How to get the best photos taken for photopass

[Iloveeliot]

Hello Friends, please bear with me as I'm new here. I read about photopass and I want to take full advantage of it. It will be just my husband and I traveling but I want as many photos as possible taken by the photographers (we are bringing our own camera too). Also I read that sometimes the photographers set up the pictures so special effects can be added (like tink standing on your hand). What suggestions do you all have so we don't miss prime photo spots where the photographers are? Also how do we make sure we aren't overlooked since we won't have kids with us. Suggestions also in general so we get great photopass pictures? Thank you so much

 

[Jaybird6]

I'm so glad someone posted about this. I've been wondering about photo pass, too. For example, are the photographers easily found in the parks? Are they all over the place, or just in very select areas?

 

[Jeff_G]

The Park maps have some of the photo pass locations on them. They all dress alike with a tan **** / vest. They hang out waiting to take photos; there may be one or two people before you so just wait until they are finished with that group. My suggestion is stop every time you see one and ask them to take a photo.

Some were better than others, so go back to the same spot later in the day and see if another photographer is there and take a second round of photos, that way you can choose the better of the two when printing. Also try to get shot early in the days and back later at night of the same spots as well.

 

[Robin K]

Mom and I always go as 2 adults and we don't get overlooked. Most of the time there is a line or a few people waiting in front of us. Just hand them your photopass card. They usually do like 3 shots. You can do different poses too.
We love it! We have gone to WDW 4 years now and always use the photopass! They have them at different parks too.
Good luck!

 

[minnie mum]

As the PPs have said: the park maps have the most common photopass photographer sites marked. Try to get photos with the icons both day and night. They really are fabulous when lit at night. Keep your eyeballs peeled for photographers at other sites, too. They are frequently though not always at character meet and greets. Everytime you get a photo taken, ask them if they can also do a "magic shot". Not all of them can, but it never hurts to ask.
Also ask them for suggestions for poses- sometimes they will do extra shots if they think you're up for some fun!

Have you checked out stitchkingdom.com? They have really good info on all things related to photopass. They had a pdf map that showed all the photopass locations, but it seems to be missing now.

Maybe someone else on the Dis who is famous for fabulous maps (who must remain nameless) has a link to these.

 

[Minnie72200]

Are the photopass people typically able to get good shots that are worth purchasing?

 

[Best Aunt]

Also how do we make sure we aren't overlooked since we won't have kids with us.

"Overlooked" imples that the Photopass photographers are looking for you. But that's backwards. You have to look for them.

I've never had them stop me and say, "May I take your picture?"

You have to walk up to them so that they know you want your picture taken.

As a PP said, I always walk up and say, "Can you do any Magic Shots?" I have them tell me which ones they can do, and I choose. If they can only do a Magic Shot which I have already done, I have them do the shot anyway. Some pictures come out better than others.

They will take some regular shots before they do the Magic Shot.

They also will take pictures with your own camera for you.

 

[bushdianee]

In June of 2010 as we were just coming from BBB at MK there were a bunch of new Photo pass photographers by the rose garden in front of the castle. One of them asked if he could practice with my DNiece who was dressed as Ariel. He spent about 15 minutes and got a lot of great shots of her and us against the castle and with the flowers. Sometmes they do ask if you want to have your picture taken but most often you do have to look for them. I've noticed that if you have on a celebration button that they tend to seek you out and offer more of the magic shots.

 

[SIMJUN]

The photopass photographers near the entrance are always especially busy during the early hours when lots of people are entering the park, but there is nothing to stop you going back to them a little later in the day.

if you are in line waiting for photopass and see them doing a certain pose with someone, ask them for the same pose.

Take a look at as many photos as possible go with some ideas of what you might like.

Don't feel shy about getting in line for character photos (if you want them), some of the best character photos I have seen have been of them interacting with adults.

 

[MHSweb79]

The PP's are correct- you have to seek out the photopass photographers. They all have their assigned spots- they don't wander around and look for people to shoot. (that sounded funny)

Just ask them questions like, "Do you do Magic shots? What poses would be fun here?" Trust me, after shooting hundreds of families a day in the same spot, they know it all. It's also a good way to tell them that you're willing to take a few extra minutes to get some fun shots. Most folks want a quick snap so they can be on their way to the next attraction.

 

[ariel_]

My tip would be to get as many photos as you can! We bought the CD with all the photos last time (I think it was about $150) but we realised afterwards we could have made much more use of it to get our moneys worth. We are also an adult couple so it was great to be able to get some photos together.

Some memorable photopass photos we had that haven't been mentioned:

Photos at Wilderness Lodge when we were dressed up for dinner.

Waterpark photos - some photographers at the bottom of the slides who give you a cute little wristband with your photos if they happen to snap you - later you can add these to your original photopass card.

Character photos from Animal Kingdom, the Photopass guys there were awesome and spent ages with us getting fun shots with King Louie and others

This year we are going to buy the CD in advance as I think you save a bit and we are going to get as many pics as possible. Also you can edit your photos and add borders etc. which is fun!

 

[louey]

We will be there in 46 days and I will be prepurchasing Photopass be sure if your going to get it to prepurchase for $99. We always get Photopass and as others have said be sure to get as many pictures as you can. Also, don't forget they are also at the water parks, the wave pool photographs usually turn out good. I always get the CD and then go on photobucket or snapfish and make a nice wall calendar from the pictures on the CD

 

[VLee]

We always pre-buy the CD also, so it helps to do that and be sure to tell the photographers that you have already purchased it. They will take more shots because they know you are serious. Also, I not only get our group, but then ask them to split us up--taking pics of kids only or kids separately.

At Epcot, you can visit the characters inside a building. There are also photographers at character lines.

If you ride Test Track, you can slide your photo card at the end of the ride to transfer your pic taken in the ride to the card.

 

[SCRAPBOOKQUEEN]

We always pre-buy the CD also, so it helps to do that and be sure to tell the photographers that you have already purchased it. They will take more shots because they know you are serious. Also, I not only get our group, but then ask them to split us up--taking pics of kids only or kids separately.

At Epcot, you can visit the characters inside a building. There are also photographers at character lines.

If you ride Test Track, you can slide your photo card at the end of the ride to transfer your pic taken in the ride to the card.

I pre-purchased the Photopass and kinda worried whether or not I would find the photographers. Well, they are very easy to find, especially in Animal Kingdom. I'm doing my CD now and I have almost 500 pictures on it now but that is including all the ones that I've done multiple borders on. I had a lot of photos initially. I was very surprised. I am so very happy that I bought this. I can't wait to get the CD. So, whatever yo decide I think you will be very happy. Take a look at Stitch Kingdom. They have pictures of the photograpers so you will know what to look for. Also, ask for "extra magic shots". They will do extra cute things. We have some great pics from that. Usually the ones that do not have the tripods can do the extra shots.

Scrapbookqueen
Kellie

 

[Moira222]

One of the PP CMs told me that they can't do "Magic Shots" if they have a camera with a tripod - so that is one tip I have not seen someone else comment on. (I Love DISers...they are so helpful!)

There are some spots that get very very busy on entering & exiting times, but usually you have to wait only for one maybe two families at best.

I suggest getting a shot each time you go to a park, even if you've already been there - you never know which will turn out to be your favorite!

I have seen some really funny "big kid" PP shots posted here - have a blast!!
Be sure to buy the CD in advance - you save about $50, and ordering prints one at a time can add up really really fast.

 

[katrina1122]

Keep an eye out for the cm's in the khaki vests and walk up to them. They are locations throughout the parks and simply ask and hand them your camera too.

As to being overlooked...photopass photogs will approach you sometimes, but usually it's the other way around. DH and I wear silly hats. DH has a Tigger baseball cap where Tigger's tail springs from the top with a Tigger on top. I wear a Minnie Visor with Sorcerer Mickey Ears headband. We stand out. A handful of times each trip a photog will notice us on a bench or standing and looking at something and will come up to us (we don't have kids) and ask to take our picture because they love how cute we look in our hats. Those are some of our favorite shots, but all of them usually come out really good. Plus with you handing them your camera you just have extra luck for great shots.

 

[mouskemomof2]

I've been searching and searching the net, but cannot find if the photopass photographers are at the resorts at all. I'm thinking no...am I correct? We prepurchased and also want to totally get our money's worth.

 

[minnie mum]

I've been searching and searching the net, but cannot find if the photopass photographers are at the resorts at all. I'm thinking no...am I correct? We prepurchased and also want to totally get our money's worth.

There are photopass photographers at some of the deluxe resorts.

 

[poohbear8]

My hint is to make sure if there is a shot you REALLY want, be sure to have it taken several times by different people if possible. This is especially true of the night shots by the castle. I have been the past 3 years and many of the night ended up being blurry. We went with friends last year and they were disappointed that they did not have as many "good" shots as we did. We always get as many as possible. I also give them my camera if it's an important shot. Cinderella's coach at MNSSHP was one of them. The photo pass photo was blurry, mine (with my cheap compact camera) was not.

Also, many of the shots end up including your whole body so they can get the character or castle in also. You can crop these later or ask them to shoot you from the waist up.

When the time comes to view your shots and you find you don't have the "magic" added in (we had a shot of my nephew pointing to the ground, but no Stitch), you can email them and they can add it in.

 

[boufa]

If you took a picture with your own camera, especially at night, you chances of a good photo is mixed. Heck I trash 50-70% of all the pictures that I take. Yet for some reason people expect the photopass photographers to click once and produce a perfect shot. To re-emphasise what others have said, have different people take your photo. Take as many as you want. If no one is waiting then chat with them first. They are kind of like bartenders, then nicer you are to them the stronger the drink will be.

I have had a few magical moments with photopass. They tried various angles, and played with the background a little. I had one let my daughter pretend she was in a fashion show and he shot her like a pro. He got a dozen pictures of her, some of the best that we have of her at that age.

Two last tips... 1) pre order the CD (save $50). If you don't think it is worth it, you can refund it after you see the pictures. 2) ask them to shoot the icon without anyone in the shot. Some will.