Pre-paid photos offered again!

[PrincessShmoo]

I'm confused on this pricing. If someone were to get the photo disc anyway, why would they not just go for the $129.95 option? Why would they want to pay an extra $100 more to get an autographed character photo? Do you not get ALL of the digital photos if you were to go with the $129.95 option?

Some one reported (sorry, can't remember who) that the photo CD included with the photobook is stock photos from DCL (ship, characters, venues onboard, etc), not the photo CD with actual photos of guests.

 

[pxlbarrel]

Personally, I am going by the website. Perhaps you got lucky. I would hate to think I received all picks only to find out I didn't. The site says specifically that off ship pics are only included in the photo book, not the cd. Again, that is as per the site.

I don't think I got lucky 3 times ... if so, I should be buying lottery tickets. Because that's how many times I've bought the CD.

Where on the website does it say that Shutters excludes excursion photos?

 

[Rambler5678]

When I went on the site that you can pre-order. It only had cruises listed a month in advance. Can you pre-order them futher out than that?

 

[PrincessShmoo]

When I went on the site that you can pre-order. It only had cruises listed a month in advance. Can you pre-order them futher out than that?

Apparently not.

 

[Galactus]

I realize if you order online you get the free photobook CD with the photobook. Is this worth getting? If I purchase online, can I still decline the entire package once on board and get a FULL refund?

Also, what is the quality of the Photobook? For $149, it better be a quality product!

Thanks, Charles

 

[beaglefan]

Let me just say that we have been on two cruises, and have been so glad that we have bought the unlimited CD package for both cruises. The photographers are amazing at getting the best angle (take those pounds off!), getting fun pictures of the kids (do you realize how tough it is to get two toddlers to smile and look at the camera at the same time), and being exceptionally patient during photo shoots.

We used to get pictures taken at the local photo studio and spend $100-$200. We felt rushed, hated the props, and waited forever. On the cruise, we find the character photo shoots to have long lines, but the blank white/black backdrops they offer have almost no line and we have literally done three changes of clothing during a single photo shoot.

We choose not to buy the prints, figuring we can go to Costco and get enlargements cheaper than their price of prints.

we too found every photo taken (bad ones included) out at Shutters for viewing and on the CD.

Props to the photo crew (who take good care of us when we tip $10-$20...)

 

[labdogs42]

Oooh, thanks for the tip "tip"! For some reason, those things never occur to me. Makes total sense! I just ore paid for my CD yesterday thanks to this thread. Can't wait for the cruise!

 

[debsters41]

Does that mean we should tip each photographer?? Aren't there a lot?? Can someone please assist those of us who do not come from a tipping culture as to how to do this correctly?

 

[Meghatron]

We have never tipped the photographers and have never gotten the impression we were supposed to. I just assumed they were a non-tipped position like youth CMs, which means they're not allowed to accept cash tips. Our photos are always fabulous and I include the Shutters staff on our comment card.

Sent from my Tricorder using DISBoards

 

[debsters41]

We have never tipped the photographers and have never gotten the impression we were supposed to. I just assumed they were a non-tipped position like youth CMs, which means they're not allowed to accept cash tips. Our photos are always fabulous and I include the Shutters staff on our comment card.

Sent from my Tricorder using DISBoards

thank you!

 

[George69]

I don't think I got lucky 3 times ... if so, I should be buying lottery tickets. Because that's how many times I've bought the CD.

Where on the website does it say that Shutters excludes excursion photos?

I, personally, am not a betting person

 

[George69]

Hi, at the end of the trip is when everyone picks up their pics/cd/books. How long does that take, esp. concerned on getting off the ship in time for our bus. Also, if you get a CD, do you need to check your pics consistently throughout the cruise or can I just preorder, check it once, and pick up on last day/night and poof all pics will be there?

 

[George69]

Can I put all of the pics from disk onto more than one computer? (YES. found answer) Are the pics then mine to print multiples of each, and also, be SENT via INTERNET to CVS, Shutterfly, etc. to make copies or books, or etc. without release form problems (anyone do this?)(YES, found answer)

 

[pxlbarrel]

Hi, at the end of the trip is when everyone picks up their pics/cd/books. How long does that take, esp. concerned on getting off the ship in time for our bus. Also, if you get a CD, do you need to check your pics consistently throughout the cruise or can I just preorder, check it once, and pick up on last day/night and poof all pics will be there?

I check constantly throughout the cruise to make sure the photos are there. If you do it daily, then you won't forget what photos you had taken the day before. You'll know if something is missing. A lot of times they're scanning your Key to the World card and other times, they're relying on facial recognition software which isn't foolproof.

If you're lucky, the CD is ready for you the evening before. One time, it was delivered to our stateroom, another time we had to get it in the morning (that was a bit of a hassle because of how busy they were) and this last time, one of the photographers saw us walking through after dinner and chased after us telling us our CD was done. So we had the CD the evening before.

The day before you leave the ship, you can ask Shutters about when to get the CD and tell them you have a bus to catch in the morning.

 

[George69]

I check constantly throughout the cruise to make sure the photos are there. If you do it daily, then you won't forget what photos you had taken the day before. You'll know if something is missing. A lot of times they're scanning your Key to the World card and other times, they're relying on facial recognition software which isn't foolproof.

If you're lucky, the CD is ready for you the evening before. One time, it was delivered to our stateroom, another time we had to get it in the morning (that was a bit of a hassle because of how busy they were) and this last time, one of the photographers saw us walking through after dinner and chased after us telling us our CD was done. So we had the CD the evening before.

The day before you leave the ship, you can ask Shutters about when to get the CD and tell them you have a bus to catch in the morning.

Good info. to know, ,I will check it periodically, thanks for the quick reply

 

[Pfsedita]

Just off the Dream last Thursday and Shutters was my only really complaint about the trip. I found the info we got from the Shutters staff and other cast members as well as the navigator info very confusing.

1. Thought there would be photo ops as we went into dinner each night. Sadly no. This was an incorrect assumption on my part from a previous non-dcl cruise.
2. Navigator had info on professional portrait taking but no info on when Shutters would be there for character encounters. Had a long talk with a Shutters person toward the end and they are working to rectify this, with perhaps a coding on the Navigator.
3. On a shorter cruise, no Shutters on night one or night three in the dining rooms. The explanation was not enough time.
4. Fairly limited times there were employees at the Shutters counter itself. Until I went there when it was open, I didn't realize there were a bunch of pictures to check on the wall that the photo recognition did not catch.
5. There were no candid photos taken except ones posed for in the dining rooms on nights 2 and 3 and for a very short time on CC. The ladies in my group did the CC 5K. No Shutters as we got off the boat (as we had to follow the 5K sign) and none for the run. No Shutters getting on the boat so we didn't get a pic with our families. We were all really surprised there was not at least someone at the finish line.
6. THere seemed to be a real lack of photographers. Not sure if this is the norm (as first timers) or just this sailing. We ended up with about 50 pictures on the CD but many of those were just duplicates of poses. Only about 20 distinct pictures. Just enough to make the CD a logical choice over the 10/15 picture packages.
7. No stock photos to buy digitally. None even offered like photopass has for the parks. I was able to buy a few character poses for CC but no on disc. I scrapbook digitally so I will scan them. It seemed weird that there would not have at least been some offered.
8. Because of the limited time for the professional pictures, the atrium at those times was CRAZY!! We kind of figured it out by the third night but keeping 4 kids 10 and under in line and clean was a challenge!

I thought I would pass all this on so that anyone heading out as a first time DCLer like me would know!! (all of it passed on to DCL also)

Patti

 

[pxlbarrel]

I haven't been on any of the newer ships but I'm confused. Weren't Shutters photographers at every character greet?

And I thought there was a photo cd you could buy with the stock photos of the characters.

Our complaint about Shutters on our last trip (Med cruise) was that we kept missing the photographer on our excursions. They were only allowed to send 2 out with the excursions so you had to be one of the lucky excursions that got accompanied by one of 2 photographers. Two years ago, it seemed like all we had to do was look and we'd find one on our excursion but this time ... nope.

And ... you'll be lucky to find a photographer that will do candid shots. Most will only do the standard character shots... Your better bet at candid shots, while meeting a character, is the person you hand your own camera to... Once in a while, you'll get one that realizes the candid shot is the money shot, not the posed one.

The shortest cruise I've done is 5 days and I didn't buy a photo CD then. Just not enough photo ops to be worth it for me.

My next cruise will be on the Dream and it's only 3 days so I think it'll be another case of not buying the CD. It's not for every one and not for every cruise.

Just off the Dream last Thursday and Shutters was my only really complaint about the trip. I found the info we got from the Shutters staff and other cast members as well as the navigator info very confusing.

1. Thought there would be photo ops as we went into dinner each night. Sadly no. This was an incorrect assumption on my part from a previous non-dcl cruise.
2. Navigator had info on professional portrait taking but no info on when Shutters would be there for character encounters. Had a long talk with a Shutters person toward the end and they are working to rectify this, with perhaps a coding on the Navigator.
3. On a shorter cruise, no Shutters on night one or night three in the dining rooms. The explanation was not enough time.
4. Fairly limited times there were employees at the Shutters counter itself. Until I went there when it was open, I didn't realize there were a bunch of pictures to check on the wall that the photo recognition did not catch.
5. There were no candid photos taken except ones posed for in the dining rooms on nights 2 and 3 and for a very short time on CC. The ladies in my group did the CC 5K. No Shutters as we got off the boat (as we had to follow the 5K sign) and none for the run. No Shutters getting on the boat so we didn't get a pic with our families. We were all really surprised there was not at least someone at the finish line.
6. THere seemed to be a real lack of photographers. Not sure if this is the norm (as first timers) or just this sailing. We ended up with about 50 pictures on the CD but many of those were just duplicates of poses. Only about 20 distinct pictures. Just enough to make the CD a logical choice over the 10/15 picture packages.
7. No stock photos to buy digitally. None even offered like photopass has for the parks. I was able to buy a few character poses for CC but no on disc. I scrapbook digitally so I will scan them. It seemed weird that there would not have at least been some offered.
8. Because of the limited time for the professional pictures, the atrium at those times was CRAZY!! We kind of figured it out by the third night but keeping 4 kids 10 and under in line and clean was a challenge!

I thought I would pass all this on so that anyone heading out as a first time DCLer like me would know!! (all of it passed on to DCL also)

Patti

 

[dizzyr]

Does anyone know if you can still prepay your photos? The sail dates listed only go to oct and they have been like that for quite some time. We sail in nov and I want as much paid for upfront as possible.

 

[dizzyr]

Does anyone know if you can still prepay your photos? The sail dates listed only go to oct and they have been like that for quite some time. We sail in nov and I want as much paid for upfront as possible.

Bumping up in case anyone knows the answer

 

[debsters41]

When I tried clicking through for my cruise (in one year) I reached a form to fill in that assures me would have them notify me when my cruise becomes available for pre purchase. Have you done that? If so, I would just wait.