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last updated June 1, 2010.

Photograph/Autograph Procedures

The procedures have been revised for 2010; please read, share, and enjoy.

The costs of running Chicago TARDIS have gone up— hotel space rental, airfare, equipment rental, guest fees, etc. Rather than dramatically raise the price of memberships, we have opted to assess extra charges for the people who want to get autographs and photographs with some guests. This gives everyone the best value for the money, as many autographs and photo ops are still free with your membership, and not every convention member wants photographs or autographs.

The sessions take cash and credit cards. Cost of the session admission ticket does not include admission to the event. People must be attending members of Chicago TARDIS to attend any photograph or autograph session.

The Virtual Queue

We know what a drag it can be standing in line to get that precious autograph or photograph! In order to make it easier for you to get snaps & signatures while experiencing more of the convention in general, we’re introducing the Virtual Queue. Here’s how it works:

  1. Tickets with line group letters will be given out for a particular session starting 1 hour before the session begins. Get your line ticket right outside the main Autograph/Photograph room.
  2. 2) When you receive your ticket, you will be told an approximate time to return to the area. You have your choice of either remaining in the area, or leaving the area to see panels and shop.
  3. When you return to the area at the appropriate time, you will then line up based on your group letter. (Think Southwest Airlines.) You’ll still have to wait a bit, but not nearly as long as you would have had otherwise.
  4. All-Access and Reserved Seating members do not need to get a queueing ticket; they are automatically in groups “A” (for All-Access) and “B” (for Reserved), and can line up 10 minutes before the session starts.
  5. This queueing system only applies to sessions held in the main Autograph/Photograph room. For autograph sessions in the Dealers’ Room, you have to line up physically.

Photo Op Procedures:

You may bring your own camera and have our staff take a picture of you with the guest(s) in that session, at no charge.

OR

  1. Our professional photographer will take a photo of you and the guest(s) in the session.
  2. You will receive an 8 x 10 color photo (not an inkjet print) a few hours after the session finishes— just in time to have it signed in an autograph session. (Unless it’s Sunday, when you may claim your photos after Closing Ceremonies.)*
  3. You can have any number of people in your photo with the guest(s).
  4. The fee is t.b.d. for the first copy of the photo, and t.b.d. for each additional copy.

Additional Fee Photo Op Procedures

For 2010, we don't know yet who these procedures will apply to.

  1. Our professional photographer will take a photo of you and the guest(s) in the session.
  2. You will receive an 8 x 10 color photo (not an inkjet print) a few hours after the session finishes— just in time to have it signed in an autograph session. (Unless it’s Sunday, when you may claim your photos after Closing Ceremonies.)*
  3. You can have any number of people in your photo with the guest(s).
  4. The fee is t.b.d. for the first copy of the photo, and t.b.d. for each additional copy.
  5. If you choose to use your own camera, a smaller fee (t.b.d.) still applies.

*While it is our intention to have all photos developed and back within a few hours of the photo shoot ending, if for any reason the photos are delayed, we will distribute them later in the day or the following day. Any uncollected photos will be available the next day. If someone has to leave before their photo is available because of any such delay, it will be posted out to them so long as they leave their name and address and some means to identify which photo is theirs. (Postage may be charged for this service.) We also reserve the right to change the day and times of the photo shoot subject to guest appearance days and other scheduling.

Autograph Session Procedures

  1. Bring in the item you want to get signed. You may buy it in the Dealers’ Room or bring it from home.
  2. Some guests may have a selection of photos to choose from at an additional charge.
  3. We reserve the right to limit the amount of “free” autographs in order to make sure everyone has a chance to get one.

Additional Fee Autograph Sessions Procedures

For 2010, these procedures apply to Gareth David-Lloyd.

  1. A selection of photographs (professional lab produced— not cheap inkjet prints) will be available for each guest. The cost is t.b.d. per photo, which includes one autograph.
  2. You may buy as many photos as you like; however we may limit quantities if the line is long to make sure everyone has a chance to get one.
  3. You may bring a personal item to have signed instead of or in addition to purchasing a photo to be signed. The fee is t.b.d. per guest per item.
  4. You can purchase the photos at the session using either cash or credit card.
  5. Reserved Seating members will receive one free autograph of Gareth David-Lloyd; All-Access Members will receive two. The same fees for general admission autographs will apply for additional autographs for these two membership levels.

Photographing the Guests Outside of the Session

We understand that getting a photo with a guest is important and we provide photo ops sessions in which to do so. For sessions that we charge additional fees, we ask that you respect the contract we have with the guest and not ask to take a picture with them if you see them in the hall or on the way to a panel. This can be awkward for the guest and, while most will gladly pose for the picture, the convention loses out on money we need to help pay the bills. We want to keep the price of admission as low as possible for everyone, so please go to the photo sessions for those guests.