Disney photography

[klj]

We are looking into doing an Intimate Wedding at Disney and was wondering if anyone else has used the Disney photography for the Intimate wedding? I really don't want to have to spend extra money to go to an outside vendor.

 

[ahutton]

We didn't have an intimate wedding, but did use Disney for photography. We really liked everyone, and the pictures are very good. We loved doing our EPCOT photos - there is a link to them in the Photos thread. That is something you can only do with Disney - something I would never trade.

 

[megan926]

We had an intimate and used Disney photography. We have had SUCH problems with them. They are not doing things they promised, most pictures were off center when we received them in the mail. I would NEVER use them again. The pictures online looked nice, but when we got the prints....NO WAY! I would, personally, look outside Disney. Just my opinion.
Megan

 

[VelvetGloves]

We were married at the Poly in May in an Intimate Ceremony, which included photography by Disney. Our photographer was great. Our pictures were great. Everything was perfect. I bought all of my proofs for a fraction of what photographers around here charge. I know there are a lot of reputable photographers that are available down there, so I would look around and talk to a lot of people. Do what you feel the most comfortable with. Personally, I loved having Disney take care of everything.

Good luck!

VelvetGloves

 

[Lisa1976]

We are having a intimate wedding, but have decided to go elsewhere for photography and will be using Randy Chapman of Chapman Photography, purely because disney give you 12 photos (thats it) and you don't get to choose any of them. Yes you get everything they take on a CD but i would like to be able to choose my own wedding photos, plus they have set shots they get and you don't have much of a say in it.

 

[Merandab4]

We used Disney photogrpahy for our wedding and I was very disappointed in our photogrpaher. She was not very creative and it was like twisting her arm to get her to take pictures. Her idea of creative shots was getting us to kiss! I am so glad that I spoke up or I wouldn't have gotten half the shots that I did. And the ones that ARE creative are only because I asked to have them done..(like pictures on the beach next to the wedding pavilion, and pictures of the coach). I had already agreed to buy the proofs, so I knew I wanted lots of pics. We ended up 150 pictures.
DH was upset that we spent so much money to have the coach and she didnt get many pics of us with it.
We didn't get our proofs in the mail yet, but I've seen them online and I am happy with what we got. Yea, there are a few that are a little off center, but I am hoping that they get fixed when we get the actual picture.
Well, I guess you need to determine what all you want and how much you are willing to spend. I wasn't too concerned about getting a lot of candid pictures for I knew that our guests would have camers and be able to take pictures of eachother. What I really wanted were posed pictures of DH and I since we don't have too many pics of us together. But my advise to you is that if you do go with Disney, (and I'm not saying that they are bad, I just wasn't happy with our particular photographer) I would make sure that you tell them exactly what you want. I would also make sure that you designate a friend or family member to take certain shots as well.
In the end, I will be happy with having a proofbook of 150 4x6's and the 12 print portfolio. I am very creative with photography and will be able to make more of my own prints from that.
Keep in mind that you will still be able to order extra prints online (any size) and you may still upgrade your package.
But, if you want a ton of pictures in a fancy album, I woud definitely look for outside photography. You will get so much more for your money.
Ok, I don't know if I helped or just confused you more. But I hope my story was helpful to anyone who read it.

 

[jennycee]

I am with Meranda...my wedding twin!

We are really disappointed with our photos from Disney. I gave the photographer a folder at least a half inch thick with shots we pulled out of magazines and such and I swear he never opened it. We had the same "creativity" problem. Every photo is either us next to each other, looking at each other, or kissing. I had to push for certain shots and whenever I requested something I got a dirty look. In the end, we did not have the "intimate bridal portrait" we wanted. We had to hire a photographer at home and get some done. It seems to us, and a lot of others who looked at our photos, that the photos we all about Disney, not us and our wedding.

I suggest you use an outside photographer. In hind site, we most definetly would have had we know this.

 

[Merandab4]

JennyC,
I am so sorry to hear that you too had problems with Disney photography. But I am glad to hear that I am not the only one that felt this way. I thought maybe I was being too picky.

I think it's different when you go with an outside photographer because their business depends on their customer service and their quality of pictures. With Disney, it's different because the photographer who is taking the pics is just that, the photographer. It is not HIS or HER own business, it's Disney's and they know that Disney will get the business anyway. Does that make sence?

Again, I am not UNhappy with the pictures that I got, I guess I was just expecting more, and I thought the photographer would be easier to work with. She must have gotten paid by the hour or something, because it was like she just wanted to do her job and leave.
My suggestion for anyone that is considering doing Disney photography is to ask around the boards and see which Disney photographers are reccomended, and then try to request them.
Hope that helps!

 

[LUVTGR]

We had Randy Chapman do our intimate wedding photos and I couldn't be happier w/ them. We traded the Disney photography for a honeymoon session ( it cost $50 instead of $250). After the session w/ the Disney photographer we were very glad we choose Randy for our wedding. Here are the posting for both so you can compare.
Disney honyemoon http://www.ofoto.com/I.jsp?c=fx9p6hq.v6rnznq&x=0&y=ninm
Randy Chapman (black and white) http://www.ofoto.com/I.jsp?c=fx9p6hq.cpq219q&x=0&y=vw1y8r
Randy Chapman (color) http://www.ofoto.com/I.jsp?c=fx9p6hq.rrlm73y&x=0&y=ft62op

 

[Merandab4]

LUVTGR,
I really liked your HM session. There were some cute pics, although I see what you mean. Some were not all that creative.

I LOVE your Randy Pictures! How lucky you are to have gotten such great pics.
can I ask you a few question?
When was your wedding? I have heard of Disney crediting Brides (like they did you) with another photo session if they wanted to go with outside photography. But these were brides that booked in 2003, since the Disney photo package was new for the 2004 packages.
Also, How many hours did you have Randy, and would you mind sharing the cost?

Your day looked absolutely beautiful! ( I wish I could have been there) Thank you so much for sharing!

 

[LUVTGR]

My wedding was Sept 8,2004. Randy was wonderful we had him for 5 hrs it was supposed to be 4hrs, but the fireworks were late that night so he stayed extra. They told us we couldn't have a photographer w/ alot of equiptment getting in the way or a big flash bothering the other guests. A regular small camera like any regular person would have was used. Our photgrapher was a dinner guest just like everyone else. I don't mind telling you the cost, but I have to get it from my mother. She kept adding and changing things so I don't know what it ended up costing. Thank you for the nice compliments.

 

[cryssi]

Hi,

Has anyone done a wedding photo session at WDW (all dressed up, not honeymoon) without actually having a FTW? Thanks!

c

 

[ahutton]

By the way, our Disney Photographer for our wedding is not with them now. He has started his own business, Damon Tucci. If looking for an outside person that may be an option, her certainly knows FTW.

I have not heard of a bride being able to schedule a wedding photo shoot in their wedding clothes without having done a FTW - but it never hurts to call Disney Photo and ask them. They are the only ones who can do anything inside a park unless it is at your event.

 

[Merandab4]

Cryssi,
You will never be allowed into any of the theme parks in your wedding attire unless you are having the photo session done by Disney. However, I think you can get an outside photographer to do bridal pictures at any of the resorts. I know that they allow outside photogrpahers to do Engagement shots at their resorts so why wouldn't they let you do the same thing but only you would be wearing your dress!

You should be able to get some great pictures at which ever resort you choose! Good Luck!

 

[hmgolden]

Also - Last I heard, only brides who had a Disney wedding are permitted to do the MK photo shoot with your wedding attire. Unfortunatly, that means that Swan brides cannot schedule that shoot.

 

[cryssi]

Thanks for the info everyone...

 

[Merandab4]

*BUMP*

 

[dopey1]

I have only heard good things about Mike Strickland at Disney Photography. He also did a side job for my sister's wedding and the pictures where really good and he was really easy to work with and had a great personality

 

[mjslvswdw1]

Just thought I would add my $.02! I was an intimate bride on October the 30th at Sunset Pointe and we were very pleased with our DPS photographer. I will admit that I too was very concerned with everything that I have read here and on another board. We had a little situation with some familymembers...so before the wedding I spoke with Stephanie Sharpe directly. I mentioned to her that I was very concerned about using DPS due to several brides being upset with the quality and quantity. She sent Andrew to our wedding and he was fantastic! Some of the photos are a little off center( But I think some of the fault lies with the other "two Professionals" my dad and FIL! who were always trying to get the perfect shot!), but he took so many candid shots which I prefer and a lot of posed shots. I am a little concerned about the cropping of the proofs, but Stephanie assured me if we had any issues to contact her and she would fix it. I believe that Disney doesn't want their Intimate Brides to be unhappy with them, so they will try to help out any way they can. It is unfortunate though that some previous brides had to tell the DPS photographer what to do. I hope that I will be happy when we get our proofs!

 

[Merandab4]

Just to let you know, I too was concerned about the cropping of our DPS pictures. Since on the botom of the website it says that the actual pictures will be professionally cropped and color balanced, I figured that when I got my proofs that they would be cropped. WRONG. and I called DPS about this and they told me that they will crop them when I order my prints. This to me is unfair. I purchased ALL my proofs and I feel that they should be cropped. That was their reasoning for getting all those far away shots. They needed them to be far away in case we wanted them cropped and blown up later.

So the only pictures you will get that will be cropped will be the ones that you will be ordering copies of, Not your proofs. If you ordered your proofs, they will look exactly like the pictures on the site.