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From May 27 to June 1, professional dominatrixes, kink enthusiasts, fetish lovers, and others involved in the lifestyle both casually and for cash descended on the LAX Hilton for DomCon 2026. The convention, which takes place in multiple cities each year, bills itself as “the only event that brings the professional and lifestyle people together” to celebrate BDSM, fetish, and alternative lifestyle communities for a weekend of education, networking, and shared experiences.
The event started in 2004 after Mistress Cyan, a dominatrix since the ’90s, noticed a disparity between kink professionals and enjoyers. She started the convention to bring the community together with a focus on education and acceptance. We sent Marlene, a photographer who’s been going to DomCon regularly since 2018, to this year’s event to document what she called an “exciting and surprisingly welcoming” experience.
“What drew me to the event was curiosity and the opportunity to observe a world many people rarely see,” Marlene says. “As a photographer, I’m a voyeur in the documentary sense—drawn to authentic moments, human connection, and self-expression.”
Here’s a look inside the wild weekend.
I was surprised by the variety of educational practices being demonstrated. In particular, seeing electrical stimulation techniques taught in a safe and structured setting was fascinating and not something I had expected.
The pet parades and the Mistress photo shoot on the terrace stood out most for me. Both were visually striking and full of personality, which made them especially interesting to photograph.
