Breaking NEWS PHOTO SESSIONS!!!!!! :-)

[kimisabella]

We just had a photoshoot at the Poly this past Saturday. We had to re-schedule 3 times because of the weather and the staff and the Poly was great about it. We had a good photographer, a male, won't say his name on here. Took about 60 pics, all different locations, because we had to change
3X we had a 9:30a.m. appointment and the sun was a bit of a problem, but he really was good about poisitioning us in the right way. He did mention that we got in at a good time because the price was going way up. He did photos of dh and I, dh alone, me alone, both dd's alone and together, really a good mix of photos.

 

[cherbear]

We just had a photoshoot at the Poly this past Saturday. We had to re-schedule 3 times because of the weather and the staff and the Poly was great about it. We had a good photographer, a male, won't say his name on here. Took about 60 pics, all different locations, because we had to change
3X we had a 9:30a.m. appointment and the sun was a bit of a problem, but he really was good about poisitioning us in the right way. He did mention that we got in at a good time because the price was going way up. He did photos of dh and I, dh alone, me alone, both dd's alone and together, really a good mix of photos.

ooh! We wanna see! Right everyone?

 

[kimisabella]

ooh! We wanna see! Right everyone?

Actually, I don't have the CD yet, but I will post some pics when I get it back from Disney

 

[DiznEeyore]

I can ALMOST promise you that those photgraphers are not making even a fraction of that $150.00. You are NOT paying them $150.00 for their expertise....it's more like WDW is making 90% of that $150.00. I agree to the fact that it is a great amount of money BUT to complain about the photographer...these ppl aren't making the money. Instead of complaining about the photographer...to a photographer....., ppl should be complaining TO WDW. And if they (the photographers) had the expertise, you would be paying alot more than $75.00 per session. Just try hiring someone to go to WDW and take your pictures.

Of COURSE they're not making a fraction of that $150/hour! You're missing the point entirely! And on one hand, you're saying we're paying for their expertise (see your earlier post), and on the other, you're saying we're not! Which is it?

And if I did want to "try hiring someone", FYI, I've gotten quotes from two great Orlando-area photographers who will come out to WDW for $250 for two to three hours and give us the CD. And if you do the math, that's cheaper than $150/hour.

Also, to be clear, none of us were "complaining" to a photographer -- we were discussing our unhappiness with the quality and price increase it as guests/customers, and she entered the discussion. No one's been "ranting" at anyone.

 

[Ducky4Disney]

........Third, why complain or vent about the photgraphers? If it is a real issue for anyone....call, write, email WDW Corporate and ask questions, voice concerns, rant if you want but shooting the messanger is senseless. These photographers are employees, only trained as WDW seen fit, and attacking them isn't going to change anything. If you want to see change go to the main root of the problem. Ask about Guarantees, discounts, prices, etc. at corporate and get it in writing if you think it is going to be an issue when/if you chose to use this service.

I don't think anyone is attacking the photographers here! We are not complaining to them - one of them was nice enough, and brave enough, to come here and help us understand why the price increased. What we are trying to explain to her is that the price doesn't match the service! The PP CD is $125 for me to have pictures taken by PhotoPass Photographers at various locations throughout WDW. These photogs are not professionals - no prob, we get lots of pics, get to keep them all, and can edit/enhance them. Great! I have 2 PP CD's, and I like every pic on them for the most part - other than the one where my DH really needed to shave but from what I am reading here - the resort portrait sessions are no better than the average park PhotoPass pictures, so why shouldn't they be included on my CD? Why should I have to pay more for them? Oh, you get more time with the photographer... ok $25, maybe $50. But an extra $75 for average PhotoPass pics? Huh?

Read this thread from the start - we were excited that they were adding additional locations, we were comfortable with $25 and most of us would do $50, then Disney started to change it.... $75... no enhancements... and we saw some examples of the product.

No one is attacking the photographers - it's not their call on what the prices should be or how the program should change, we get that. But they're being protrayed as one thing - and we're getting something else.

D4D

 

[parkers*momma]

Of COURSE they're not making a fraction of that $150/hour! You're missing the point entirely! And on one hand, you're saying we're paying for their expertise (see your earlier post), and on the other, you're saying we're not! Which is it?

And if I did want to "try hiring someone", FYI, I've gotten quotes from two great Orlando-area photographers who will come out to WDW for $250 for two to three hours and give us the CD. And if you do the math, that's cheaper than $150/hour.

Also, to be clear, none of us were "complaining" to a photographer -- we were discussing our unhappiness with the quality and price increase it as guests/customers, and she entered the discussion. No one's been "ranting" at anyone.

Are you a lawyer? in Politics? ....Just kidding. This could go on forever and ever but simply not worth it. I see we both have one good quality...we love to stand by/give our opinions!

I think we are reading the same book, just on different pages. Is it safe to say...it's what each person desire while at WDW-with or without the photos- and leave it at that. We could debate until the cows come home but I don't think they would never make it home.

And this is meant with complete and utmost sincerity...If you chose to hire one of the photographers...I hope your pics turn out fantastic. As I hope mine will too.

And if one really wants to make changes, I still stand by my earlier post....contacting WDW....let the voices be heard where it matters most-at the top.

 

[lissiesmum]

ooh! We wanna see! Right everyone?

I second that, let's get back to those happy smiling families on vacation...cuz that's where I'll be in four days!

 

[parkers*momma]

I second that, let's get back to those happy smiling families on vacation...cuz that's where I'll be in four days!

Lucky luck you! We still 17 days....a looooooooog 17 days.

I hope the weather is great while you are there!

 

[photobob]

Let me first say that I have only seen a couple of peoples "photo sessions" photos posted. I am a professional photographer and the photos that I have seen aren't professional quality. It takes a lot of experience, know how and God given talent to produce excellent photographs.

I'm assuming the people shooting these sessions are hired, given some training and boom they are photographers. Having a camera, no matter how nice a camera, does not make one a photographer. Don't expect the quality you would get from a professional photographer from these photo sessions, because you are not dealing with professional photographers, you are dealing with people who are hired to take pictures. There is a VERY big difference.

 

[lissiesmum]

Lucky luck you! We still 17 days....a looooooooog 17 days.

I hope the weather is great while you are there!

Thanks, me too. I am very interested in Hannah right now...still too early to tell, but I'm hoping she goes up the Atlantic and gets demolished by the colder water temps! Wish me luck because the MNSSHP we are attending is Sept 5, and we leave the next day so I have no margin of error if Hannah decides to visit Orlando while I'm there!

 

[momsavealot]

I don't think anyone is attacking the photographers here! We are not complaining to them - one of them was nice enough, and brave enough, to come here and help us understand why the price increased. What we are trying to explain to her is that the price doesn't match the service! The PP CD is $125 for me to have pictures taken by PhotoPass Photographers at various locations throughout WDW. These photogs are not professionals - no prob, we get lots of pics, get to keep them all, and can edit/enhance them. Great! I have 2 PP CD's, and I like every pic on them for the most part - other than the one where my DH really needed to shave but from what I am reading here - the resort portrait sessions are no better than the average park PhotoPass pictures, so why shouldn't they be included on my CD? Why should I have to pay more for them? Oh, you get more time with the photographer... ok $25, maybe $50. But an extra $75 for average PhotoPass pics? Huh?

Read this thread from the start - we were excited that they were adding additional locations, we were comfortable with $25 and most of us would do $50, then Disney started to change it.... $75... no enhancements... and we saw some examples of the product.

No one is attacking the photographers - it's not their call on what the prices should be or how the program should change, we get that. But they're being protrayed as one thing - and we're getting something else.

D4D

Thank you!! My point exactly! No one is attacking the photographers! They have no choice in price, location (I'm guessing) or equipment they're given. We're just giving our personal experiences so people going to Disney soon can learn from them. I can't tell you how much I have learnt from the Disboards! Thank God I had been watching this very thread. Because of it, I knew what poses I needed, what outfits I needed and what time appt. I should make. I think if people are deciding on whether to pay a certain price or whether to take precious time out of their park schedules to do this session, they want to know how it went for the rest of us. Let people post their experiences so the rest of us can decide in our own mind whether it's worth the price or not. That's the whole reason I love these boards because people are brutally honest and tell it like it is! I have seen photos earlier on this thread that are beautiful and I'm sure priceless to them. Unfortunately, it just didn't work for me! I think everyone should just chill and think happy Disney thoughts! Altho the portrait session didn't work well for me, I ended up with 1500 digital pics and a Photopass CD with nice family park photos, plenty to remember a wonderful vacation!

 

[TaylorsDad]

Let me first say that I have only seen a couple of peoples "photo sessions" photos posted. I am a professional photographer and the photos that I have seen aren't professional quality. It takes a lot of experience, know how and God given talent to produce excellent photographs.

I'm assuming the people shooting these sessions are hired, given some training and boom they are photographers. Having a camera, no matter how nice a camera, does not make one a photographer. Don't expect the quality you would get from a professional photographer from these photo sessions, because you are not dealing with professional photographers, you are dealing with people who are hired to take pictures. There is a VERY big difference.

As a professional photographer perhaps you could give us an estimate of how much a professional quality photo session of 30 min and 50-60 photos would cost. Just curious.

 

[yrdlyprincess]

Let me first say that I have only seen a couple of peoples "photo sessions" photos posted. I am a professional photographer and the photos that I have seen aren't professional quality. It takes a lot of experience, know how and God given talent to produce excellent photographs.

I'm assuming the people shooting these sessions are hired, given some training and boom they are photographers. Having a camera, no matter how nice a camera, does not make one a photographer. Don't expect the quality you would get from a professional photographer from these photo sessions, because you are not dealing with professional photographers, you are dealing with people who are hired to take pictures. There is a VERY big difference.

I definitely agree with you, I got it done last year at GF, the pictures came out ok -hear me say OK, I didn't have to pay for it because it had just came out & got it on the promo, but there were some picutres that were TERRIBLE & some good, from the pictures I took at the park, some of mine were better than hers. I think it was great that someone was there to take pictures of "all of us" but I think my camera is just as good or better than theirs. I don't think I will do it this year if I have to pay (so much) and can't crop/add to the pictures (will anyone be down the time I am & take pictures of my faimly -I take pictures of your

 

[parkers*momma]

Thanks, me too. I am very interested in Hannah right now...still too early to tell, but I'm hoping she goes up the Atlantic and gets demolished by the colder water temps! Wish me luck because the MNSSHP we are attending is Sept 5, and we leave the next day so I have no margin of error if Hannah decides to visit Orlando while I'm there!

I'll send you extra pixie dust. We were there (MNSSHP) during Wilma and it is safe to say we were positively drenched when it blew in. It just so happened we were at the back of the park at the time and a total down pour before we made it to the bus.

for your Trip and MNSSHP

 

[parkers*momma]

I can only express this for myself, but I'm hoping DiznEeyore can agree. Neither of us are angry...especially with each other...just the situation and the preception we have of a photo session.

I totally agree with photobob...just because you are given the equipment and training doesn't make you a professional photographer. If that's the case, we'd all be buying an operating room and becoming surgeons. But on the other hand, I know what our photographers charge here for a seating fee, proofs, etc and in my area...What WDW if offering isn't bad. But hey, I like saving money as much as the next guy and booked mine at the $25 with the CD.

The information I have recieved from Dis is a wealth I would never get anyplace else. Yes, we can be blunt as heck and for some of us, stand tight to our convictions and opinions. I've been around for several years but just recently had to start a new account because my account messed up and I could no longer log in....so I know Dis is a great place.

Comments can be read and mistakenly read at that. It can be read one way on a good day and then read a totally different way when we are having a bad day....maybe this was just a bad day

anyway...no bad vibes here....just counting down till we arrive

 

[cherbear]

Actually, I don't have the CD yet, but I will post some pics when I get it back from Disney

thanks! I wonder if you'll get it within the next 2 weeks (before I leave)

 

[I~heart~Mickey]

Just wanted to share - It has probably been posted but here it is anyways!

www.disneyphotopass.com/previsitcdplan.aspx

 

[zurgswife]

Let me first say that I have only seen a couple of peoples "photo sessions" photos posted. I am a professional photographer and the photos that I have seen aren't professional quality. It takes a lot of experience, know how and God given talent to produce excellent photographs.

I'm assuming the people shooting these sessions are hired, given some training and boom they are photographers. Having a camera, no matter how nice a camera, does not make one a photographer. Don't expect the quality you would get from a professional photographer from these photo sessions, because you are not dealing with professional photographers, you are dealing with people who are hired to take pictures. There is a VERY big difference.

You are correct these are $8.50 per hour photographers. Very few have even close to what I would consider professional skills. I was fortunately our photographer was above the quality of others but she is the exception. For $25 I went into it just looking for a couple of shots of hubbie and I alone and in dresser clothes. NO other expectation. I was pleasantly surprised.

But no matter how you look at this the 30mins you spend with this photographer they are making $4.25 and Disney is making $70.75 for the sitting fee alone. A professional photographer makes a heck of alot more then what these photographers make. In the pay difference you get the quality that is missing from the Disney "Photographers". They may think that having these photographers present portfolios before they hire them, that they are getting quality photographers but I just don't believe the quality photographer is going to work for Disney for $8.50 per hour.

 

[pinkerbell]

I definitely agree with you, I got it done last year at GF, the pictures came out ok -hear me say OK, I didn't have to pay for it because it had just came out & got it on the promo, but there were some picutres that were TERRIBLE & some good, from the pictures I took at the park, some of mine were better than hers. I think it was great that someone was there to take pictures of "all of us" but I think my camera is just as good or better than theirs. I don't think I will do it this year if I have to pay (so much) and can't crop/add to the pictures (will anyone be down the time I am & take pictures of my faimly -I take pictures of your

I have to say you are on the right track! our BEST photos from our vacations (including my computers wallpaper) have been taken by other GUESTS! I used to work at disney (MANY moons ago) and work at another park now. One thing that always stuck was when I see a family taking a shot less one (the picture taker) I always ask If they want me to take the photo so they can be in it. I have also found 99% of the time if I ask someone (unless they do not speak english) they will!

and fellow disboarders with Lime green mickeys are great!!

As a professional photographer perhaps you could give us an estimate of how much a professional quality photo session of 30 min and 50-60 photos would cost. Just curious.

I too would be interested to know this but want to add that the last time I had prof photos done (not at disney) it also included another piece of added value that I dont think has been mentioned here, profession developing... My photographs were professional printed using the latest techology to correct issues such as lighting, red eye etc.... to know the cost of just a session is not an accurate reflection since it does not include the additonal work after the photos are taken whcih may or may not be included in that price.

For me, the session was a good deal but given the short period of time, the roll of the dice on the photographer, the inability to add enhancements, the quality of photos from my last session, and that i do not know how to "corrcect" many of the problems (like our very DARK pics post 1136) I think the comparison of the often very hard working Session photographers and a professional is unfair and disney should not price it so as to set a higher expectation of their help that they in many cases cannot deliver.

It's a quantity vs quality issue really, the quantity may be there, but will the quality???

Mind you I am not flaming us for our discussion, as it was posted, we are all trying to help each other honestly with our experiences

I fault DISNEY for rasisng the price to a level where the expectations can be much higher than the result.



Good luck to all who go forward!!

 

[LilGMom]

Just wanted to share - It has probably been posted but here it is anyways!

www.disneyphotopass.com/previsitcdplan.aspx

FYI - the wording about a $25 photo session at the GF was still on the confirmation email as of yesterday. If they are going to honor that I say get the preordered cd while you can!!!!