I spent this past weekend at Convergence, admiring costumes and taking pictures of random people all weekend. I don't usually wear costumes to Convergence but my daughter does and so does my sister.
I think you're really unlikely to be creepy by accident when admiring a cosplayer's costume. I mean, it is certainly possible but I really think it requires a fair amount of effort. If you're admiring the costume for its details and coolness or because they're really a dead ringer for the character or any of that, you're on pretty safe ground. A big grin and, "that is an AWESOME costume!" is almost never going to be taken the wrong way unless, say, you're really openly leering at someone's rack while you say it.
With pictures, I think the main thing is to use some common sense, like, if they're obviously on their way somewhere, maybe give it a rest? If they're blocking the stairs where they're standing, maybe let them keep moving? If they're eating dinner, maybe let them eat?
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I think you're really unlikely to be creepy by accident when admiring a cosplayer's costume. I mean, it is certainly possible but I really think it requires a fair amount of effort. If you're admiring the costume for its details and coolness or because they're really a dead ringer for the character or any of that, you're on pretty safe ground. A big grin and, "that is an AWESOME costume!" is almost never going to be taken the wrong way unless, say, you're really openly leering at someone's rack while you say it.
With pictures, I think the main thing is to use some common sense, like, if they're obviously on their way somewhere, maybe give it a rest? If they're blocking the stairs where they're standing, maybe let them keep moving? If they're eating dinner, maybe let them eat?