Regulation

1. Event Introduction

Focus Cosplay is a private Cosplay Photography event, accessible only after selection. It is a non-profit event, but entry is charged to cover organizational costs.

The event will take place from September 4th to 6th, 2026, at the Centre Lorin de la Croix-en-Touraine - Rue Edouard André (37150 La Croix-en-Touraine) – and its surroundings. For this fifth edition, the event will be limited to approximately 150 participants, including both cosplayers and photographers.

 

2. Agenda 2026

a. Friday 30th January : The event will be announced on social networks.

b. Wednesday, February 25th: The application form will open on the event's website.

c. Wednesday, April 8th : Closure of the registrations.

d. Tuesday, April 21st : Announcement of the 2026 Cosplayers selection. Selected participants will be given a few days in advance to prepare their schedule and moodboard in order to help everyone organize their bookings.

e. Friday, April 24th : Announcement of the selected photographers for Focus 2026.

An email will be sent to all selected participants to announce the good news and provide the procedure to pay the €32 registration fee in order to confirm their attendance. A Discord link will be provided to allow you to more easily receive official event information and connect with other participants to organize your photoshoot days.

g. Sunday, May 3rd at midnight : Deadline for each participant to validate their presence.
Please Note : After this date, anyone who has not paid their registration fees will be considered to have canceled their acceptance and the place will be offered to the next candidate in line

h. Saturday, June 7th: After the validation of the participants , an assistant registration form will be sent to participants and they will have until the date mentioned to register their assistant. The participation fees of the assistants will then be requested at the same time, for the amount of 32€ . Each participant is entitled up to three assistants.

i. Sunday, July 26th: Closing of assistant registrations. After this deadline, you will need to contact the organization for any exceptional requests.

 

3. Event Schedule

a. Thursday 3rd of September : 

1. 1. 1. 4pm : Opening of the information point for registration and collection of badges.
      2. 10pm : Closing of the information point.

b. Friday 4th September :

1. 1. 1. 9am : Opening of the information point for registration and collection of badges.
      2. 9am : Opening of the places under surveillance (check the location page to get the individual opening hours)

c. Saturday 5th September :

1. 1. 1. 9am : Opening of information point.
      2. 1pm : Group photo ( Mandatory ).
      3. 7pm : Closing of the information point
      4. 8pm : Evening party at the "Centre Lorin de La Croix-en-Touraine", more information to come.

d. Sunday 6th September :

1. 1. 1. 9am : Opening of information point.

4. Participant Selection

The selection of participants (cosplayers and photographers) is based on criteria that have remained unchanged since the creation of the event
In our selection process, physical appearance, personal choices or social media presence are not and have never been taken into account in the scoring.
It is important to note that a photographer’s skills are not considered when scoring a cosplayer, and vice versa.

Each criterion is scored out of 20 to allow for detailed evaluation.

For cosplayers, the criteria are as follows:

• Costume quality: costume tailored to the wearer’s size and body shape, clean finishing, detailed craftsmanship, properly ironed and in good condition (unless intentional damage), presence of accessories and quality of them, etc.
• Pose quality: work on facial expression, body language and faithful character portrayal, diversity of poses and expressions in the portfolio, etc.
• Wig and makeup quality (one single score for both): makeup suitable for a photoshoot and the character, properly styled wig fitted to size, correctly placed and secured, accessories properly positioned, etc.

For photographers, the criteria are as follows:

• Image editing: removal of elements that should not appear in the photo, quality of added effects, quality of skin and hair retouching, etc…
• Lighting / Atmosphere : technical mastery of lighting (flash or natural light) consistent with the character’s universe, and appropriate color grading, etc…
• Composition + Highlighting (one single score for both): whether the image composition enhances both the location and the cosplayers, whether the angles are flattering, diversity of framing, etc…

Bonus points are awarded to applicants who complete the entire form and properly credit collaborators in the photo descriptions.

In the event of a tie, preference will be given to those who have not previously participated in Focus.

5. Shooting locations and Map

a. Public Locations: A list of interesting and accessible locations will be provided, without supervision from the organization. The hours provided are for reference only (unless specified otherwise). Access to these locations is free, and we expect respect, cleanliness, and proper conduct from participants. 

b. Private Locations: The organization will facilitate your access to locations that can be visited upon presentation of a badge during the event. Only participants (cosplayers and photographers) and registered assistants will be allowed at the photoshoots. These locations will be accessible on specific days and times, and we ask that you strictly adhere to these schedules. It is prohibited to contact the owners of these locations to request any changes or favors regarding their opening hours.

c. Provided Tools:

1. 1. 1. An interactive map will be available to help you plan your days in advance.
      2. A website will feature detailed information on the locations (hours, prices, addresses, etc.), with a reservation module and visibility of available time slots.

d. Potential Costs: Some locations may require additional entrance fees. All details will be available on the location’s info pages.

e. Reservations: Certain locations may require prior reservations, either mandatory or optional. If a reservation is not mandatory, priority will be given to those who have made reservations. Volunteers overseeing the locations will have a schedule to ensure compliance with these times.

 

For all private locations not listed, you are not authorized to take photos there. If you have a specific request, please contact the organization, not the property owners who have already been approached. 

 

In all cases, please respect the owners of the locations and the work of the organizers. Your behavior directly affects our responsibility and credibility. If you wish to continue enjoying access to these locations in future editions, it is important to maintain impeccable conduct. 

Liability: under no circumstances can the organization be held liable for damage caused by participants or third parties. Participants must respect French law, as well as the various regulations of the structures in which they may be accommodated.

 

6. Cosplayers

As part of the event, and for its propriety, cosplayers undertake : 

a. To apply as a solo or duo for the registration.

1. 1. As a solo participant, the cosplayer agrees to pay the 32€ registration fee and can have up to 3 assistants. Fees are non-refundable in case of cancellation. 
      
   2. Cosplayers in duo will only be able to do duo photoshoots, must stay together, and cannot book separate photographers. Solo photos should represent only a minority of the work done during the event. Please note that the duo as a whole will be judged during the selection process, not the individual members. Each member of the duo must pay the 32€ registration fee, and the duo can have a maximum of 4 assistants. Fees are non-refundable in case of cancellation.

b. To come in cosplay and respect the cosplays scheduled in agreement with the photographers.

c. To wear decent attire outside of photoshoot locations. (this is French law).

d. Do not do nude, lewd, erotic or pornographic photoshoots. The punishment will be immediate and expulsion final. It’s the good relationship we have with location owners that you deteriorate behaving this way

e. In general, any inappropriate behavior will not be tolerated

f. Not to make make-up aimed at reproducing the skin tone of an ethnic group other than that of the cosplayer.

g. Not to degrade the premises and return it to the state it was in before coming. 

h. To respect the schedules agreed with the photographers and to warn the photographer in case of delay or cancellation 

i. Given the non-profit aspect of the event, cosplayers undertake to distribute the work done free of charge on free access distribution platforms 

j. The sale of prints resulting from the work carried out during the event is allowed but must be carried out in agreement with the photographers and the organizers. These prints must not be exclusive, but should also be available on free access social platforms. Please note that some locations do not allow commercial use of their image. Please refer to the location sheets for confirmation. 

k. To publish on social networks the photos and videos produced during the event with the Focus Cosplay logo on the content, as well as to identify the Focus Cosplay pages and use the following hashtags #FocusCosplay and #FocusCosplay26. To ensure proper sharing on the Focus account, it is strongly recommended to make collaborative posts.

We remind you that it is forbidden for cosplayers to take photos of themselves (except for backstage, selfies and vlogs) and to organize photoshoots with photographers who are not part of the official selection, under penalty of being expelled / banned.

As part of participating in the event, you agree to appear in videos and other posts made by the organization on social networks.

In the same way, you agree that the content produced during the event will be shared on the organization's social networks. For any other distribution of your image, a specific request will be made to you. 

A discharge of responsibility and a form must be signed by the cosplayers and returned on the day of the event in order to obtain a valid event badge which will give access to the event and its locations. 

 

7. Photographers

As part of the event and for its decorum, photographers undertake to:

a. Registering as a Solo or Duo during the selection

1. 1. As a solo photographer, you agree to pay the 32€ registration fee and can have up to 3 assistants. Fees are non-refundable in case of cancellation. 
   2. Photographers in pairs will only be able to do duo photoshoots, must stay together, and cannot book separate photographers. Solo photos should represent only a minority of the work produced during the event. Please note that the duo as a whole will be judged during the selection, not the individual members. Each member of the duo must pay the 32€ registration fee, and the duo can have a maximum of 4 assistants. Fees are non-refundable in case of cancellation. 

b. It is forbidden to take photos on the spot, without the consent of the subject

c. It is forbidden to carry out nude, lewd, erotic or pornographic photoshoots. This year, the punishment will be immediate and expulsion final. It’s the good relationship we have with location owners that you deteriorate behaving this way.

d. Always ask for consent before physical contact with participants

e. Do not degrade the premises and keep it clean by removing all litter or rubbish brought by yourselves. 

f. Respect the schedules agreed with the cosplayers and warn in case of delay or cancellations. 

g. In view of the non-profit aspect of the event, the photographers undertake to distribute the work carried out free of charge on the distribution platforms. 

h. In the same way, photoshoots should not be remunerated.

i. The photographer undertakes to present his work to the cosplayer concerned once any adjustments or edits have been made and prior to any distribution. 

j. The photographer undertakes to send his finished work to the organization in HD.

k. Out of respect for both the locations and the cosplayers, the use of generative AI must be limited and must not harm their image.

l. The sale of print resulting from the work carried out during the event must be carried out in agreement with the cosplayers and the organizers. Please note that some locations do not allow commercial use of their image. Please refer to the location sheets for confirmation.

m. To publish on social networks the photos and videos produced during the event with the Focus Cosplay logo on the content, as well as to identify the Focus Cosplay pages and use the following hashtags #FocusCosplay and #FocusCosplay26. To ensure proper sharing on the Focus account, it is strongly recommended to make collaborative posts. To ensure proper sharing on the Focus account, it is strongly recommended to make collaborative posts.

Please look to edit all expected images taken during Focus within a reasonable amount of time from the event taking place. We understand that it is necessary to take the time required to obtain the desired result, for this, the photographers have to return all the photos within 6 months. 

The use of smoke bombs is authorized only in outdoor areas validated by the organization. We will ask the photographers to warn us when using white smoke lasting more than 20 seconds at least 2 hours before (the best being to warn us in the morning or even at the beginning of the weekend) in order to warn the local authorities/rescue. The use of smoke bombs must be supervised by the presence of a fire extinguisher (ABC) on site ready for use and which must be brought by the photographer. Responsibility for the safety of any participant using a smoke bomb will be upon themselves and we request that all safety measures be taken (such as wearing gloves when handling smoke grenades). Smoke bombs once consumed should not be left behind.

Regarding the use of pyrotechnic effects, only those performed by the professional "Playing with fire" will be allowed in the designated locations. It is strictly forbidden to perform these effects yourself, for obvious safety reasons and in compliance with French law.

The organization reserves the right to share works created during the event for promotional purposes on social media and the Focus Cosplay website. In all cases, the photographer retains the copyright and ownership of their work.

For other uses of the works produced during the event, a specific request will be sent to you. 

A discharge of responsibility form must be signed by the photographers and returned on the day of the event in order to obtain a valid event badge which will give access to the event and its locations. 

 

8. Assistants

a. Each participant is entitled up to three assistants.
If they wish to have an additional assistant for personal reasons, they can make a request to the organization. The registration of the assistant will take place from May 7th. Each assistant will have to pay a participation fee of 32€. Fees are non-refundable in case of cancellation. 

b. An assistant registration form will be sent to you starting May 7th. This form must include all the information necessary for registration.

c. A discharge of responsibility form must be signed by the assistants and returned on the day of the event in order to obtain a valid event badge which will give access to the event. 

d. The assistant is there to accompany and help their participant (photographers or cosplayers). They are required to stay by the side of the cosplayer or photographer to assist during their photoshoots.

e. Assistants can be used as “silhouette” for photoshoot. They can wear simple outfits to appear in photos. They can’t be the main element in the photos nor being alone on it. If possible, we wish their face to be the least present of the photos. We can mention, as example, the possibility of becoming a zombie, a body on the ground or a boyfriend/girlfriend in order to appear completely or in part on the photo (leg, arm, etc.). If you have any doubt, don’t hesitate to ask the staff presenting your plan.

f. Backstage photographies and videos by the assistants are permitted and strongly encouraged.

 

9. All Participants

Participants designate all photographers, cosplayers and assistants who participate in the event.

a. Participants must be adults (+18 years old at time of registration).

b. Participants must respect the rules of the places and must not damage the locations in any way. No waste should be left on site 

c. Participants must respect the law in force and must behave and dress decently in public. 

d. The organization is attentive to any abnormal behavior experienced from another participant or any individual. The volunteers on-site are available to listen, and the contact details of a reference person will be provided on the Discord for any necessary intervention.

e. Within the associative and voluntary framework of the event, no remuneration should be requested between the participants, only a contribution to the costs necessary for the planned photoshooting may be requested. This includes the price of entry to certain places if they are paying, the purchase of additional consumable type equipment (smoke bombs, etc.). Travel costs to the event or accommodation do not fall within this scope. 

f. Anyone who does not respect the rules herein will be sanctioned, ranging from warning to a ban. The staff is trained to identify any attempted fraud/cheating of the regulation and the sanction will be immediately collegially decided by several members of the organization. The non-compliance of the regulation may endanger the event and its next editions, it’s your duty to respect it. If you have any doubt, don’t hesitate to contact the organization.

g. In the eventuality of expulsion, the participant (photographer, cosplayer or assistant) will have their badge withdrawn and will not be able to continue to participate in the event. In the event of permanent ban, the participant (photographer, cosplayer or assistant) cannot be selected or even assist a selected participant in the following years.

For a better understanding of the rules, here are concrete examples of prohibited actions (NON-EXHAUSTIVE LIST):

• Climbing trees.
• Entering places that are not yet open (e.g., opening gates or barriers).
• Climbing on fragile parts of the locations.
• Going into the water when not permitted. 
• Moving furniture or objects without permission.
• Contacting venues or property owners directly.
• Failing to ask if there is any doubt about an outfit potentially violating the regulations. 
• Performing pyrotechnic effects outside of the professionals authorized for the event.

 

10. GDPR

As part of the selection, a certain amount of personal data will be collected when entering it in the required form(s). These will only be used within the framework of the event and potential renewals in the following years. The participant's email will only be used for important official communications and will not be shared with any third party entities . 

b. No data based on technologies for observing the activity of people will be collected or processed. 

c. No personal data will be collected from third party companies or partners. 

d. No data will be sold or exchanged with third party companies or partners. 

e. At any time, participants can send an email to admin@focuscosplay.fr to request the complete deletion of data concerning them. 

 

Completing the registration form will be considerate as an agreement of the present regulation for the 2026 edition.

For any request about this present regulation please contact us at contact@focuscosplay.fr