understand in knowing that each photographer works differently and not to expect an hour-long photoshoot with a Featured Photographer. With this being a special event, photographers will not spend as much time capturing images of subjects as they would, say, during a 1-on-1 private photo shoot.
• HOW DO I KNOW WHO THE OFFICIAL PHOTOGRAPHERS ARE AND WHERE THEY ARE LOCATED?
Attendees will receive a venue map and photo talent roster at Registration which they can keep and refer to throughout the event. We'll have both Featured (stationary and working in a designated space) and Roamers (moving around the venue). Featured Photographers and Roaming Photographers will have special Event Badges which will also help you identify them!
• DO I HAVE TO WEAR MY COSTUME THE ENTIRE EVENT?
No, you do not. You are welcomed to change out of your costume if it's uncomfortable or if you have another costume you'd like to wear to be photographed in. As stated above, there are 9 private dressing rooms you can have access to for changing.
• IS ALCOHOL ALLOWED?
Yes, alcohol is allowed but it will not be provided by the event organizers or the venue...so it's BYOB. If you do BYOB, we do require that all those partaking are 21+. If you do bring your own beverage, please make sure to dispose of the empty containers and do not just place them around the venue for someone else to pick up. Either take the containers with you or thrown them in the trash. If you bring a cooler, you can always just put them back in the cooler. Giving or sharing any alcoholic beverage to anyone under the age of 21+ is strictly prohibited.
• WHAT IS THE POLICY ABOUT PHOTOS BEING TAKEN BY PARTICIPANTS (instead of the featured photographers)?
Participants can take photos on their own but they will need to stay out of the "shooting range" of the official event photographers and not interfere with photoshoots. Trying to speak over event photographers to tell someone currently being shot to do something else is also frowned upon. So...in a nutshell...participants can take photos....just don't interfere with the actual shoots.
• WHERE CAN I GET ACCESS TO THE PHOTOS, AFTER THE EVENT IS OVER?
All of the Featured and Roaming photographers will submit links to their edited photos a short while after the event has ended. Some photographers may only require a day or two while others may require a week or more, depending on how many photos they take and their editing. We will post those links to the home page of www.CosplayPhotoCon.com / www.HairOfTheDragon.com once we receive the links from the photographers.
• IS THERE AN AGE REQUIREMENT TO ATTEND THIS EVENT?
No, there is not a minimum age requirement for this event. However it should be noted that some costumes may be "revealing" showing a decent amount of bare skin. Also, the only thing that is required is an event ticket, that can either be reserved online in advance (no walk-up door sales!). Doors open to 'ADV. TICKET HOLDERS' at 5:30pm with photography starting at 6:00pm. NOTE: Many attendees who arrive before 6:00pm use the time to suit up in their cosplay.
• HOW DOES REGISTRATION/TICKETING WORK?
Adv. Tickets for 2025 are available online via Eventbrite. When you arrive at the venue and walk in, there will be a handful of people there to assist you. If you pre-purchased a ticket, give them the .pdf ticket that you were sent (via email). You will then be asked to sign a Model Release and Liability Waiver. If there are people ahead of you waiting for Registration, please be patient and do not enter the event until you have shown your ticket and signed the Model Release and Liability Waiver. After that you will be given a map of the 20,000+ venue along with where the Photographers are located as well as a schedule of the evening. We highly recommend walking through the entire venue after Registration to acclimate yourself to where everything is.
Attendees will receive a venue map and photo talent roster at Registration which they can keep and refer to throughout the event. We'll have both Featured (stationary and working in a designated space) and Roamers (moving around the venue). Featured Photographers and Roaming Photographers will have special Event Badges which will also help you identify them!
• DO I HAVE TO WEAR MY COSTUME THE ENTIRE EVENT?
No, you do not. You are welcomed to change out of your costume if it's uncomfortable or if you have another costume you'd like to wear to be photographed in. As stated above, there are 9 private dressing rooms you can have access to for changing.
• IS ALCOHOL ALLOWED?
Yes, alcohol is allowed but it will not be provided by the event organizers or the venue...so it's BYOB. If you do BYOB, we do require that all those partaking are 21+. If you do bring your own beverage, please make sure to dispose of the empty containers and do not just place them around the venue for someone else to pick up. Either take the containers with you or thrown them in the trash. If you bring a cooler, you can always just put them back in the cooler. Giving or sharing any alcoholic beverage to anyone under the age of 21+ is strictly prohibited.
• WHAT IS THE POLICY ABOUT PHOTOS BEING TAKEN BY PARTICIPANTS (instead of the featured photographers)?
Participants can take photos on their own but they will need to stay out of the "shooting range" of the official event photographers and not interfere with photoshoots. Trying to speak over event photographers to tell someone currently being shot to do something else is also frowned upon. So...in a nutshell...participants can take photos....just don't interfere with the actual shoots.
• WHERE CAN I GET ACCESS TO THE PHOTOS, AFTER THE EVENT IS OVER?
All of the Featured and Roaming photographers will submit links to their edited photos a short while after the event has ended. Some photographers may only require a day or two while others may require a week or more, depending on how many photos they take and their editing. We will post those links to the home page of www.CosplayPhotoCon.com / www.HairOfTheDragon.com once we receive the links from the photographers.
• IS THERE AN AGE REQUIREMENT TO ATTEND THIS EVENT?
No, there is not a minimum age requirement for this event. However it should be noted that some costumes may be "revealing" showing a decent amount of bare skin. Also, the only thing that is required is an event ticket, that can either be reserved online in advance (no walk-up door sales!). Doors open to 'ADV. TICKET HOLDERS' at 5:30pm with photography starting at 6:00pm. NOTE: Many attendees who arrive before 6:00pm use the time to suit up in their cosplay.
• HOW DOES REGISTRATION/TICKETING WORK?
Adv. Tickets for 2025 are available online via Eventbrite. When you arrive at the venue and walk in, there will be a handful of people there to assist you. If you pre-purchased a ticket, give them the .pdf ticket that you were sent (via email). You will then be asked to sign a Model Release and Liability Waiver. If there are people ahead of you waiting for Registration, please be patient and do not enter the event until you have shown your ticket and signed the Model Release and Liability Waiver. After that you will be given a map of the 20,000+ venue along with where the Photographers are located as well as a schedule of the evening. We highly recommend walking through the entire venue after Registration to acclimate yourself to where everything is.
• WILL THERE BE FOOD?
Yes, event organizers will be providing tasty finger foods during the event (while it lasts).
• WILL THERE BE OTHER EVENTS LIKE THIS IN THE FUTURE?
Yes. For more info, please check www.MarksterCon.com for future events to satisfy your inner geek and party monster.
• IS THERE A FEE FOR PHOTOS?
No, there is no fee for photos. After the event is over (and photographers have a chance to edit/organize photos) the photos will be uploaded (via albums/links) to this web sites's homepage. Some photographers will start making their edited photos available soon after the event while some may take more time releasing images in batches as they are edited.
• ARE THE PHOTOS AVAILABLE ON A CD? Online worthy photos will be uploaded and available online. Contact the photographers directly after the event for additional inquiries if you want access to high-res images (which may incur an additional fee, payable to the photographer).
• IS THERE ANYTHING HAPPENING AFTER THE EVENT?
Typically a large group of attendees will meet up AFTER the event to grab a bite to eat at IHOP afterwards to decompress and mingle. The address is 5000 Jimmy Carter Blvd in Norcross which is about a 10 minute drive from from Studio Space Atlanta.
• I STILL HAVE QUESTIONS
Feel free to email them to hairofthedragon@gmail.com
Typically a large group of attendees will meet up AFTER the event to grab a bite to eat at IHOP afterwards to decompress and mingle. The address is 5000 Jimmy Carter Blvd in Norcross which is about a 10 minute drive from from Studio Space Atlanta.
• I STILL HAVE QUESTIONS
Feel free to email them to hairofthedragon@gmail.com
