Camera Bag

[WriteDisney]

They always seem genuinely happy to oblige, and more than once they've offered without my asking, even just reached out for my camera. (Have had this happen with other pro photographers at other venues, too.)

My take on it is that they seem understand that not everyone is going to buy every single picture that's taken, but they're likely to buy some, so why not just make the guests happy; like they're not getting completely soaked at every turn. To me it's kind of like the people that give away samples of food or wine at restaurants - they want you to try it and be happy so not only are you more likely to buy whatever it is, but you're more likely to come back and spend money there in the future. (Kind of a no-brainer, really.)

Exactly!! Very well said! I haven't read the thread the OP listed.. but that seems like a perfectly reasonable explanation for why it's okay for them to take pics with your camera. Great example in terms of the restaurants giving away samples.

OP I wouldn't worry about it. Some people just aren't reasonable (or they just enjoy arguing online).

 

[YesDear]

FWISW My son is a college program alumni and he knew several photopass photographers. They are paid by Disney or were at the time and part of their job, as with all Disney castmembers, their main goals it provide a positive Disney experience. I have never had one turn me down even using my Nikon's. Now I always let them take a picture as well and my only notice is that the one they take with my camera is not as well posed.

I actually would report any Disney photopass photographer if they refused as being non-Disney.

Your poster also needs to realize that most of the photopass photographers are not professional photographers. I am not slighting them but some I have spoken to have had only several weeks of training and most of that is onthejob. Their main goal if you think about it is to take a picture of the whole group for you, do it with a nice camera and flash and hopefully sell it to you.

Disney used to give the cameras to college program alums if they stayed there a year. Sounds great but if you have a D70 with 100000 activations on it what do you have?

Have not all of us in walking around Disney offered to take a picture with someone's camera so they all can be in the shot?

 

[MarkBarbieri]

I think it is horrible to ask them to take your picture using your own camera. It's abusive and degrading. These are professional artisans working their craft. Would you have interrupted Leonardo De Vinci while he was painting Mona for a quick scribble on your notepad? Would you have requested that Frederic Bartholdi give a quick squeeze on your ball of clay? What's next? Are people going to ask Rock Stars to play a quick tune on their personal guitar just because they paid to get into the concert?

OK, so the photopass guys aren't super elite professionals but just regular joes trying to earn a living. Does that give you the right? Just because someone plays minor league ball and you paid to get into the game, does that entitle you to a quick game of catch with them while they're sitting on the bench? Do you bring your own fries into McDonald's and use their ketchup just because they are a "real" restaurant?

These guys are out there slaving in the hot sun trying to feed their hungry children by taking pictures. Sure, they don't get paid a commission, but their jobs depend on the whole photopass thing making money. If you cut into that business model by greedily exploiting their expertise by interrupting their work for a stupid snapshot of your maliciously grinning mug, you are as good as taking food off their children's table.

If you think that you are entitled to abuse those poor Disney employees just because you bought a measly ticket, you are probably the type that thinks civil servants should be your slaves because you pay your taxes.

Just kidding.

In the end, my answer to the question is simple. They get asked to do it all the time. I'm sure that the ones that don't like it quit and do something else with their lives.

 

[AmyRF25]

I also use a a lowepro backpack. I have this one

http://products.lowepro.com/product/Micro-Trekker-100,1962,14.htm

I was surprised at how much room it has - I can fit my digital camcorder, my dslr with lens, my P&S, and some person items. I've always been happy with this bag

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

It isn't like the PhotoPass guys are being hired by the guests to photograph an event, and then the guest is asking to have photos on their personal camera to avoid paying for the professional shots. The PhotoPass guy is getting paid whether he takes your pic or not, with your camera or his!

I can't imagine there is any sort of incentive for the photo guys based on how many shots they take. I can't imagine that Disney tracks which guy takes the photos that sell the best. I can't imagine that it really matters if the PhotoPass guy uses a guest's camera.

We just came back from 16 nights at WDW and NONE of our PhotoPass shots are that great. If the guys had used our cameras I doubt the shots would have been any better.

 

[handicap18]

I use a Tamrac Adventure 9 to hold all my gear together including laptop and wires. However it is very heavy when fully loaded (D50, 6 lenses, flash and diffuser, many SD cards, 3 extra batteries and battery charger, 2 filters), but it keeps everything together. For day trips or short trips I use a LowePro Slingshot 200. Hold my D50 with lens and 2 or 3 other lenses or 1 or 2 lenses along with flash and diffuser. It is comfortable for me and it also has a small compartment for snacks or small rain coat. It also has a built in rain cover that folds into the bottom of the bag.

Last trip to WDW I used 2 lens pouches attached to my belt and carried my camera around my neck. I did bring a video camera but only used it at the character meals.

 

[Experiment_626]

I can't imagine there is any sort of incentive for the photo guys based on how many shots they take. I can't imagine that Disney tracks which guy takes the photos that sell the best. I can't imagine that it really matters if the PhotoPass guy uses a guest's camera.

We just came back from 16 nights at WDW and NONE of our PhotoPass shots are that great. If the guys had used our cameras I doubt the shots would have been any better.

I feel the same. The one PhotoPass photo I got was horribly backlit, with lots of flare (it was included as part of a package). I don't really blame the photographer, though. I think it was a problem with his assigned position -- literally five minutes earlier, it would have been a pretty good shot.

I've had nice chats with enthusiastic PhotoPass photographers when they weren't busy. One of them in particular indicated that she was happy -- she got to stand in Walt Disney World and make people happy, doing something they couldn't do for themselves (let everybody get into the shot) very easily. And I'll bet the photos they take are as good or better than what the average guest is knowledgeable enough to get on his own. I'll suspect that beats filling soft drink orders by a mile.

I'm seriously considering a move to the Orlando area within the next few years. With that in mind, I've considered this as a goal for seasonal employment -- I can imagine lots of less pleasant things to do. Now, if they offered me a job as a monorail pilot or Dream Squad member ... that might beat it!

SSB

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

I worked at a theme park and even managed the Old Tyme Photo Studio. It was never a problem to take a picture with a guests camera.
Wages were paid hourly. It was enjoyable to just make a guest happy and that was an inherent part of the job for every employee.

I imagine Disney is just as happy to have their photographers take a pic and then have the family go to the gift store and buy a frame for that one shot that they have everyone in! And....those photographers are only there b/c Disney has decided to hire people to do that.

To tell the honest truth....the employees I wanted at the theme park were ones that interacted well with the guests and could get the basics of posing and taking a decent picture. The "Pro" photographers often were too intent on getting the perfect picture and just took too darn long. We weren't a professional studio - we were part of the park experience.

 

[Gdad]

More often than not they offer to take a picture with my camera. I am sure if Disney thought it was a problem they would have a policy against it and the Photopass Photographers would politely tell people who asked that it was not allowed. And I have never heard anything suggesting the CM's are compensated or evaluated based on print sales- so I really can't see a problem with it.

 

[YesDear]

Ok Mark you have to be careful with your posts. To me if you write something, I take your opinions and comments seriously and carefully. You post above initially shocked me at your approach. I then read your other post on the original thread, got totally confused and then came back here and read this one again.

I admit you had me.

 

[Tuffcookie]

I thought Photopass Photographers were paid by the hour CMs! I have had photos taken by the Photopass Photographers which were not that great and ones taken with my camera, which I liked much better!
My concern was, if I asked the Photopass Photographer to use my camera, I wondered if they would really put much of an effort to get a really good shot. But, for the most part, I have been pleased with the shots the Photopass Photographers have taken with my camera.
Last trip, I took my own tripod! Although I wouldn't set it up in the middle of Main St, there are other out-of-the-way spots around the parks where you can set up your tripod, set your timer, and get in the picture with your family!

TC

 

[saturndb]

I have had many pictures taken by the photopass photographers and on my last trip I came back and bought the cd. During that last trip the photopass photographer did take my camera and click a few shots of my wife and I in front of the castle( we did not ask him to do that, he saw my camera) and even made some adjustments to my camera to help me get some good shots during that trip. I did not ask for him to give any advice, he did it most likely because he believes in the Disney Magic.

 

[wenrob]

I think that you're being eaten alive in that thread and I'm not going to jump into it.

I don't think so, not at all. 626's arguments were valid and reasonable while the other guy is just reading WAY too much into it. He's being snippy not making valid points.
I doubt many photo pass photographers have even given it a thought. It's in their job description so why would they resent doing what they're paid to do? If not for these guys there would be no proof that I was even with my family on vacation.

 

[ukcatfan]

I saw the employment ad for the photographers and that told me everything. It said that NO photography experience was necessary. They are basically looking for someone that fits the Disney mold and can press a button on command based on what they told them to do over a few hours of training. I would be willing to bet that 90% of them do not ever even aspire to be professional. I also believe that they are paid dirt and receive nothing but completely basic training, so no intelligent aspiring professional would take the job anyway. You are not taking anything away from their job by asking them to take a shot with your camera. In support of this, I have only come across a very small handful of shots they have taken that I would be willing to buy.

 

[tripodjw]

I have to admit i've always felt funny about having the Photopass guys take pics of me using my camera and I don't ask them to do so. BUT if they offer to take one on my camera while doing the "official" photopass shots then i always say yes. I can only recall one instance where they have not offered and that was when there was a huge queue behind us.

In fact, there was one PP photographer at AK who really wanted to get hands on with my D80 to see what it was like compared to the D70 she was using.

And another PP person in DHS who took loads of pics using different settings (it was early evening) because he wanted to make sure they came out ok.

 

[seashoreCM]

This is a perfectly good business model for the purpose of enhancing the overall guest experience although I don't know whether Disney has thought of it.

1. We (the Photopass photographers) are here to take pictures for you.
2. If you don't have a camera or don't want us to touch yours, then we have cameras and can sell you pictures.
3. To avoid confusion and accidents we will not be able to handle your camera during busy times.

Digital camera hints: http://members.aol.com/ajaynejr/digicam.htm

 

[MonoManBlue]

I think you're wrong. I'm convinced I'm right, if only because I have talked at length with PhotoPass photographers. I have no reason to think they were being anything other than honest -- I never presume someone is lying to me unless I have other reasons to think so. Part of one of those conversations had to do with my inquiries about the position as one that might possibly interest me.

Why do you think I'm being eaten alive? Because I'm talking to a hard-headed person? I'm not really trying to change his mind.

Here's the thing -- if a cast member says he doesn't mind doing something for you, it is reasonable to at least wonder whether that's a completely honest statement. But when a cast member (in this case a PhotoPass photographer) tells me that he is paid to take photos for guests, and that this includes both for PhotoPass and using a guest's own camera when requested -- and that he gets paid by the hour, so it doesn't matter how many PhotoPass pictures he takes ... well, I'm inclined to believe that is honest, in the absence of a reason to do otherwise. The first has to do with what he feels like doing, and the second has to do with what he's being paid to do. Yes, I'm sure that if PhotoPass photographers began taking very few PhotoPass photos on an ongoing basis, then Disney might change the policy.

SSB

I also think you are in the wrong. Their job is to make money selling pictures, not to do it for free. Also, I dated a photopass photographer, lets just say that they really have perfected that fake smile when guests ask to have their picture taken with a different camera.

 

[MonoManBlue]

I saw the employment ad for the photographers and that told me everything. It said that NO photography experience was necessary. They are basically looking for someone that fits the Disney mold and can press a button on command based on what they told them to do over a few hours of training. I would be willing to bet that 90% of them do not ever even aspire to be professional. I also believe that they are paid dirt and receive nothing but completely basic training, so no intelligent aspiring professional would take the job anyway. You are not taking anything away from their job by asking them to take a shot with your camera. In support of this, I have only come across a very small handful of shots they have taken that I would be willing to buy.

base pay starts at $10.00 an hour. Camera's are left on auto or "P" for programmed auto. It really doesn't require any experience to be a photographer for disney.

 

[Experiment_626]

I also think you are in the wrong. Their job is to make money selling pictures, not to do it for free.

In what way are they doing it for free? You show me how they're not getting paid if they take photos with my camera, and I'll reconsider. I am demonstrably not in the wrong. This is the policy their employer gives them. This is the job they are being paid to do.

Also, I dated a photopass photographer, lets just say that they really have perfected that fake smile when guests ask to have their picture taken with a different camera.

Personally, I really don't care if they like it or not. That's irrelevant. I put on a big smile and was cheerful back in the days I bagged groceries for a living. Do you think I wanted to take groceries out to a customer's car in the pouring rain, especially when I knew I wasn't going to get a tip before I even put a can into a bag? But it didn't matter, because it was the job I was being paid to do. Nobody hires someone and then says, "These will be your duties ... unless you'd rather not." Disney is paying people to do a job. Either you like it (and I'm sure there are PhotoPass photographers who do like their jobs), or you don't like it but you suck it up and do the job anyway, or you find a different job.

Whether a cast member likes or doesn't like doing their job, my asking them to do it doesn't make me in the wrong.

SSB

 

[Experiment_626]

Their job is to make money selling pictures

They make money taking pictures. I've never had a photographer at the parks try to sell me a picture.

SSB