Gifts of a lifetime photography, Anyone used 'em????

[Skylarr29]

I will be having a bridal party the day before my wedding in the garden view lounge that i sched through grand floridian private dining. It will have the mad hatter theme and cake !!!!! My question is , i wanted to have a photographer to take pics and was thinking of using gifts of a lifetime photography, as it is one set price and then they give you the actual rolls of film that they took and it is up to me how many i want to get etc. I also wanted to use them for my illuminations dessert party the night before the wedding. Has anyone used them. What was the price? Where you satisfied with the photos , especially since this is my wedding we're talking about lol? Any comments or experience would be so much appreciated. i can't believe there is so much planning for an intimate wedding package. Thankyou

 

[Fantasia Sam]

OK I haven't used them but I have to insist that to the best of my knowledge they are not what I would call professional photographers - instead of paying them the money I would rather designate one of my guests to do the job.

As far as Illuminations is concerned you can use them but you will have to pay a "chaperone" fee of $90.00 for the first 3 hours.

Can I just say that I used Randy Chapman of Chapman photography and he gave me all my photos on high definition cd shortly after our wedding and I can go and take them anywhere I want to get printed without copyright infringement and he is a professional and very used to photographing the Illuminations.

That said I'm pretty sure that for an Intimate you have to use a Disney wedding photographer for your Illuminations Party anyway - but I could be wrong.

 

[ellieb]

I have to agree with Sam here. I to have not use this company however reason being is that I do know that brides have had problems with this company in the past.
After seeing hundreds of brides pictures from disney I would say that Randy Chapman is the best that I have seen.

Will you be hiring a videographer to film the event??

 

[Skylarr29]

I would like to hire a videographer but i am still researching , i would love anyones recomendation. The problem is , is that I don't have an em yet as my wedding is more than 8 months away and i do not have a signed contract. I am trying to arrange a meeting to actually see the wedding pavilion and get as much detailed information as I can. I just want everything to be perfect, of course, and I have to say I don't mind spending the money to properly catch the memories of this night( as it will only be happening once, and boy is it expensive ). If anyone has contact info for chapman i would love it , do they have a website?? Thankyou so much, I know all of you have gone through what I am going through and can relate!

 

[Skylarr29]

Oh P.s. I booked the illuminations dessert party myself through the epcot # as it is the night before the wedding , and I also am arranging my own mad hatter tea through GF private dining, so i didn't go through anyone with the weddings.

 

[Merandab4]

I know this isn't about photography, but I am interested in your details for the "Mad Hatter Tea Party". I didn't know that you could arrange this yourself with out all the "Frills" As I was watching what they did for a Mad Hatter party on the food network the other night, and they said that the cake "the very large cake i may add), only comes in one size, it can not be sized down, and it is very expensive. Please share your info and details of this tea party as it seems it will be a grand time!

P.S, Good luck with the photographer! ( whoever you may choose!)

 

[ellieb]

As for the photography Randy chapmans web site is www.chapmanphotography.com

As for video I HIGHLY RECOMMEND STVS video. MANY MANY brides here use his services.
If you go to www.stvsweddings.com/gallery and click on any of the circle wedding pictures a video demo will pop up and it will give you a glimpse of the incredible work he does.
My video is a bit down the bottom and is the one that say's Ellie and Louie May 3 2003. He is very reasonable for what he offers and he is very professional. His name is Stan and his wife is Bonnie and I know you right now you will hear nothing but good things about them.
As for more info to help you get started have you gone to
www.yourfairytale.com. They have tons and tons of info.
If you have any other questions dont hesitate to ask. I love helping new disney brides out when I can.

 

[DisneyWife]

*no longer in FL or associated with GOAL, Disney or any Central FL activities

 

[Fantasia Sam]

Thanks for clearing that up DisneyWife at least we now know that GOAL haven't actually done a wedding.

This would reinforce my opinion not to use them for photos on your wedding day, skylarr29, as you've indicated that you want to feel trust being that it's your wedding day and GOAL would be unproven in that field.

I would also just like to clarify that I know of a few people who have used GOAL for other events and surprises in and around the parks and they have never been disappointed.

DisneyWife I wonder if you can let us know if GOAL do have "amateur or professional photographers that are "pixies" and therefore are able to take good photos for whatever event or surprise GOAL are being used for? I see that you are yourself a photographer so I'm just wondering how it all works.

 

[DisneyWife]

*no longer in FL or associated with GOAL, Disney or any Central FL activities

 

[Skylarr29]

Ok just to keep everyone up to date , I contacted randy chapman thanks to everyones advice on here and I am working out the details to leave the deposit. I feel very confidant that my pics will come out great


Well the garden view lounged is closed before the tea in the afternoon so I contacted gf private dining to request info. I will find the # for you (its here somewhere in between the masses of info i have been gathering)if you can't find it faster. The mad hatter cake is approx $1,000 and of course I have to have it so I will take. It's not actually being called a mad hatter tea party officially this is just what i am doing cause I am having an intimate. The room will be set up for my guests ( for a fee of course) and i have to pay serving staff and a fee for cutting the cake. I am going to purchase mad hatter crazy hats myself and arrive a bit early before everyone else. I am not finished working out all the detail with gf but i have reserved the date.I'll give more info when i get some.

And I also never considored using GOAL for the wedding day pics just in the park like illuminations night picks. (now randy chapman will do them and I am very pleased)THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU for everyones help!!

 

[Fantasia Sam]

Skylarr

If you want to see the great job that Randy does on Illuminations please feel free to view my photos

Sam's Wedding Photos

 

[DisneyJen0504]

Never used Gifts of a lifetime for photography but we had looked into using them to snap photos both posed and candids during our honeymoon. I emailed them twice directly from the photography package web page for information. Never heard back so to me-that would be a good reason not to use them since they aren't professional enough to respond to potential clients.

 

[Fantasia Sam]

The way that GOAL works is that they work on a month by month basis. I contacted them in September for my May event and when I chased them in November I was told that they would be working on ideas for my event in March. Well to be honest by the time March came I already had other ideas so I decided not to use them. I'm not sure if GOAL mentions this time delay on their website but it would be a good idea if they did.

It does say that if you want to plan something in the next month to actually call them to arrange the event rather than fill out the questionnaire.

But in your case DisneyJen0504 it does seem a shame that they never contacted you back and yes I would agree that it doesn't sound too professional.

 

[DisneyWife]

*no longer in FL or associated with GOAL, Disney or any Central FL activities

 

[Fantasia Sam]

Brooke

Sorry I didn't make it clear in my reply back/up there but Jane did indeed get back to me with some great ideas in March BUT it was just by then I had decided to go with something different.

So I had no problem using GOAL as my expectations had been managed as to when I would hear from Jane.

It did seem a shame that the other poster didn't hear back and that's very good of you to highlight this to Jane for future reference.