Disney Wedding Photographer

[Ann117]

I am getting married next year at Disney. I was wondering what everyones thoughts are on the Photographers that you can hire through Disney. Should I hire someone else or use them?

thanks

 

[rcortese711]

I just had a consultation with a Disney wedding consultant. If you're having your reception or ceremony in a theme park (as that's what we're doing) you have to hire a disney photographer. This is a new rule I guess.

From what I've seen, they do a nice job. I have more information if you want it, such as prices.

Good luck!

 

[eacosta1120]

I just met with a wedding consultant and they have put up a disney photographer website.I cannot post a link because I'm too new, but the website is disneyeventphotography DOT com. You can see samples of each photographer there. Just an FYI with Disney photographers, they don't own their pictures and get paid hourly so there's a high turnover, so basically you cannot guarantee that they'll still be around when you have your wedding even if you request them. I'd highyl recommend a non Disney photographer. Disney is over priced and most of the photographers are traditional (if you like that-then go with Disney). If you want to save money, go elsewhere. I met with Misty Miotto, Randy Chapman, Karla Fountain, and Scoobie photography while I was down in Orlando and all of them were great and a bit more non-traditional.

 

[receptionist]

Disney photography did a great job for my daughter's wedding. Our photographer was Mike Strickland. She even had them photograph the rehearsal dinner as well. She also used Disney videography and had no problems at all. Her planner had suggested him and he had the date open so we knew ahead of time who it was going to be. Her pictures are still online the site is www.disneyweddings.go.com/krantzandwilson. The password is Krantz / Wilson (make sure you space between) and the password is 1971

 

[irisbud]

We did an escape wedding and I was really pleased with our pictures. We also did a BP session at AK (and got a bonus at EPCOT we didn't plan on) and were thrilled with those as well. I just got my album for our BP session and I am really thrilled with it. The only thing I don't like is having to wait to buy the CD because of the price, but that is my choice.

Joe was our photographer and we loved him!

http://www.collages.net/disneyweddings

User name is

Huffman / Waller Wedding (use spaces)

Password is

1971

 

[lurkyloo]

Here's the link to Disney Event Group Photography:

http://www.disneyeventphotography.com.

My opinion is that you get more bang for your buck (or spend fewer bucks!), all digital negatives on disc for no extra charge, and a wider range of photographic styles if you use an outside photographer, but we were lucky enough to be married in a park before Disney changed the policy. We used Root Photography.

 

[disbridemimi]

I agree with the more bang for your buck elsewhere. I think the photography & vidoegraphy Disney offers is a terrible value. I am certain they do a good job and youll get lovely work, but the prices are very high, and you get very little.

I almost fell off my chair when i saw that the Video STARTS at 3300. Photos are equally overpriced.

This will probably be the ONE thing that steers us back to an Escape wedding, so we can justify the cost of outside photog & video. I am just not willing to add things to meet their minimums and then have to add more on top just to get a reasonable amount for photo & video.

We were really leaning towwards bumping up from Escape to Wishes and just using them for photos until we saw the rates.

 

[allisonswonderland]

Not only are the packages high, but with someone like Randy Chapman (that is who we used, so that is who I will write about) you get the rights to your pics and you and print elsewhere. So if you want to put them on Thank Yous or something like that, you can, with WDW you have to pay a ton of money. The other thing that concerned me about it and what led me to book, was that I had no clue who my photographer would be and I would not have an opportunity to speak with that person before my wedding. So that is why I looked for an outside vendor, everyone raved about Randy Chapman, I looked at his pics and I loved what I saw and booked him, his price comparables were great too!

 

[Janell]

We got married before Disney switched things to where an ourside photographer wasn't allowed to shoot in the parks. As much as I loved our reception at living seas. I would not leave the most important day of my life up to who ever is working hourly on my wedding day to take my photos.

Photography is an art and if you want a certain look, you need to find the right photographer. I have to say if I were to get married today, I wouldn't skip in the park, to get a better photographer. I personally loved Randy Chapman. I can't say enough good things about him. There are plenty of great, non park locations to get married.

Im sure you want some in the park photos, I would then do a honeymoon package or MK castle package.

I would not leave all my wedding day photos up to someone I can not book and know their style. And Disney will only take request they wont guarantee.

You will get a better package with outside photographer. You will more likely own your photos with Disney you wont own them. You will have a disk if you pay for it, but you still can't do somethings. I know because my husband spent 4 months trying to get the right to use one of our MK photos in a dissertation he is writing.

 

[receptionist]

With the package that my daughter had she received all her proofs plus a CD with all the pictures on it that she can print off of and also her album. She had the larger package that included the photographer at the rehearsal dinner as well. She has over ll00 pictures from Disney photography.

 

[CharacterFan]

I'm not fully impressed with Disney Photography at the moment, but I'm going to be using them. I've thought of a couple I'd like to request if they're still around. We're getting married in Epcot and holding the reception in either Epcot or Studios. We're going to end up spending the large amount and getting the cd right then. I don't want to wait 3 years to start my wedding album.

 

[jspahn]

We are getting married in October and are using Disney photo since both our ceremony and reception will be in EPCOT.

DF and I struggled with this for a long time. Almost moved our wedding out of the park because we were so concerned about the quality Disney Photo Services (and how expensive they are!). Some reviews on this board really made me scared. I had to remind myself that this is a small percentage of the population and people are more likely to vent about a negative experience than to go out of thier way to tell about a good one.

In the end, we decided location was very important to us, so we stuck with it and we requested specific photgraphers we had read good things about. We have our planning session on friday and are meeting our photographers (vicki and david arndt) on saturday.

I think with any photographer there are things YOU can do to make it a good experience - like provide them with a specific list of shots you want ahead of time, and show them samples of photos you like so they can learn your preferences.

 

[Janell]

jspahn, theres a few things you could do to back up your Disney Photographer. Ask a few guest if they will bring their camera or even use yours and take photos for you during the whole wedding. And/or you can give each guest/couple a disposable camera.

I had a friend who got married and have disposable on the tables. When the day was over and they were looking at their photographers photos, the photos were to dark and didn't come out well at all. So they had the disposables to back them up. This wasn't a Disney wedding, so dont freak out. Its just a story on how asking your guest to take photos can help.

 

[kcampbell]

We used Disney photography for the entire event. We had Mike for the rehearsal dinner, Joe and Tina for the wedding, and Regina for our MK photo shoot. you can check out our pics at:

www.collages.net/disneyweddings
User name: Howard / Campbell Wedding
Password: 1971

We were really happy with our pics. In fact, we're having A LOT of trouble picking out photos for our album. That'll be tackled when we get to it...

Hope this helps!