I think this is a good idea however there are some problems I can think of.

The first depends on whether a suitable area is available within the convention.

The second is the appearance of the area, as it would need to be nice looking if the cosplayers/photographers would want to take pictures there. I know most cosplayers wouldn't want to do their proper photoshoots in such an area, so I'm not sure how much use the area would get? (There definitely isn't the money available to hire any photography equipment so it would simply be what is there backdrop wise, lighting might also be an issue but I imagine the lighting should be good in a place such as the Syd convention centre.

At Comiket photographing cosplayers is only allowed in the one area, and we wouldn't have such a rule, so having a photography room wouldn't remove the problem of congestion issues within the convention.

I also can't see photographers dragging off cosplayers to a room to photograph them, I know myself as a cosplayer, would rather the person just point and click where they stand than I have to follow them to a totally different room just so they can grab a picture. (I do my proper photoshoots with trusted friend photographers and I know most cosplayers do too, usually outside the convention because conventions are so ugly inside and I want nice pictures. The randoms who take pictures of me at conventions aren't going to have me being dragged to a separate area just so they can take a snapshot :P)

The third is having to pass the props back and forth between the staff and the cosplayer when the prop has gone through the process of being checked in. (This would be a complete hassle if the cosplayer wanted their prop back every 5 minutes throughout the day for photos in the room (as you can imagine with the amount of props we have to checkin). So I'd set a specific time for the photography area in which the props could be taken and used there. e.g set a photographer/cosplayer meet and greet period of time and props can be returned to those who want them for use in that room alone for that time.
(Another issue would be having to set the rule that props can only be used within that room, because I forsee if props were all returned and the cosplayers all wanted to go outside for photoshoots that we'd just have the same issue of the public panicing and calling the police).

It is do-abe of course, just a bit of pain and would need such rules surrounding props.

Now depending on if such an area is available, an idea might be to organise an event that would attract the cosplayers and photographers to the area. Maybe set up a period of time where the cosplayers and photographers can meet at the area (because I think you're more likely to get people in the one spot if there is a desginated time rather than not having one as people wouldn't really go.) So cosplayer/photographer meet and greet time? If such an idea could be worked out, it'd probably be great way for cosplayers to meet proper photographers when they might not have those kind of contacts, vice versa, a way for the photographers to find models.

So if we do have room for such a thing, I don't think its a bad idea to organise perhaps a photoshoot area and a event time. I do like the idea, and I might speak to some of my photographer friends to see if they'd be interested in this kind of thing (the decision wouldn't souly rely on their response, as I mentioned earlier it depends if space is available, but I do think this would be a neat idea). It'd need much more thought however, these are just my current musings ^^

In terms of photography, it wouldn't be a place where you do 'proper' photoshoots, but just an area where the photographer can spend a little more time with the cosplayer. I like the idea of time-specific meet-ups and events to make sure people aren't wasting their time going back and forth and re-cloaking their items every 5 minutes.

Taking photos inside the convention are of course still encouraged. Considering the rules regarding over-sized props inside, having the area would allow them to use it freely, and not have to leave the convention in order to take photos with it, which of course may cause some public panic and a call to the police.

Probably the main reason I suggested this area is because it would most advantageous for large groups. When we did our Espada group at Manifest last year we found it difficult to wander the convention without being stopped every minute (and more and more photographers joining the throng), and sometimes when people did want to take our pictures not all the members of the group were there.

For individual cosplayers, or very small groups this might be so much of a problem though, but of course it's still an area where everyone can go that's still within the convention space.

It all definitely needs more thought though, yeah.

So to summarise:
- large room or space (if available) for cosplay/photographer meet and greet
- specificed time the meet and greet runs for in which props can be returned to those who want them for use in that room only.

I don't think having the space would totally remove the issue of cosplayers being stopped for photos (even large groups because you still wouldn't be walking around the convention together all the time and would still be stopped, but to solve it you could always say "Our whole group isn't here at the moment but we will all be in the meet/greet photography space at TIME if you'd like to take a group photo of us".

I quite like the idea, Steve ^^ It'd probably be pretty neat for photographers to grab cleaner pictures of the cosplayers - like without background distractions and havingthe cosplayer pose nicely- plus I like the idea of cosplayers and photographers being able to mingle. So we'll see how things go with the layout of venue itself and whether this is feasable :D

here is my 2 cents, this is a good idea. now you just have to expand it

Matt. I'm sorry to ruin your merry posting streak, but you haven't contributed to this topic other than chime in and condescend everyone. Unless you actually have 2 cents to share, silence is youe friend.

I like the idea of having an area especially designed for cosplayers and photographers to mingle, whether it's a single dedicated area or just having one of the rooms booked at a certain time.

I guess the main issues are that it needs to be a reasonably large area (to accommodate the large groups of cosplayers and photographers), with good lighting (particularly later in the day, since I expect a lot of interest in cosplayers getting photographed after either the comp or the awarding of prizes), and done in a way as to make it easy to access the checked-in props. I'm sure there'll be somewhere in the CC to make the area and prop access reasonably easy, and the lighting is just a case of either scoping out the natural lighting or providing good quality artificial lights (for an August con, artificial lighting is practically essential if you want to have it open later in the day though).

It would be particularly nice if the area had some interesting features in it, or if there were some pre-prepared "backdrops". At Town Hall this year, I saw a few photographers making use of the open area with all its sandstone and old-looking windows and plants and stuff. Obviously the CC won't have anything as cool as that in place, but something else would be good (as well as a few plain walls for those who just want to focus on the costume).

I've already addressed most of those points e.g lighting, and there is no money for backdrops unfortunately.

Just to add:
This might help encourage first time cosplayers and photographers to mingle in and get to be involved with cosplay more.
Hopefully this will encourage people to cosplay more too. Vv

Aymie, I think this is something we could discuss. As long as we get an enclosed area (for easier control of props going in and out) it shouldn't be too bad seeing how well Sam, Tiff and Angel did this year.
I like this idea. I was thinking of suggesting something like this but more of a 'cosplay march' idea (they have something like that in the US. But this might work better depending on what we can have for choices with things (as listed by Aymie).

@Mai: Yeah we'll def discuss it but we have to check out the venue first and see if its plausible, so it'll be on the to-do list ^^