Having professional photograper take your picture at Disney?

[oceanmarina]

Hi all,

I was interested in getting a sunset family picture taken at the beach of the GF. I think I remember reading on a post here - please correct me if I am wrong - only Disney photographers are allowed to do this. If so , does anyone know if Disney does arrange for a family photo shoot if you want something like this? (I always get memory maker, so I would want the images to be available on that or on a cd.)

Thanks for any feedback,
Marina

 

[Raya]

Disney does arrange for family portraits. They are pricey: http://disneyfineartphotography.com/portraits/

You can also make a reservation to have a photopass photographer photograph your family at the desk just inside the 2nd floor of the Grand Floridan when you enter via the monorail. There's a photo desk where you make the reservation and can view all of your photopass pictures. They may have walk up photographers available but be aware of the princess tea party which often takes all of their staff away when it lets out.

 

[oceanmarina]

Thank you!!! Thant's exactly what I was looking for

 

[ellie05]

Other photographers are allowed to do pictures take pictures in the resorts. Concept photography has some great pictures.

 

[IceSkatingPrincess]

Randy Chapman did my college graduation photos at the GF. I highly recommend him! He did my avatar picture here and does a lot of Disney weddings.

 

[PerfessorZ]

Disney does arrange for family portraits. They are pricey: http://disneyfineartphotography.com/portraits/

I can't speak to the quality of their work, but looking at their prices, they're are about in line with what you'd pay for a decent professional photographer to shoot in studio. So yes, this sort of thing isn't cheap, but if you're getting somebody with professional chops and not a college student who just picked up a dSLR a few weeks ago, it's worth the price they're charging.

 

[RockabillyBabeFl]

Thinking about Swan and Dolphin or Pavillon wedding at Grand Floridan...can I use any photographer I choose? Can't stand places that will only allow you to use theirs. TIA

 

[mountdew1]

I can't speak to the quality of their work, but looking at their prices, they're are about in line with what you'd pay for a decent professional photographer to shoot in studio. So yes, this sort of thing isn't cheap, but if you're getting somebody with professional chops and not a college student who just picked up a dSLR a few weeks ago, it's worth the price they're charging.

It's the same group in house that shoots Disney Weddings. So yeah, they should know what they are doing.

 

[North of Mouse]

Have seen some beautiful photography shoots from Roots Photography.

 

[oceanmarina]

Other photographers are allowed to do pictures take pictures in the resorts. Concept photography has some great pictures.

Randy Chapman did my college graduation photos at the GF. I highly recommend him! He did my avatar picture here and does a lot of Disney weddings.

Have seen some beautiful photography shoots from Roots Photography.

Thanks for the recommendations!!

So just to clarify I can use any photographer - does not have to be a Disney one, correct?

 

[oceanmarina]

Disney does arrange for family portraits. They are pricey: http://disneyfineartphotography.com/portraits/

You can also make a reservation to have a photopass photographer photograph your family at the desk just inside the 2nd floor of the Grand Floridan when you enter via the monorail. There's a photo desk where you make the reservation and can view all of your photopass pictures. They may have walk up photographers available but be aware of the princess tea party which often takes all of their staff away when it lets out.

Hu Raya,

Thanks so much for the information, if I make the reservation at the 2nd floor of the GF to photograph my family is that free or does that cost the same at the link that you shared above?

 

[IceSkatingPrincess]

Thanks for the recommendations!!

So just to clarify I can use any photographer - does not have to be a Disney one, correct?

I believe that is the case at the resorts, yes.

 

[Raya]

if I make the reservation at the 2nd floor of the GF to photograph my family is that free or does that cost the same at the link that you shared above?

When we were there in '14 the reservation was for a regular Photopass photographer, so it was included with Memory Maker and there was no fee for the portrait session. You should probably check to be sure of that. If you call the GF and ask to be transferred to the photodesk, they'd be able to confirm. (I suspect the regular 1-407-WDISNEY staff wouldn't have a clue though.)

 

[Raya]

I believe that is the case at the resorts, yes.

In theory you can also use any professional photographer in the park - as long as they buy a ticket. However, I've heard from a few professionals that Disney frowns on this, so they stick to the resorts. Can't hurt to ask though.

 

[IceSkatingPrincess]

In theory you can also use any professional photographer in the park - as long as they buy a ticket. However, I've heard from a few professionals that Disney frowns on this, so they stick to the resorts. Can't hurt to ask though.

Disney only allows Disney fine art photography to do paid sessions in the parks. Outside photographers often do them too sometimes but like you said it is frowned upon and you'll generally be asked to stop and/or leave. Which is awkward if you are the client and weren't informed it was against the rules. Resorts are fair game though!

 

[PrincessJo]

We had Disney Fine Art Photography take family photos in 2014 and they turned out just okay. They were nothing like the fabulous photos I looked at online. It was more like the poses we did at JCPenney only with a real background instead of the backdrop. Not really worth the $600 i spent, but hopefully it'd work out better for you.

 

[Angel Ariel]

Randy Chapman did my college graduation photos at the GF. I highly recommend him! He did my avatar picture here and does a lot of Disney weddings.

I would also highly recommend Randy Chapman. We got a lot more for our money going with Randy than we would have going with Disney's event photography. A longer session, more pictures, and the ability to combine locations (for ex, our first shoot with Randy we did shots at both the GF and Poly. Our second shoot was a walk around the Boardwalk, taking pics and Beach Club and the Boardwalk hotels as well as at various spots around the Boardwalk.

 

[Angel Ariel]

Disney only allows Disney fine art photography to do paid sessions in the parks. Outside photographers often do them too sometimes but like you said it is frowned upon and you'll generally be asked to stop and/or leave. Which is awkward if you are the client and weren't informed it was against the rules. Resorts are fair game though!

Yep, this. Disney had allowed it for a little while, but sometime in the last year they changed their mind and sent cease and desist letters to many local photographers. There were some discussions about it on here a few months ago.