Frequently Asked Questions
Do you have questions about the NOH8 Campaign? We've included answers to some of our most commonly asked questions below! If you don't see your question addressed, visit our Contact page to direct your question to the appropriate email address.
GENERAL QUESTIONS
Q. WHO ARE THE PHOTOGRAPHERS?
A. The NOH8 Campaign has only ever had one photographer, and that is Co-Founder and Celebrity Photographer Adam Bouska. No other photographers are permitted to take any NOH8 portraits on behalf of the NOH8 Campaign or including the official NOH8 logo. However, we do encourage people to submit their own homemade NOH8 photos to the MY NOH8 section of our website, the guidelines to which can be found here.
Q. ARE YOU AFFILIATED WITH THE “NO ON 8” POLITICAL CAMPAIGN?
A. While NOH8 was originally inspired by the passage of Proposition 8 in California, the NOH8 Campaign has no affiliation to or connection with the ‘No on 8’ political ad campaign run in 2008 prior to the November 4th election.
Q. I WANT TO GET A PERMANENT NOH8 TATTOO. CAN I?
A. We’ve received a surprising amount of e-mails asking for permission to get a permanent NOH8 tattoo. We can only give permission in regards to the official NOH8 logo (seen here), but we definitely encourage anyone who would like a NOH8 tattoo to get one!
Q. WHEN WILL THE NOH8 CAMPAIGN END?
A. The NOH8 Campaign is an ongoing project and has no end in site - so we will be continuing to take photos for the indefinite future.
NOH8 CAMPAIGN PHOTO SHOOTS
Q. CAN ANYONE TAKE A NOH8 PHOTO?
A. Of course! Often times people believe our campaign only includes celebrities, but in reality the campaign includes people from all walks of life - from average, everyday citizens to the more familiar faces you might see linked to the campaign through the media. In fact, the NOH8 Campaign travels to communities all over the country and even the world hosting official open photo shoots as its primary fundraiser. We also offer the MY NOH8 section, which enables anyone, anywhere to submit their own amateur NOH8 photos free of charge. Celebrity participation makes up only a small percentage of our campaign.
Q. DO I HAVE TO BE A MODEL TO POSE FOR A PHOTO?
A. No; no modeling or professional photo experience is necessary. We encourage people from all walks of life to get involved!
Q. DO I HAVE TO WEAR DUCT TAPE FOR MY PHOTO?
A. No. Although the original artistic concept for the campaign involved supporters wearing duct tape to illustrate the silencing of their voices (and by extension, their rights) by Proposition 8 and the discriminatory attitudes behind it, we encourage supporters to speak out through their photos in a way that makes them the most comfortable. Should that include choosing not to wear the duct tape for your photo, that's okay - you don't have to wear it! Most participants, however, elect to sport the duct tape that has become synonymous with NOH8 portraits - even incorporating it into their portraits in creative ways.
Q. HOW CAN I BE A PART OF ONE OF YOUR OFFICIAL NOH8 PHOTO SHOOTS?
A. Our campaign includes everybody of all ages and all ethnicities from all over the world; all you have to do to participate is attend one of our official open NOH8 shoots, which we advertise here on our website (in the EVENTS section) and through our various social networks.
Q. WHAT IF I DON'T SEE MY CITY LISTED AMONG UPCOMING TOUR DATES?
A. We're constantly scheduling and releasing new dates in an attempt to get to as many cities and states as possible. If you don't see an event listed for your city, this means that we don't currently have a photo shoot scheduled in your area and cannot tell you when the next event will be scheduled. However, you can stay up-to-date on our most recently released tour dates by following us on Twitter (@NOH8Campaign), Liking us on Facebook, or simply joining our newsletter by entering your information in the Newsletter Box in the navigation column on your right.
Q. I SEE LOCAL ADVERTISING FOR AN UPCOMING NOH8 EVENT, BUT I DON'T SEE THIS EVENT LISTED ON YOUR WEBSITE. IS THIS AN OFFICIAL NOH8 EVENT?
A. Any and all official NOH8 photo shoots and events will be listed in the EVENTS section of our website. If you do not see your local event listed, the official NOH8 Campaign is not involved or affiliated in any way, and we ask that you please alert us to the event by sending any links and contact details to info@noh8campaign.com. The NOH8 Campaign is currently NOT giving permission to anyone to set up their own public or affiliated NOH8 photo shoots, local chapters, events, benefits, merchandise/branding, or fundraisers of any affiliation.
The NOH8 Campaign owns trademarks associated with its business, including the NOH8 logo. Using our logo or any similar mark (“Infringing Trademark”) in association with the marketing, sale, distribution or identification of any products and/or services is strictly prohibited. Therefore, it is expressly forbidden to accept or ask for any payment or donations, in any form, in connection with your NOH8 photographs or your photography services.This letter is not intended to be a full statement of the facts in this matter, nor is it a waiver of our rights and remedies, whether at law or equity, all of which are expressly reserved.
Q. HOW OLD DO YOU NEED TO BE TO PARTICIPATE?
A. The NOH8 Campaign is open to participants of ALL ages! However, those under 18 must have the permission of a parent or legal guardian in order to participate. For those requiring a signature, you can request a release form in advance at info@noh8campaign.com.
Q. WHAT IS THE COST TO PARTICIPATE IN AN OFFICIAL OPEN PHOTO SHOOT?
A. Unless otherwise noted, pricing at photo shoots break down as follows: solo photos (1 person) are $40 while group/couple photos (2+ people) are $25 per person in a shot.
Q. DO I NEED TO PAY JUST TO TAKE A PHOTO?
A. To pose for an official NOH8 portrait with Co-Founder and Celebrity Photographer Adam Bouska, yes. Our open photo shoots remain the primary fundraisers for the NOH8 Campaign, and those fees help to cover the minimum expenses associated with producing NOH8 programming and the costs to cover one retouched digital print. However, we do offer the MY NOH8 program through NOH8Campaign.com, which enables supporters from anywhere in the world to submit their own amateur NOH8 photos free of charge.
Q. WHEN IS PAYMENT DUE FOR MY PHOTO?
A. Fees due to participate in open photo shoots must be paid up front at the event prior to stepping in front of Adam’s camera.
Q. CAN I POSE FOR MORE THAN ONE PHOTO?
A. You are able to attend as many photo shoots as you would like, and you may also purchase as many photo options as you’d like. For example, you can attend one photo shoot and choose to pose for both a solo photo as well as a group photo (or even multiple group photos). This is entirely up to each participant.
Q. I CANNOT AFFORD THE PHOTO FEES TO DO AN OFFICIAL NOH8 PORTRAIT. CAN I STILL PARTICIPATE IN THE NOH8 CAMPAIGN?
A. Regrettably, we understand that the fees for our photos may prevent some supporters from participating in our official open photo shoots with celebrity photographer Adam Bouska. However, we are pleased to offer the “MY NOH8” section of our website; a program which enables anyone, anywhere to upload their own amateur NOH8 photos free of charge. Furthermore, we are happy to consider any ideas that are fair to everyone so that we can accommodate people who cannot afford a photo. For instance, we are always accepting applications for volunteers to assist at our photo shoots.
Q. I NOTICED SOME PEOPLE USE PROPS IN THEIR PHOTOS. CAN I BRING A PROP?
A. Some people elect to personalize their NOH8 photo by posing with a meaningful prop, symbol, or sign. Copyrighted designs and trademarks are not permitted. The NOH8 Campaign reserves the right to choose whether or not your prop will be featured in the shot. Please keep in mind the NOH8 Campaign photo shoots are family-oriented events in considering any prop choices.
Q. CAN I POSE WITH MY PET?
A. While we are always open to including your pet, we first advise that you reach out directly to the host venue and/or hotel to inquire about their pet policies and whether or not they can accommodate your request.
Q. HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO GET MY PHOTO BACK AFTER THE PHOTO SHOOT?
A. The turn-around time is always changing depending on the amount of shots in the queue to be edited. That being said, it typically takes about 4-8 weeks on average to turn the photos around. This is NOT a guarantee.
Q. HOW MANY FINALIZED PHOTOS WILL I RECEIVE AFTER THE PHOTO SHOOT?
A. When you're filling out your Model Release, you'll have the option of selecting how many finished photos you'd wish to purchase. You will take multiple frames for each shot you purchase, but only one will be retouched as your final image. If you pay for one solo shot, for example, you will receive one retouched shot.
Q. DO THE FEES I PAY ALSO INCLUDE A PHYSICAL PRINT?
A. No. The fees paid at the photo shoot cover the services and costs associated with producing one digital print only of your retouched official NOH8 photo taken by celebrity photographer Adam Bouska only, and does not include or factor in the cost of physical prints.
Q. WILL I RECEIVE A HI-RES COPY OF MY PHOTO?
A. While we are more than happy to make print-quality hi-res images available for any press purposes, print-quality hi-res images are typically not made available as we offer printing services directly through our website for anyone looking to purchase prints and the quality of the images uploaded to the website are sufficient for their intended web/digital use - whether it be for profile photos on Twitter or Facebook or for display on your website.
Q. HOW MANY FRAMES ARE TAKEN PER PHOTO? HOW IS MY PHOTO CHOSEN?
A. Adam Bouska shoots roughly 10-15 frames per photo. Of those multiple shots he takes, one is selected to be retouched as your final photo. Adam selects the frame which he thinks makes you look best and which stands out the most from previous shots.
Q. CAN I CHOOSE THE FINAL PHOTO OF THE FRAMES TAKEN?
A. No. In order to keep the fee for the photos affordable and to turn them around in a timely fashion for everybody, each participant waives their right to choose which of the frames are retouched and will not receive the raws of the unused photos.
Q. DO WE GET COPIES OF ALL THE FRAMES YOU TAKE?
A. No - you will only received the retouched, final shot. The remaining frames are kept for archival purposes only and are not released to the public.
Q. HOW WILL I RECEIVE MY PHOTO WHEN IT'S FINISHED?
A. When you fill out your Model Release for the photo, there will be an area to write your e-mail address. Once your photo has been edited and uploaded to our website, you will receive a notification e-mail at the address you left us letting you know your photo is available, where to find it, and how to save it to your computer.
Q. MY FRIENDS RECEIVED THEIR NOTIFICATION E-MAILS, BUT I DIDN'T. WHAT HAPPENED?
A. When a notification e-mail does not arrive, the failure can be caused by a number of reasons including an e-mail being written illegibly on the model release, blockage by a spam filter, and data entry errors. If you’d like to confirm your e-mail address, simply send an e-mail to info@noh8campaign.com and let us know which open photo shoot you were a part of.
Q. PORTRAITS FROM THE PHOTO SHOOT I ATTENDED ARE ON THE WEBSITE, BUT I CAN'T FIND MY PHOTO. WHAT DO I DO?
A. With hundreds of incoming images at any given time, sometimes a photo is inevitably missed when being selected for retouching. This doesn’t mean your photo was lost; it simply means that the raw frames from the photo shoot must be located so a selection can be made at that point. If you cannot find your photo on the website, send us an e-mail with a reference photo, any details about your photo (your pose, how your hair was styled, etc.) as well as an estimate of when in the day your photo was taken, and we will cross-reference those images with our library of frames in order to locate your selection.
Q. HOW CAN I PURCHASE PRINTS OF MY PHOTO?
A. Both Glossy Photo Prints and Canvas Matte Prints options are available for each image on the website. When you pull up a photo on the site, there are two separate drop-down menus that allows you to add a copy of any print to the shopping cart in a range of sizes.
Q. AM I ALLOWED TO POST MY PHOTO ON MY SOCIAL MEDIA PROFILES (FACEBOOK, TWITTER, ETC.)?
A. Definitely! Visibility is our most powerful tool, and many people have heard about the campaign from their friends and family on social networking websites.
Q. WHERE CAN I BUY OFFICIAL NOH8 MERCHANDISE?
A. The only place for official NOH8 merchandise is through our online store, which currently carries bumper stickers, bracelets, mini-buttons, temporary tattoos, and our first line of original NOH8 t-shirts. You can also purchase official NOH8 Campaign merchandise at our open photo shoot events.
Q. CAN I HOST MY OWN NOH8 PHOTO SHOOT TO SHOW MY SUPPORT?
A. Due to the overwhelming amount of positive responses we've received from all over the country, the NOH8 Campaign is unfortunately no longer able to give permission to people to set up their own photo shoots and NOH8 events. We really appreciate all the support and seeing everyone wanting to get involved, but we're simply at a point in our development where we have to try and retain some control over how our logo and name is being used and represented.
Unless an event has been listed and announced on our website, it is NOT an official NOH8 Event and is not affiliated with us in any way.
We've had a lot of confusion lately with people thinking other independent NOH8 shoots/events in different cities are affiliated or official in some capacity. Things become even more complicated once money and donations become involved.
People are, however, always welcome to put together a proposal that we can then bring to our board so that they can review it. You can e-mail your proposal to info@noh8campaign.com (Subject: ATTN: NOH8 IN MY ST8 Proposal).
Until the board has reviewed your proposal and you have received a written response from them with their decision, you may NOT proceed with any planning for your shoot whatsoever.
FUNDS & FINANCING
Q. WHERE DOES THE MONEY GO?
A. Money raised through our photo shoots supports and sustains the NOH8 Campaign. Although we receive some independent donations, the open photo shoots are our primary source of support. The funds cover the costs for camera, video, and audio production equipment; photo production, retouching, and reproduction; travel costs; promotional material, campaign literature; post-production hardware and software; expenses related to both PSA (Public Service Announcement) video and studio photo shoot production; office and studio operating expenses; and staff salaries. We are also allocating funds for the development of programs, expansion of operations, and the development of marketing opportunities. You can view the NOH8 Campaign's Form 990's here.
Q. DO YOU DONATE TO POLITICAL CANDIDATES, CAMPAIGNS, OR INITIATIVES?
A. We are a non-profit organization with tax-exempt status under 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Our educational non-profit status limits the scope of our activities, and we do not and cannot participate in political campaigns for candidates or ballot initiatives. We encourage our supporters to make their voices heard in the political process, and we have actively participated in voter registration.
Q. DO YOU DONATE TO OTHER ORGANIZATIONS?
A. The NOH8 Campaign is not a foundation and does not raise money for other organizations as its primary objective. However, NOH8 has made both material and financial donations to, and partnered with, other local and national organizations that share our vision including The Gay & Lesbian Task Force, The Trevor Project, GLSEN, Human Rights Campaign, GLAAD, the You Are Loved Project, and Freedom to Marry in addition to AIDS Walk Programs all over the country (helping to raise funds for Gay Mens Health Crisis in New York and AIDS Project LA in Los Angeles).
Q. IS THE NOH8 CAMPAIGN JUST A CALIFORNIA ORGANIZATION?
A. Our offices are based in California, but our activities are not limited to California, or even the United States. While the NOH8 Campaign originated as a silent protest against Prop 8, a California ballot measure banning same sex marriage, the Campaign fights discrimination on every level, and stands for universal equality, including marriage, gender, and human equality. We are active on a national and international basis; this year alone we have held open events across the U.S., in Canada, and in the U.K.
Q. HOW CAN I RAISE MONEY FOR THE NOH8 CAMPAIGN?
A. We are happy to accept donations from individuals or organizations. However, we do not allow third parties to hold their own fundraising events on behalf of, or in the name of, the NOH8 Campaign. It is prohibited to hold independent photo shoots for any commercial or fundraising purposes.
