Just a thought: Be considerate when photographing characters in meet and greets

[JenniferinFL]

I've debated posting about this because it probably won't do too much good. BUT, if it saves even one person's character photos, then I suppose it is probably worth it.

We were one of those crazy people who waited for 4 hours for Maleficent on Photopass Day. Yes, 4 hours and 2 of those hours were spent in full sun with 90+ degree temperatures. We have memory maker, so, we relied on the Photopass photographer. We also didn't want to make people wait longer, so we rushed, did two poses and no interaction and left to be courteous to those behind us.

While the photos were being taken, I kept noticing the flash of the party waiting behind us. They were taking a bunch of pictures of Maleficent while our photos were being taken with her. This was a pretty dark meet, so the photopass photographer was using a decent sized flash already. Sure enough, I check the photos later and we are really washed out on one side of the image, courtesy the people behind us. Now, I edited them pretty heavily in an attempt to salvage them, but, they don't look like Disney photopass, they look like I took these pictures with my cell phone.

I only bring this up because it's MNSSHP time and we're going to go again and wait in long lines in dark areas to meet characters. Please don't use your flash when other people are meeting and having their photos taken. Only use your flash when the photopass photographer is not shooting. I'm sure this is common sense to many people, but, thought I would share in the event that people hadn't considered it.

 

[IrishNYC]

Common sense isn't so common. People don't know how to, don't care to know how to, or just plain don't care about turning their flash off. How many times do you see people taking flash pictures at a concert? You know what you get a great picture of? The people in front of you, well lit by your flash. Same with flash photos on dark rides. Or people using their viewing screens on dark rides. It's their world, and you're just an annoyance in it.

 

[jo-jo]

What is photopass day? I've heard it mentioned a few times.

 

[JenniferinFL]

Common sense isn't so common. People don't know how to, don't care to know how to, or just plain don't care about turning their flash off. How many times do you see people taking flash pictures at a concert? You know what you get a great picture of? The people in front of you, well lit by your flash. Same with flash photos on dark rides. Or people using their viewing screens on dark rides. It's their world, and you're just an annoyance in it.

Some people are just rude and know they are being rude.. But, I'm sure a lot of people just do it because they don't understand that what they are doing is discourteous. It wouldn't have even been a big deal if those people ruined one of our pictures, but, it was like they had their camera going through our whole meet. lol

What is photopass day? I've heard it mentioned a few times.

It was something Disney did a couple weeks ago to celebrate photopass. There were unusual characters out in all the parks. I'm not sure if it's something they do once a year or what. This was the first one that we went to.

 

[mom2rtk]

It's possible Photopass might have had their settings wrong causing the overexposure. I've had it happen.

The best advice I can give you is that once you've waited your turn, don't skimp on the number of shots you have taken. It only takes a few more seconds to get more shots. And get some on your own camera as well. The more shots you get, the better your odds of getting a keeper. That can all be done without holding up the line.

I'm really sorry your shots didn't turn out. Photopass is hit and miss on a good day. Always hedge your bets.

 

[scrappingbuckeye]

Yikes 4 hours! I guess that Villain party last year was worth it.

 

[scrappingbuckeye]

Common sense isn't so common. People don't know how to, don't care to know how to, or just plain don't care about turning their flash off. How many times do you see people taking flash pictures at a concert? You know what you get a great picture of? The people in front of you, well lit by your flash. Same with flash photos on dark rides. Or people using their viewing screens on dark rides. It's their world, and you're just an annoyance in it.

My fav is when people are using flashes that are never going to work for the picture they are taking. Using a flash to take a picture of something remotely far away isn't going to work people. I actually never have the flash on my phone on - Samsung rocks for low light pics.

 

[DisneyFansInNYC]

I've debated posting about this because it probably won't do too much good. BUT, if it saves even one person's character photos, then I suppose it is probably worth it.

We were one of those crazy people who waited for 4 hours for Maleficent on Photopass Day. Yes, 4 hours and 2 of those hours were spent in full sun with 90+ degree temperatures. We have memory maker, so, we relied on the Photopass photographer. We also didn't want to make people wait longer, so we rushed, did two poses and no interaction and left to be courteous to those behind us.

While the photos were being taken, I kept noticing the flash of the party waiting behind us. They were taking a bunch of pictures of Maleficent while our photos were being taken with her. This was a pretty dark meet, so the photopass photographer was using a decent sized flash already. Sure enough, I check the photos later and we are really washed out on one side of the image, courtesy the people behind us. Now, I edited them pretty heavily in an attempt to salvage them, but, they don't look like Disney photopass, they look like I took these pictures with my cell phone.

I only bring this up because it's MNSSHP time and we're going to go again and wait in long lines in dark areas to meet characters. Please don't use your flash when other people are meeting and having their photos taken. Only use your flash when the photopass photographer is not shooting. I'm sure this is common sense to many people, but, thought I would share in the event that people hadn't considered it.

I am so sorry your pictures didn't turn out well. My DDs and friends were with you and she would have been so upset to wait all that time and then the pictures not come out good. Our DDs were there for 6 1/2 hours and only got to see Maleficent and the Evil Queen and yes a lot of it was outside. Maybe you can contact Disney Photopass and they can do something. They are so good at finding lost photos - I have called them many times - I bet they can help you and it can't hurt.

 

[mom2rtk]

My fav is when people are using flashes that are never going to work for the picture they are taking. Using a flash to take a picture of something remotely far away isn't going to work people. I actually never have the flash on my phone on - Samsung rocks for low light pics.

If they don't know not to use it in that situation, odds are they don't know how to turn it off either.

 

[JenniferinFL]

It's possible Photopass might have had their settings wrong causing the overexposure. I've had it happen.

The best advice I can give you is that once you've waited your turn, don't skimp on the number of shots you have taken. It only takes a few more seconds to get more shots. And get some on your own camera as well. The more shots you get, the better your odds of getting a keeper. That can all be done without holding up the line.

I'm really sorry your shots didn't turn out. Photopass is hit and miss on a good day. Always hedge your bets.

I've had memory maker for a couple years now. Not all the shots are magical, but 98% of the time they are acceptable images that can be edited into good images. These have an obvious extra flash from the far right. I could see the extra flash going off to my right during our whole meet. I doubt my camera could have compensated for it either. Once you do the metering and you take the shot, there's not time to compensate for light you couldn't anticipate. They took 6 images and only one doesn't have the extra flash, but, kid's eyes are closed in that one. Granted, photopass photographer should have noticed what was happening and taken a few more, but, what are you going to do? I don't get why the group behind us were taking pictures when we were still in the shot either. I mean, it was their turn next, it's not like they were passing by and weren't going to wait in the line. The whole thing made no sense... LOL (I can probably mess around in photoshop and switch kid's face in one of the overexposed ones to the better exposed one, but, you know, it's easier if people just don't use their flash until it's their turn)

 

[scrappingbuckeye]

If they don't know not to use it in that situation, odds are they do't know how to turn it off either.

So True...lol

 

[mom2rtk]

I've had memory maker for a couple years now. Not all the shots are magical, but 98% of the time they are acceptable images that can be edited into good images. These have an obvious extra flash from the far right. I could see the extra flash going off to my right during our whole meet. I doubt my camera could have compensated for it either. Once you do the metering and you take the shot, there's not time to compensate for light you couldn't anticipate. They took 6 images and only one doesn't have the extra flash, but, kid's eyes are closed in that one. Granted, photopass photographer should have noticed what was happening and taken a few more, but, what are you going to do? I don't get why the group behind us were taking pictures when we were still in the shot either. I mean, it was their turn next, it's not like they were passing by and weren't going to wait in the line. The whole thing made no sense... LOL (I can probably mess around in photoshop and switch kid's face in one of the overexposed ones to the better exposed one, but, you know, it's easier if people just don't use their flash until it's their turn)

I'd be annoyed as all get out. I'm so sorry.

My only point is that the more shots, the greater your odds of hitting a couple where the other flash wasn't going. I wish you could go back in time and have another chance at it (without the 4 hour wait). It's actually pretty hard to hit your shutter going at the very moment their flash is going. Any chance they were using video lighting? Not that it matters, but that would be even more heinous behavior since it's impossible to escape.

The worst part is that overexposed areas are very hard to recover from.

 

[FelisLachesis]

Some people are just rude and know they are being rude.. But, I'm sure a lot of people just do it because they don't understand that what they are doing is discourteous. It wouldn't have even been a big deal if those people ruined one of our pictures, but, it was like they had their camera going through our whole meet. lol

I'd venture to say that it's not that they didn't understand. It's that they didn't care.

 

[1GoldenSun]

I'm very glad you posted this. This is something that never would have occurred to me and I never would have realized I was affecting anyone else's pictures. I am one of those people who probably misuses my flash and while I do know how to turn it off, I hardly know much more than that about how to take a good picture. But I always assumed I was the only one who suffered for my lack of photography skills--I never realized i could be impacting others. Thanks for the insight.

 

[JenniferinFL]

Yikes 4 hours! I guess that Villain party last year was worth it.

Totally. If they ever have another, I am buying in immediately.. lol

I am so sorry your pictures didn't turn out well. My DDs and friends were with you and she would have been so upset to wait all that time and then the pictures not come out good. Our DDs were there for 6 1/2 hours and only got to see Maleficent and the Evil Queen and yes a lot of it was outside. Maybe you can contact Disney Photopass and they can do something. They are so good at finding lost photos - I have called them many times - I bet they can help you and it can't hurt.

I really wanted to meet Cruella too, but, I think I would have had a riot on my hands from spouse and kid.. lol My photos are there, they just aren't exposed evenly. I mean, it looks like a prepaid cell phone photo.. lol But, I mean, it's still better than the 110 film pictures my parents have of me as a kid, so, I'm not sure why I'm complaining. I have lightroom and photoshop, so I can put more work into them and make them a bit better. I just wish that they were one of my many 'in front of the castle' photos that I didn't need another of instead of my only Maleficent pictures. Oh well, maybe we'll luck out and they'll do another villains party one day, or photopass day next year. Honestly, I'm 25% of the way through what will end up being a fairly long weight loss journey, a year from now I probably wouldn't have liked the picture that much even if it had turned out.

I'd be annoyed as all get out. I'm so sorry.

My only point is that the more shots, the greater your odds of hitting a couple where the other flash wasn't going. I wish you could go back in time and have another chance at it (without the 4 hour wait). It's actually pretty hard to hit your shutter going at the very moment their flash is going. Any chance they were using video lighting? Not that it matters, but that would be even more heinous behavior since it's impossible to escape.

The worst part is that overexposed areas are very hard to recover from.

I was trying not to look over, it was bright and obnoxious. I was trying to stay focused on looking in the direction of the camera. Unfortunately, couldn't tell you for sure whether it was video lighting or flash. I assumed flash, but, yeah, it was probably on too long to be flash. Oh well. I do agree that there should have been more shots. I've had photopass take a bunch of photos, almost like they used burst mode, to be sure that we had at least one good one. I've had an 'in front of the castle' photopass session that I waited 0 minutes for with 10 photos in it. Something you wait 4 hours for I'd prefer they just hold the shutter button down and I'll weed them later.. lol

 

[cgattis]

I'd venture to say that it's not that they didn't understand. It's that they didn't care.

A lot of people really ARE clueless about photography, even stuff as simple as this. As PP said, you still see people at concerts taking cell phone pics with flashes 100 feet from the stage!

But I agree, WHY were they taking pics with OP's family in them? Often I'll try to sneak a pic of a character alone, between guests, but when I inevitably get someone in my shot, I delete it right then. I know what copyright laws say, but I feel NO rights to intentionally taken images of folks without consent. (And I never intentionally pop a flash into someone's shot--or face--without asking.) And yes, some people really DON'T care--but some really don't know better.

Either way, OP, sorry your pics got hosed. I'm still bitter that we feel the need to wait 4 hours for a free pic with Maleficient (I'm taking to you, Villain Bash!).

 

[Queen of the WDW Scene]

I can understand where you are coming from with the flash.
But you also decided to slip in the fact that you waited so long in the sun and that you rushed emphasizing that you didn't spend as much time at the meet and greet as you would have preferred and really that's your own choice so to me it had absolutely no impact on the poor quality of pics due to flash.

 

[cgattis]

Honestly, I'm 25% of the way through what will end up being a fairly long weight loss journey, a year from now I probably wouldn't have liked the picture that much even if it had turned out.

Well, sounds like a Villain Bash would make a great milestone or final celebration for that journey!!! Best wishes

 

[JenniferinFL]

I can understand where you are coming from with the flash.
But you also decided to slip in the fact that you waited so long in the sun and that you rushed emphasizing that you didn't spend as much time at the meet and greet as you would have preferred and really that's your own choice so to me it had absolutely no impact on the poor quality of pics due to flash.

I mentioned that I waited so long in the sun to emphasize that someone ruined my pictures for something I didn't have time to redo, something that took a lot of time and discomfort. I really mostly emphasized that because I've seen people just taking pictures of characters as they walk by and I wanted people to be considerate of the person who braved the line and not ruin their pictures for a passing video or photo that's not even going to mean anything for them since their family isn't in the shot. Sometimes a little emphasis helps people realize why it's discourteous.

I emphasized that I rushed the meet to take some of the blame off the photopass photographer. I don't want people thinking that we did several different poses and the photographer took 20 shots and none of them came out. It also takes some of the blame off the person who helped botch my pictures. They only used their flash/video lighting for however long it took for us to pose twice and the photopass photographer to take 6 images.

I know that waiting in the hot sun was my choice and I know that rushing through the meet and greet was my choice. I don't know whether or not that person would have stopped had I prolonged my meet. Maybe we'd both still be there, me, waiting to get a decent picture of my family with Maleficent, her, excitedly videotaping or photographing Maleficent to be sure she didn't miss that very first moment when Maleficent glanced over towards her.. lol Sorry, that makes a funny image for me.

 

[Queen of the WDW Scene]

I mentioned that I waited so long in the sun to emphasize that someone ruined my pictures for something I didn't have time to redo, something that took a lot of time and discomfort. I really mostly emphasized that because I've seen people just taking pictures of characters as they walk by and I wanted people to be considerate of the person who braved the line and not ruin their pictures for a passing video or photo that's not even going to mean anything for them since their family isn't in the shot. Sometimes a little emphasis helps people realize why it's discourteous.

I emphasized that I rushed the meet to take some of the blame off the photopass photographer. I don't want people thinking that we did several different poses and the photographer took 20 shots and none of them came out. It also takes some of the blame off the person who helped botch my pictures. They only used their flash/video lighting for however long it took for us to pose twice and the photopass photographer to take 6 images.

I know that waiting in the hot sun was my choice and I know that rushing through the meet and greet was my choice. I don't know whether or not that person would have stopped had I prolonged my meet. Maybe we'd both still be there, me, waiting to get a decent picture of my family with Maleficent, her, excitedly videotaping or photographing Maleficent to be sure she didn't miss that very first moment when Maleficent glanced over towards her.. lol Sorry, that makes a funny image for me.

Personally I think you emphasized those things for people to feel bad and I just don't lol.
If the experience meant that much I would have not rushed. You waited your turn you should have taken your turn.
You would have gotten more than a couple of quick snaps and the character interaction that you waited so long to experience.
Again I do feel bad about the flash but really not about the rest.