r/comiccon • u/Oheyitsfenton • Aug 07 '25

LA Comic Con What am I actually paying for?

Never paid for the photo ops/autographs the past couple years except for walking up to booths. This year, I'm getting my kid the chance to meet David Tennet, but not sure what the experiences are actually like.

Can someone break down the photo ops/8x10 autograph/premium autograph?

Edit: I get the basics of what each means, but wondering what the experience is like for each. How long is the interaction?

Another edit: Thank you to those who described their experiences and helped me decide what was best for me and my teen. Seems like it will always be a luck of the draw, how busy or tired the stars will be. Feel free to share more experiences. I enjoyed reading those. :)

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u/chernygal Aug 07 '25

You get what you pay for. A photo op is just that-a photo opportunity with the celeb. You stand, pose, picture is snapped, and you move on. An autograph is when the celeb will sign an item for you-either an 8x10 or another item (thus being premium). Tennant is incredibly popular so his autographs also move fast but it provides a couple more seconds of interaction than a photo op does.

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u/Oheyitsfenton Aug 07 '25 edited Aug 07 '25

I heard some allow a quick selfie with the autograph. Is that ever a possibility with the big names?

Appreciate the talent, but it seems like a rip-off.

Edit: It's a lot of money for the smallest interaction vs. the smaller names where you get more time.

Also, I understand the selfie fee, but that isn't a option for a lot of the guests so it would be nice to know if it was even an option ahead of time

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u/TheGrindPrime Aug 07 '25

It really depends on the celebs - or more accurately the agency benefiting from them. Those that allow selfies will usually tack on a selfie fee.

Lesser known celebs will sometimes allow for selfies once you get the autograph.