Camera Bag

[MarkBarbieri]

Yeah, but how do we know that you aren't odd and that all of the other photopass photographers are secretly humiliated by the practice?

It really doesn't matter to me whether the photopassers are thrilled or mortified. The big question I want to know is whether you can enter a shot in the photo contest if a photopasser (or photopasserette) took the shot using your camera.

 

[ToyotaKitten]

Yeah, but how do we know that you aren't odd and that all of the other photopass photographers are secretly humiliated by the practice?

lol well considering that i am friends with a buncha photographers.... no we dont care. NONE OF US GET UPSET! and all of us love asking guests to use their camera. seriously WE LOVE OUR JOB. our job is to be a service. we get more annoyed that guest DONT ASK US to take their photo with THEIR CAMERA adn they try to do it themselves. we want DAD to be in the photos too!

in fact we get so annoyed that they dont ask we gossip abotu it backstage "why dont they ask us to take a photo with their camera, they wont even smile at us when we look them in the eyes, its liek they think we will charge them... to use their camera"

in all honestly we WANT to use your camera - it opens a door to warm our guests up with the idea of using our photopass service

 

[ToyotaKitten]

I don't know -- the guy in that other thread didn't seem to be one who'd let facts or logic get in the way of his opinion. I would think that it would settle the issue pretty well if he were willing to listen to reason.

Everything you said lines up with what other PhotoPass (is it "PhotoPass" or "Photopass"?) photographers have told me. So, score one for consistency!

Has being a Photopass photographer had any effect on your personal interest in photography, for good or ill?

SSB

well i PMed that LARRY GUY so taken care of.

and to answer your question - YES. i have gained some amazing skills. i was one of the top photographers at Hollywood studios and was part of some special photopass projects. i was prince caspian's first photographer for PRESS day and for his first week. i was part of the first crew for high school musical photos when we launched in christmas of 2007..... and other things too... it was amazing. i had no idea that i had the skills. i still dont think i do. but just to be a part of this program has been amazing!!!!

i was then chosen to join a new team to open the professional portraits at the new resort locations. so its been a wild trip. much better than merchandise was!!!! i will say that being a part of the PORTRAITS team has made me think about opening up my own studio one day! but i will always be a cast member one way or another. i love it!!!!

 

[WillCAD]

we get more annoyed that guest DONT ASK US to take their photo with THEIR CAMERA adn they try to do it themselves. we want DAD to be in the photos too!

Well, try not to be too upset at that. I tour solo through the parks, and whenever I get a pic snapped by a PPP (PhotoPass Photographer) I never ask them to use my camera. I have simply been satisfied with the PhotoPass pics I've gotten over the years and don't feel any pressing need to have them back it up with my camera.

 

[handicap18]

Thanks for adding your thoughts and experiences Toyotakitten. Its nice to have a Photopass Photographer appear here on the Photoboard.

I hope you are able to stick around and participate in some regular discussions around here. It would be great to have you around.

I would love someday to be a Photopass photogrpher. I think I would love it. I'm not really into becoming a professional or anything like that so something like the Photopass gig would be great. You get the "professional" feel, but none of the other stuff, like wondering if you'll get work this month to pay the bills, having to collect money, fill out contracts and all that stuff.

I've pretty much always had a great experience with the PP guys/gals. I think it is a great service.

 

[YesDear]

As the husband and father of former Disney Castmembers, thank you ToyotaKitten for expressing what I knew to be true about castmembers. They are. for the most part, a unique group of people who get the Walt Disney spirit. You love people and more importantly you love Disney. The happiest place on earth means something to you and you try to make that happen every day for the guests you meet. I can tell the pride you have in what you do, and you should be proud of the skills you are developing. You know that a man who once drove horses on Main Street became the President of the Magic Kingdom Theme Park! Disney has a talent in developing talent that wants to be developed!

A smile and a friendly face is one of the most powerful weapons in the world in changing a person, if for only a moment. It is hard for many guests to understand that one of the more popular roles is the street cleaners. Many of the street cleaners, particularly at the Magic Kingdom, believe they have the best jobs from a role standpoint. They will tell you they get to stand around and talk to people all day long. What a blast!

I also know that we the guests of today make your job harder and harder to do. My family has commented on how cranky people seem to be when they come in the gates these days. But this entire board is full of magical moments that are shared with others. Small moments that have become cherished memories, caused by dedicated castmembers like you!

Thank you again for being a castmember and wanting to make my Disney experience the best it can be. Thank you for taking my picture, with your camera and my camera!

 

[jann1033]

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.

the way i tell is if mark's post is less than 20 inches long and does not contain advanced math, it's tongue in cheek
i can't believe that many people are that upset about asking someone to use another camera, course i haven't gone to the other dis sections lately so i forget how cutthroat disites can be ..personally i would be afraid they'd drop it then i would have to smile and act like i didn't really feel like crying so i wouldn't show up as a "can you believe what we have to put up with " in the castmembers only forum

 

[MarkBarbieri]

the way i tell is if mark's post is less than 20 inches long and does not contain advanced math, it's tongue in cheek

I'm never serious. Even the math is a joke. Seriously.

 

[DueyDooDah]

...in all honestly we WANT to use your camera ...

Ah Ha! That's cause I'm carrying a Canon, right? Another case of Canon envy!!!

 

[YesDear]

Maybe that is why the always ask me to use my camera. They are used to using quality Nikon Cameras!

 

[brianheather]

Has anyone out there pre-order the photopass cd and then get the photopass photographer session for 25.00? If anyone has please contact me, I am looking to do this for our up coming trip, but I am a little nervous.
Thank you.

 

[4orm]

According to Stitch Kingdom, as of this weekend the sessions are now separate from the photopass and now have a $75 sitting fee I'm not too thrilled about this.

 

[brianheather]

well either way.... does anyone have any photos that they would like to share.? I would love to see the quality of them.

 

[thomas998]

First I don't tend to think of Disney photo pass drivers as being professional photographers... that would be like assuming a taxi driver is the same thing as a F1 driver. Yes the Disney guy like the cab driver are paid to do the same thing as a Michael Schumacher or Annie Leibovitz but they are nowhere near that level in the field. Sad fact is I've seen the quality of some of the photopass shooter and its not always acceptable.

In general these photographers are no better than the average guy on the street... would I ask the average guy on the street if he could snap a photo of my family and me? yeah if I thought he wouldn't run off with the camera.... So I see nothing wrong with it.

Frankly it would make more sense to me if the photopass guys would just use the guest camera when they guest has one and not even bother with their photopass photos. The lines move slowly enough already and having multiple photos taken wastes a lot of time. especially when you know the family with the decent camera isn't going to buy the photopass photo.

 

[thomas998]

Yeah, but how do we know that you aren't odd and that all of the other photopass photographers are secretly humiliated by the practice?

It really doesn't matter to me whether the photopassers are thrilled or mortified. The big question I want to know is whether you can enter a shot in the photo contest if a photopasser (or photopasserette) took the shot using your camera.

depends on the contract between you and the shooter.

 

[thomas998]

I wouldn't put alot of stock how someone elses photos look as being how your photos will look. The odds are you will have someone different taking your photo than the person had that is showing their photos. I've heard and seen horror stories when it comes to those photo... don't go in expecting anything great and you will hopefully be pleasantly surprised, if you go in expecting something perfect you'll likely be unhappy.

In the end when you get a photograph taken by a company you aren't getting the same quality you would expect if taken by a professional photographer. Disney is in business to make money which means they will charge as much as they can and pay the photographer as little as they have to... the result will be photos taken by someone that couldn't make a living as a photographer on his/her own... and as such I wouldn't expect high end results... at best you'll get something better than what your Uncle Joe could do... at worst, you may want Uncle Joe to take some photos with the disposable camera just in case.

 

[MickeyWanaBe]

This thread will give you an idea of what you might get. Several prople have posted their photo session pictures.

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1703832

BTW
I called this morning and they are now calling it Disney's PhotoPass Professional Photography. I hope the quality has gotten better along with the price hike.

 

[tpholland]

I've purchased the photopass cd twice in the past. I have a question about the resort photo sessions. If you pre-purchase the cd, do you have to pay the additional sitting fee at the resort, or is it included in the cost of the pre-purchase? If it is included what do I need to take with me to the photo session?

 

[M&N]

I saw a discussion on another thread. Try that link...

I keep hearing the same thing about the photopass CD. I do know that the sitting fees for the photo sessions that are taken at the resorts just went up by a bunch. I got this information from the following link: http://www.stitchkingdom.com/disneysphotopass/

Disney Resorts Private Photo Shoot - You can arrange for private 30 minute photo sessions with a Disney's PhotoPass photographer at the Grand Floridian, Beach Club, Polynesian, Wilderness Lodge, Animal Kingdom Lodge or Saratoga Springs Resort. The sessions includes around 40 photos (limited only by time) taken around the picturesque resorts and their beaches. NEW! Please note that as of August 23, 2008, Portrait sessions at the resorts are a separate entity from the Disney's PhotoPass system in the theme parks. While both Parks and Portraits use the same system for their photos, they are separate products. As such, the pricing structure has changed dramatically. There is no longer a discount specifically for guests who pre-order Disney's PhotoPass. Guests who pre-order the PhotoCD or purchase it within the theme parks can reserve a Portraits session for $74.95 with proof of purchase (either email or receipt). Guests wishing to purchase only the Portraits session on CD can do so for $149.95. Alternatively guests who purchase the Portraits session but then wish to combine photos from the Parks may do so by bringing their CD and PhotoPass cards to any resort location for a fee of $49.95 (bringing the total to roughly $200). Note that Disney's PhotoPass enhancements will not be available for Portrait session photos or any photos from the theme parks combined with it. Additionally, guests will no longer have the option of receiving their Portrait session photos on a Disney's PhotoPass card. Reports from guests who have participated in the photo sessions are overwhelmingly positive. Available times are seasonal, starting daily at 8 am until 7 pm or sunset, whichever comes first. Call 407-824-1700 to make reservations up to 30 days in advance or for additional information

 

[Master Mason]

I went shooting today over at Roaring Camp Railroads, had a blast, will come back and post some shots after I process them.

But, as I was walking around, it really became evident that I think I need to get a messenger style bag.

What I would be carrying in it.

Canon 40D with battery Grip
Canon 24-70 f/2.8
Canon 70-200 f/2.8
Canon Speedlight
Memory cards, remote flash release, a couple of filters.

So, please suggest away on what I should get.

Thanks