Do you tip photopass CMs for the service?

[Momerath]

Hi all! Love these boards--very informative! On our trip in March the DH and I used photopass a lot--great pictures, with both of us in it! It's a great service I plan on using again in September, but I'm unsure if I should be tipping the CMs for doing this for me? I was wondering what others have done. Any comments would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

 

[Traveliz]

No it never even occurred to me and honestly I doubt they are allowed to accept tips.

Liz

 

[NewEnglandDisney]

They are non-Disney employees (they work for Kodak), but I'm sure the no-tipping policy must apply to them as well. With all the denials and rude put-offs they get all day, I'm sure a smiling happy "thank you" is enough!

N.E.D.

 

[TSR6]

The Kodak service is Kodak - they are an outside participant.

The Disney Photopass CM's on the otherhand are hourly Disney CM's.

 

[topplebogan]

slight deviation here... can someone please and thankyou explain what this 'photopass' exactly is?

 

[bicker]

In Disney's own words:

http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/wdw/special/specialindex?id=DisneyPhotoPassPage

 

[NewEnglandDisney]

The Disney Photopass CM's on the otherhand are hourly Disney CM's.

Where did you get that info from, can I ask?

'Cause last I knew they were definately Kodak employees sub-contracted in some manner by Disney. There was an incident not long ago with a missing child and the question of if a Kodak employee (photopass people) had the same duties as a Disney CM.

In either case, tipping is either not allowed or murky - no need to do it.

N.E.D.

 

[LeesyUD]

I'm not sure if the photographer's are Disney CM's or Kodak but I do know that according to Disney policy, employees are not to accept "financial gifts or offerings". I highly doubt Disney would make an exception even if they were from Kodak. Either way they would ultimately be working for Disney.

 

[ukcatfan]

Sorry for the long post. It amazes me that so many tipping questions come up.

Even if it were allowed or even expected, I would not feel comfortable tipping photographers. I tip when the end product I receive is known and I can rate the quality of that service. Good service = good tip; bad serice = no tip. You have no idea how well the pics will look when it is taken. Wouldn't you feel pretty silly giving a few dollars tip to someone that ended up taking a horrible pic? We have seen some pretty bad ones taken by WDW photographers.

At WDW, people seem to lose their minds concerning tipping. Some people tip like crazy even if they get bad service just because they are on vacation. Then others that would normally tip give nothing because they are on vacation! Do not use the service of a tipped position if you do not have it in your vacation budget to give a tip when earned! Some of these people are making dirt and are just trying to make a living off tips. How would you feel if your boss came to you on payday and said, "You know Bob, you did really well this week at your accountant position, but I am not going to pay you because I am trying to save for my family's vacation?"

If everyone would just act normal while there, these questions might not even need to be asked. It is life as normal for the employees and locals of Orlando. I am pretty sure that the people who receive tips at WDW also frequent establishments that have tipped employees. I bet they tip when they get good service.

Use your everyday knowledge. Would you normally tip the photographer at Sears or Walmart? I would not. Trust me, they are getting paid well enough that they should not rely on tips. Do you tip your CPA when you file your taxes? Do you tip your cashier at the grocery store? Do you tip the teller at the bank? There are certain positions in our society where tips are expected, but a photographer is not one of them. I know a few professionals and they would not expect a tip.

For employment standards, if it is not a position that society knows is a tip position, then the employer pays for the service. Servers, bartenders, valets, etc. make about enough to cover income taxes and need those tips to survive.

 

[topplebogan]

Thats all very well but some people on these boards and a lot of people who visit WDW do not necessarily come from the same 'society' as you. Being from the UK we do not have such an established 'set of rules' for tipping, in fact it is almost non-existent except in some restaurants and it is quite a big thing going into another country and/or society and not knowing how things work exactly. It is very important to me that those who would usually get a tip or even expect a tip get one and I want to understand exactly who gets what tip for what service. I understand that many employees in Florida and the states as a whole do not have a very good income and get taxed on the assumption they recieve 15% gratuity and I feel guilty if I cannot provide it as is often the case for the poor bus driver who picks us up from the airport at a stage where I do not have any small change. I would also feel guilty if it was common for someone to get a tip (such as a photographer for instance) and I didn't give one. No, I don't think they should recieve a tip but as I wasn't aware of how the system works it might be that they would usually get one. Now due to information I have gathered from these boards and other guides I know who to tip, who not tip and how much to tip. No I wouldn't normally tip a photographer at Sears or Walmart but only because I have never been to one!

 

[michellejed]

I am so glad to have these boards to answer my questions (dumb or not).

I Am from the US and didn't know if I should tip or not, I havn't been to Disney in several years and the photo thing is new to us.

So thank you ALL for your answers.

 

[Eeyore'sthebest]

Just passing on what I was told.................
When I went to check the photopass on the way out at MGM, the pics in front of the hat were done but the pics with JoJo were not. She said that they were Disney employees and not Kodak employees so she had no control over when the pics would be uploaded.

One of the previous posters is correct, a simple thank you and they are more then willing to snap as many pics as possible. I wonder if there is some sort of commission paid off of the number of photos people purchase? Hmm, just wondering.

 

[disneyaggie]

When I was on a solo trip at EPCOT in November, I wanted my picture taken with one of the characters. I asked one of the photo people if he would and he said, "Sure, and a tip would be nice". I at first thought he was kidding. But he sure sounded like he meant it.

His tip: A smile and a Thank You. That's it.

 

[MrsToad]

I think that if a Disney photographer is taking a picture with a Disney camera, they are trying to sell you pictures for profit and a tip isn't necessary and shouldn't be expected. However, how do you all feel about asking a Disney photographer or other CM to take a picture of you with your own camera and not the Disney camera where they make their profit? Would/should they expect a tip then?

 

[disneyaggie]

However, how do you all feel about asking a Disney photographer or other CM to take a picture of you with your own camera and not the Disney camera where they make their profit? Would/should they expect a tip then?

I had my own camera. And the guy I encounted appeared to expect one.

 

[babar41]

I think that if a Disney photographer is taking a picture with a Disney camera, they are trying to sell you pictures for profit and a tip isn't necessary and shouldn't be expected. However, how do you all feel about asking a Disney photographer or other CM to take a picture of you with your own camera and not the Disney camera where they make their profit? Would/should they expect a tip then?

I wouldn't have a problem asking a CM to take my picture, but I wouldn't feel comfortable asking a Disney photographer to take my picture with my camera. I think that would be crass. And no, I wouldn't think a tip for a CM taking a picture would be called for. From what I have seen and heard their job is to help you have a magical experience and memories. They do a great job of that!

I have witnessed people at weddings ask the photographer to take a picture with their camera. I think this is just plain wrong. They are asking for the services and expertise of a professional without paying for it.

Although the Disney photographer is probably not a Master Photographer, his/her job is to take photos that people will want to buy. Would you go to an artist and take your own canvas and oils and ask the artist to draw you a picture for free? JMHO

 

[disneyaggie]

I wouldn't have a problem asking a CM to take my picture, but I wouldn't feel comfortable asking a Disney photographer to take my picture with my camera. I think that would be crass.

The reason I asked him was because I had several other Disney photographers ask if they could take my picture with my own camera, which I appreciated! I thought, due to the others kindness, that it was acceptable, not crass.

 

[babar41]

When I was on a solo trip at EPCOT in November, I wanted my picture taken with one of the characters. I asked one of the photo people if he would and he said, "Sure, and a tip would be nice". I at first thought he was kidding. But he sure sounded like he meant it.

His tip: A smile and a Thank You. That's it.

I don't believe the photographer should have asked you for a tip. But I do think he should have politely refused to take your picture with your camera. His job is to take pictures that people will buy. Would you go to one of the characture artist and hand them a piece of paper and pencil and ask them to draw you? And expect it for free?

I'm sure you just weren't thinking, after all there are so many CM's that offer to take your camera from you and take your picture. They are really great that way. Just please don't expect a photographer to do this. This is how they make their living.

 

[babar41]

The reason I asked him was because I had several other Disney photographers ask if they could take my picture with my own camera, which I appreciated! I thought, due to the others kindness, that it was acceptable, not crass.

If other photographers offered that was very kind of them. But it should not be expected.

Sorry, don't mean to come across so strong, but I work for a professional photography studio and it amazes me on a daily basis on how many people out there do not understand that this is a business.

 

[disneyaggie]

I don't believe the photographer should have asked you for a tip. But I do think he should have politely refused to take your picture with your camera. His job is to take pictures that people will buy. Would you go to one of the characture artist and hand them a piece of paper and pencil and ask them to draw you? And expect it for free?

I'm sure you just weren't thinking, after all there are so many CM's that offer to take your camera from you and take your picture. They are really great that way. Just please don't expect a photographer to do this. This is how they make their living.

You and I must have been posting at the same time. Look at my post right above yours (this one). It further explained my situation.

Disney folks are always so kind. I tip well, when appropriate. And yes, I do think about these things.

To make it even more interesting, I was not aware until I returned home that they were, in fact, Kodak people! I had a picture from MK's MVMCP missing and through a series of phone calls I found out that they were not Disney staff!