DCL Photographer. Disney or External?

[bdps2011]

TO all those cruise brides.. Did you use a DCL photographer, or bring your own outside vendor? Any suggestions? If you were outside FL, how did you pick (if they were local)?

Any recommendations on either? Do you get to PICK if you use the DCL photogs?

Thanks!!

BD

 

[DisneyDmbNut]

You can not pick your onboard photographer (mostly because they float on contracts...so many months on..so many off) but I HIGHLY recommend getting an outside photographer. There are many reasons, but the biggest is the cost vs. time used.
DCL photographers come to the wedding for an hour unless you add time..the most expensive package is about 1000..depending on your length of cruise, you could pay for the photographer for the entire cruise and have a prearranged amount of time instead of just 1 hour and a few prints.


this is a local photographer who shot my friends wedding..she was so amazing and nice and was totally game for a DCL wedding
http://www.stephanieasmith.com/

Lisa has WAYY more experience with this as she got the large package..so I will send her here..

 

[Goldeelox9]

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE save yourself the headache and go external! I ended up with ok pictures, BUT had a horrible time. I had to set up each shot, I had to fight with Shutters over the CD of included images and there is nothing Special (besides being my wedding day of course) about my pictures at all! THEN to top off all the bad experiences surrounding the photographer and pictures we had to spend 4 hours in our room the last day of the cruise picking prints! I know of a few photographers that may be interested. Send me a PM and I will send you their information! It is the ONE THING I would change about my wedding if I had a "do over"!

 

[DisneyDmbNut]

i wish I had been smarter and taken some pictures of the pictures in the cabin..some pictures I didn't want to buy, but would have loved to have a shot of just for the memory

I was lucky to have so many photographer friends..90% of my shots are from them..the cruise people seem to use a hot flash and just don't know how to not burn a picture

Elvis was ok as far as trying to get all the shots in our allotted time, but I have no portrait shots getting ready or with my bridesmaids in the suite..that gorgeous suite and no formal shots!

 

[Goldeelox9]

I took a few in the cabin getting ready and I have a good camera and had a good friend taking some. There is NO quality difference between the ones my friend took with my camera and the ones DCL too. Another thing, DCL prints all on Glossy paper and I am a Matte kinda girl!

 

[Belle2Be]

Roots photography did an amazing DCL wedding not long ago!
Edit, scratch that, they did the reception/party.

 

[princessheather]

does anyone have a list of outside photographers or maybe even their websites?

 

[princessheather]

ohhh and for those of you who used an outside photographer how long did it take for you to get your photos back? if you go through the cruise photographers you get them before you leave right?

 

[Kristen Wynn Photo]

Outside photographers would be any in Orlando or, even closer to the port, Brevard County photographers.

Try Google searching "Cape Canaveral photographers" or "Palm Bay photographers" and seeing the results for people that are very close to the port.

How long it takes to get back the photos varies from photog to photog, but most pro photogs edit the photos. DCL really does not hand edit them.

Typically, turn around on external is anywhere from three weeks to three months.

Hope that helps!

 

[princessheather]

yes it does; thank you!

 

[CinderelliT]

My vote is for external. We photographed ourselves with a tripod. There was another DCL bride right before me who brought an outside photographer and got beautiful shots too.

I have seen a few DCL brides get lucky, but it is really hit or miss. If it is important to you, throw it into the budget and bring one with you!

 

[bdps2011]

Thanks for the advice. We found out that we have a family friend who is a pro, with a daughter, and she MIGHT be willing to trade her services for a cruise for her daughter! I think that sounds fair to me!

Thanks for confirming what I already thought. Go Pro!

Brian