08/21/2026
Consent first. Composition second. Timing always.
We read the published photography policies at four Renaissance faires this week: Michigan, Minnesota, the Original Renaissance Pleasure Faire in Southern California, and Ohio. No two of them said the same thing. One bans tripods outright. One bans only the tripods that block a walkway. One forbids filming any free show without written permission. One holds that walking through the gate grants the faire permission to use your likeness.
One rule runs through all four, and Ohio says it plainest: ask permission before taking a picture with a performer.
Tonight's Crier has the four rulebooks side by side, three habits that fix most faire photos, and how to photograph a working performer without making it weird.