OMG!!! Have you ladies seen this?!!!?!? Great news!!

[lurkyloo]

You still can't use outside photographers inside the parks for just photo shoots. They have to be shooting a ceremony, reception, dessert party or other wedding-related event (whether or not the park is open doesn't matter).

 

[jlmclaughlin]

I highly recommend RANDY CHAPMAN!!! He is amazing - he was our wedding photographer in 2004 and we have also done family photoshoots with him in 2009 and 2011... such great pics, cannot wait to do another photoshoot with him in EPCOT!!

Soooo exciting for future brides!!!

- Jamie

 

[Steph2527]

This is great news!! We are planning our DFTW for May 2014, and are considering using Randy Chapman b/c of all the amazing things we've heard about him.

 

[disneydreamer79]

This is wonderful news!! We are having Stephanie Harris Photography do our wedding this fall. She does destination weddings and the price was very reasonable. I just found this board and I'm so excited to have a place to share and get ideas with other Disney brides

 

[wiigirl]

Wonderful news!

 

[aristocatz]

Randy Chapman is awesome!! VERY talented photographer, affordable prices, & just an all around nice & relaxed guy.

Does this mean they are now allowing outside photographers into Illuminations Dessert Parties?? If so, that is awesome! We really wanted to have Randy at our DP, but were not allowed at the time & Disney Photography was not reasonably priced

 

[kmg148]

No. Disney no longer sends the photographer included with its Escape package as a second shooter (even if you've swapped the ceremony photography for dessert party photography). However, you do not have to be using Disney Photography in order to book the Magic Kingdom bridal portrait session. They just let you book it *sooner* if you use Disney's photography.

I'm not getting married, but this is awesome news for everyone that is! I have always thought the MK photo shoots are awesome and was sad for those who weren't happy with their pictures considering the cost.

 

[Mel*Pie]

Oh, Lord. I need to get engaged fast, before they change the policy again!

 

[lurkyloo]

I'm not getting married, but this is awesome news for everyone that is! I have always thought the MK photo shoots are awesome and was sad for those who weren't happy with their pictures considering the cost.

Just to clarify, my response was about the ability to book the Magic Kingdom portrait session when you're using an outside photographer for your wedding. You still have to use Disney Photography for the in-park bridal portrait sessions like the one in the Magic Kingdom. You just don't have to use them for wedding-related events (ceremony, reception, dessert party).

 

[Mel*Pie]

Just to clarify, my response was about the ability to book the Magic Kingdom portrait session when you're using an outside photographer for your wedding. You still have to use Disney Photography for the in-park bridal portrait sessions like the one in the Magic Kingdom. You just don't have to use them for wedding-related events (ceremony, reception, dessert party).

What if you have an early morning Epcot ceremony and you arrive an hour or so early to take photos? Can you use your own photographer then? Does that technically fall under the category of "ceremony?"

 

[mb187143]

What if you have an early morning Epcot ceremony and you arrive an hour or so early to take photos? Can you use your own photographer then? Does that technically fall under the category of "ceremony?"

They budget in time before and after the ceremony to do pictures, at least they did for us, and our photographers were aware of the schedule. We didn't do an in-park ceremony but I would imagine that if you're having an 8am ceremony and pictures start at 7, you'd be absolutely fine to use your outside photog. But, they will tell you when you can enter the park, and I'm not super sure how much time the allot for pre-ceremony photos for in park weddings.

 

[carolwoodpacific]

What if you have an early morning Epcot ceremony and you arrive an hour or so early to take photos? Can you use your own photographer then? Does that technically fall under the category of "ceremony?"

Hey Mel. I have an Epcot ceremony on October 20th and booked an outside photographer last week (David & Vicki Arndt). My fiance, bridal party, and I are taking pictures in Epcot from 7:30 until 9am, or whenever we need to be in place for the ceremony.

The catch is you can only take photos in the country your ceremony is in. Also, if you are using an outside vendor, you cannot go to any non-public areas. ie: they cannot pop the gate into the Canada gardens for us to take pictures in the garden. We can take pictures in front of the gardens, but can't go to any "restricted access" areas.

Hope this helps!

 

[Mel*Pie]

Hey Mel. I have an Epcot ceremony on October 20th and booked an outside photographer last week (David & Vicki Arndt). My fiance, bridal party, and I are taking pictures in Epcot from 7:30 until 9am, or whenever we need to be in place for the ceremony.

The catch is you can only take photos in the country your ceremony is in. Also, if you are using an outside vendor, you cannot go to any non-public areas. ie: they cannot pop the gate into the Canada gardens for us to take pictures in the garden. We can take pictures in front of the gardens, but can't go to any "restricted access" areas.

Hope this helps!

Ahh... It's a shame that they feel the need to place those restrictions. Although, if you have a good photographer, your shots will be amazing anyway! Thanks for the information!

 

[StilAPrincessAtHeart]

As a photographer planning on doing my first Disney Wedding Next Year, I'm so happy about this!

 

[PinkKitty]

This is awesome news!

 

[WishingMom]

Great news! DH and I got married in 09 on DCL and I would have loved to had pictures taken at MK. I wonder if there is a possibility of having pictures done on our next trip?

 

[kari4ksu]

We are getting married next January at SBP and have booked Regina Hyman as our photographer. Her work is AMAZING, and her packages are even more reasonable that what I had originally budgeted for Disney's Event Photography!

 

[Emily11212]

May I ask when this announcement was made? Only b/c my DH and I sent quite a letter to the CEO explaining our process with DFTW photography and our search for outside photographers... and I'm wondering if our letter helped to change their minds a little bit about the policy. If so, I'm very happy for all you guys who can now use outside photographers, but I'm kind of like, "Grrrr!!! The money we could've saved!!!!" Lol. I was actually very proud of our letter, I think we made an excellent case for allowing people to have outside photography, especially when it comes to price and what you get for the price.

By no means am I trying to take credit, but never underestimate the power of a letter, especially if a bunch of people keep sending letters in! Change can happen!

 

[lurkyloo]

Great news! DH and I got married in 09 on DCL and I would have loved to had pictures taken at MK. I wonder if there is a possibility of having pictures done on our next trip?

DFTW's official policy is that outside photographers are only allowed at ceremonies/reception/dessert parties, not portrait sessions. You can book a portrait session through Disney photography, though, and since you had a Disney's Fair Tale Wedding, you can even book the Magic Kingdom bridal portrait session, if you want.

May I ask when this announcement was made?

Last week.

 

[singastory]

Oh, Lord. I need to get engaged fast, before they change the policy again!

My thoughts exactly!!!