Disney or Virgin Photo Packages

[cookie cat]

Hi All,

I am a new member to the site!

Me and my Fiance Matt are getting married at the Wedding Pavilion in October this year.
We have booked through Virgin, we are currently looking at photo packages and we are undecided who to book via, as we have re ceived an options list for Virgin and Disney.
These packages have been sent to us on photocopied paper with no images can anyone help us make our deision.
Regards

Cookie Cat x

 

[StephSFL]

We had Disney videography and were disappointed- a lot of filler footage that had been pre-taped and not much on video of the reception.
Hope this helps!

 

[orangetiggs]

I think that the virgin packages are just the same as the add on ones through disney, we looked at booking through virgin as I get discount with them but we are having more people go so we have to have a custom.
Virgin just pass your details onto disney then a coordinator from disney contacts you, thats what other brides have told me

Good Luck with your planning

 

[Laurafoster]

I think Orangetiggs is right - they use the Disney Photography!

We went direct through Disney in the end as we had more people and went with Randy Chapman!

 

[magdog79]

I believe you will get a 99.9% response to go use Randy Chapman. His website is www.chapmanphotography.com. His rates are amazing and he gives you the masters to your pictures along with the copyrights to go get reprints anywhere you want and he give hundreds of photos and that is just for the $300 package. To top it off everyone raves that he is the nicest man around and I second that and I have just talked to him about my options for my date.

 

[hiwaygal]

This is probably the one instance where Disney may be the "better" deal.

magdog79 is correct. There are many brides here who have selected Randy Chapman to do their photos.

The difference in this instance is that the OP is a UK Bride. Unless things have changed (and, cookie cat, you may want to confirm this) the price Disney charges for the hi-res CD/DVD does not apply.

Because of the shipping charges for photo prints ordered from Disney, UK Brides are given the hi-res CD/DVD (and therefore the ownership of their photos) as part of the basic photography package that comes with the wedding.

Disney photographers are professionals. However, you cannot book a specific photographer for your event. So you may not know the "style" of the photographer who arrives to take your pics. This is probably one of the biggest complaints I've heard about Disney Photography (aside from the cost of that CD if you buy it right after your wedding).

I have heard recommendations from several brides (who used Disney) that if you give the photographer a list of specific shots/pictures you want that you are more likely to get a style you like.

If you'd like to see some Disney Photography Samples (it's a shame Disney doesn't promote this site more):

CLICK HERE

User name: Disney Photography Samples

Password: 1971

It will ask for your email address...but you WILL NOT get junk/spam email.

Good luck with your decision! It is definitely an important one!

 

[karentan]

i booked my wedding through virgin and had ana absolutely horrific time with them. i had originally booked photography with virgin, but after they messed up planning my wedding so badly i went with disney (i hadnt heard of randy chapman at the time). i thought my photos came out great, we had the nicest photographer for both the wedding and my MK shoot 2 days later, and we got the photos back the day of the MK shoot. i was really impressed with them.
pm me if you want some more info or some tips on how not to let virgin mess you around (i'm not meaning to scare anyone but at one point virgin actually messed up so badly and they cancelled my wedding). the link to my disney photos is in my signature.

 

[dee slack]

I think you should take into account cost and also the quantity of photo's. With Virgin / Disney you have already paid for your basic 2 hour photo package, so wouldn't need to pay any more (unless you decide to upgrade your package), BUT I believe they don't take THAT many photo's.
On the other hand, someone like Randy Chapman (who we've booked for December) will charge just over $600 (incl tax) for 3 hours of coverage but you will get hundreds of photo's (he actually says a MINIMUM of 150 6"x4" prints for that price). If you go to Randy's site, the password for Disney brides is ariel.
If you do decide to go with someone other than Disney photo, then if you ask them, they will trade you for a free honeymoon photoshoot in MK (or any other park for $50) during park hours, in normal dress and you get a little folder with 20 photo's in.

 

[Rascal1003]

Neither....get on the phone to Randy Chapman as soon as you can. He is an absolute star!
I assume you are in the UK? We booked through Virgin and had Randy and also Stan (STVS) for our video, they are really fabulous and work so well together.

I was a Disney Groom in Sept 2005 and am also a Professional Wedding Photographer, so please feel free to get in touch if you would like to learn about our experiences or indeed get some tips regarding Wedding Photography in general.

My email address is russ@capturedbyruss.co.uk

Very best wishes.
Russ

 

[cookie cat]

WOW...You guys have been so helpful thank you!

we have booked Randy Chapman for our wedding he was great and called us back straight away on his mobile to the u.k!!!

I have given up with trying to get any help from virgin wedding team they just dont seam to be interested, so was woundering if you could help me out with my other questions?

Because i have booked him direct do i have to pay a fee to Disney or Virgin for using my own photographer??

Do i still get the 12 photos thats included in my intimate wedding??

Also do any of you have ideas for a reception there will be 20 of us including five kids can you help?

Thanks so much

 

[hiwaygal]

WOW...You guys have been so helpful thank you!

we have booked Randy Chapman for our wedding he was great and called us back straight away on his mobile to the u.k!!!

I have given up with trying to get any help from virgin wedding team they just dont seam to be interested, so was woundering if you could help me out with my other questions?

Because i have booked him direct do i have to pay a fee to Disney or Virgin for using my own photographer??

Do i still get the 12 photos thats included in my intimate wedding??

Also do any of you have ideas for a reception there will be 20 of us including five kids can you help?

Thanks so much

I'm pretty sure there is no fee to use an outside photographer. I think there used to be a statement somewhere that said there was, but few (if any) brides were ever charged that fee.

You will not get the 12 photos included in the package, however, if you coordinate with Disney, you can usually book an alternate photo package with them (the MK honeymoon photo shoot) to take it's place. The honeymoon shoot is usually done in the parks in your "regular" clothes. Unfortunately, I don't have the details on what is included here with me, I'm sure someone will come along to tell you more about that.

Congratulations on making your decision!

I'm sorry I can't help with the reception part...but I'm sure you will get lots of advice on that as well!

 

[orangetiggs]

virgin dont really have anything to do with the wedding I beleive its passed to disney and then you deal with them.

Having worked for virgin the brand are great but I know myself that sometimes the holidays department can be a little annoying

 

[lurkyloo]

I think you might be able to have both Randy and Disney take pictures at the wedding, so then you'd still get your 12 pictures from Disney. I say this because a fellow posted his pictures on here yesterday and he had links to "Randy" wedding shots *and* to "Disney" wedding shots. He said the two photographers knew each other and got along great...

Check it out:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1388769