Personal Photographer while at the parks

[Msslaydbug]

How much are Disney's services ? I had read on Gifts of a Lifetime that they do this as well.

 

[Pedler]

Disney does have rules and you aren't allowed to bring in your own photographer unless you are have a FTW. You will be asked to leave the property and not come back. Disney have their own photographic services for that purpose.

I am also sure that Disney would find out if this was done on a regular basis but is it a stated Disney policy that you can't do this if the photographer pays admission to the parks? I know that Disney has thier own services but they also have thier own VIP guide services but they seem to let other companies provide those services as well.

One thing I think they could run into is a copyright issue. Technically the photographer is selling his pictures of the family at Disney to the family. That I would think would violate Disney's copyright.

 

[edingerc]

Quote: they seem to let other companies provide those services as well.

No, they don't LET anyone conduct business in the park. TGM and other VIP tour operators have to get a concessionier agreement with Disney, or get thrown out and threatened with legal action. You can be sure that giftsofalifetime also has agreements in place. Disney guards their profits as well as their image like a mama eagle guards her chicks!

I wouldn't be surprised if outside tour guides are prevented from sharing any 'backstage secrets' and have to live up to Disney image and behavior standards.

 

[Karel]

How would you advertise? Even if you kept it low key, the advertising is going to set off alarms at Disney HQ.

 

[edingerc]

You wouldn't be able to do this behind Disney's back, no way. The behavior would make you stick out like a sore thumb. When a CM spotted the photographer, who is obviously not a family member or a member of the group, they'd call a security guard who would offer to take a picture of the whole group. The photog would probably decline, at which time the security guard would know what's up.

The CM's are very good at looking out for certain behaviors. Disney has trained their clerks for years at how they can spot shoplifters.

I expect that any photog that has been approved would be required to wear a company shirt and display his concessionaire's license around his neck.

 

[DisneyWife]

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

 

[dsanner106]

As mentioned before, Private guides are allowed in with admission. If you pay for your admission, you are allowed to take pictures, and not limited to your own family. As for copyright, A picture I take is mine, not the property of the location I take it, so the photographer would have copyright, if he chose to. I can see no problem with doing this, whether you notify Disney or not.

Drew

 

[SnackyStacky]

I wouldn't be surprised if outside tour guides are prevented from sharing any 'backstage secrets' and have to live up to Disney image and behavior standards.

Check out JimHillMedia.com

That actually happened to him!

He was charging for tours of Disney property. (Notice he was charging a fee for a SERVICE - no goods exchanged hands)

Well, some people who paid for an OFFICIAL Disney tour ended up with his group. They didn't like the stories he was telling, so Disney security caught him and made him stop.

Read the full story here.

 

[Dznefreek]

Thanks for all the input from everyone.
I am still working out the details as to how all of this would be accomplished (website obviously) but I think I am going to proceed with it. I need to figure out all the costs associated with it (hardware, software, camera, printing, gas, pass, etc.). I also need to work on some forms, contracts, etc.
I know Gifts of a Lifetime does 90 mins. for $225.00. I was thinking more along the lines of 1, 2, 4, and 8 hour rates. It would not be anywhere near 225.00. They give you the film, I want burn everything to a CD and VCD, provide emails of the pics, and several printouts. The family would of course own all the pics and all rights associated with that.
I live close, go all the time, and love taking picture so why not make money from two things I already love doing.

 

[edingerc]

As mentioned before, Private guides are allowed in with admission. If you pay for your admission, you are allowed to take pictures, and not limited to your own family. As for copyright, A picture I take is mine, not the property of the location I take it, so the photographer would have copyright, if he chose to. I can see no problem with doing this, whether you notify Disney or not.

Drew

By definition, someone taking pictures for pay is not a park guest. The Disney properties are a business and you can't expect that you can conduct your business on their private property, without their say so. When you offer a service that competes with theirs, you cut into their profits or worse, make them violate their concessionaire's agreements. By that I mean that if they have sold the concession for taking pictures to Kodak, that agreement says they won't sell it to anyone else and that they will ensure that Kodak has exclusive rights (they won't resell something they've already sold or give it away for free).

And by the way, admission to see something doesn't mean you have a right to take pictures of it. Non-flash photography is non-invasive and doesn't harm the subject in any way. Try to take non-flash photos of, for example: The Mona Lisa in the Louvre, The inside of the Doge's palace in Venice or the Terra Cotta Warriors of Xian. You'll find out very quickly how much you 'own' that picture you just took (I have a negative personal experience with Xian). But each place will be THRILLED to sell you photos of each of these, for you to own.

And yes, Disney does allow private tour guides into the park, even though they sell VIP tours of their own. So far though, we haven't heard from any 'licensed' tour guides what they have to do to get approval and how much it costs.

 

[peter11435]

As mentioned before, Private guides are allowed in with admission. If you pay for your admission, you are allowed to take pictures, and not limited to your own family. As for copyright, A picture I take is mine, not the property of the location I take it, so the photographer would have copyright, if he chose to. I can see no problem with doing this, whether you notify Disney or not.

Drew

Actually that is not true. Since you paid to get in to the location, they own the copyright of all images taken in that location. You may not like it but that is the truth. It is the same way you can't take and sell pictures from a football game. Since you paid admission everything beyond the point of admission is owned by disney both physically and in image. Thus it IS illegal to sell (i.e. profit) off of any photos taken in a disney theme park with out their permission.

That said it IS against disney policy for a photographer to come in the park and take pictures without permission. However wheather you get caught or not is a different story. Although I wouldn't try it.

 

[Dznefreek]

I look at it as I am selling a service not the photos.

 

[Pedler]

I look at it as I am selling a service not the photos.

Super grey area here. I think you would have to be doing it with the clients camera or the pictures could just be for the clients personal use. Then again the mouse is just about his own government down there so anything goes. I am amazed at the Jim Hill incident.

Mickey knows all!

 

[peter11435]

I look at it as I am selling a service not the photos.

Thats simply bending the truth to get what you want. The fact is you may be selling a service, but in the end they are getting the goods.

 

[Dznefreek]

Super grey area here. I think you would have to be doing it with the clients camera or the pictures could just be for the clients personal use.

I know, that is one of the details I need to work out.

If I just wanted sell photos that would be a whole different story.

 

[peter11435]

= I am amazed at the Jim Hill incident.

Why he was opertaing a business within a disney park (against the rules) and more importantly spreading negative things through them. While they may be true, Disney as a private company has every right under the law (and should be expected) to defend their property and their reputation.

 

[edingerc]

Why he was opertaing a business within a disney park (against the rules) and more importantly spreading negative things through them. While they may be true, Disney as a private company has every right under the law (and should be expected) to defend their property and their reputation.

Disney probably wouldn't have any problem with him telling his "E True Hollywood Stories," except he was telling them on-stage. Disney tour guides will tell you that there's only one Mickey Mouse and that's him over there, when they're on stage. Once you get behind the scenes, they'll tell you that there are normally 7 Mickey's in the park. Do you really think they want outside tour guides "tearing down the scenary" while on stage?

Jim Hill obviously knows a lot of stories about Disney, but he doesn't KNOW Disney. If you're going to do business with Disney/in Disney, you're going to do it Their way.

 

[TiggerCat]

Dznefreek,

Clearly you are going to do this so why ask for our opinions. Most have told you that there will be problems and that you should check with Disney but you have made up your mind to go for it. No problems and I wish you luck. Just be aware that Disney is no "Mom and Pop" business and you should be prepared to hire a lawyer to defend your interests once Disney legal asks you to cease and desist. As you are aware, Disney is very territorial and they will take a keen interest in your adventure once you start advertising. There are an army of CMs whose job it is to search for businesses similar to yours so it won't take them long to find out who you are and what you are up to.

Again, good luck and happy snapping!

 

[peter11435]

Disney probably wouldn't have any problem with him telling his "E True Hollywood Stories," except he was telling them on-stage. Disney tour guides will tell you that there's only one Mickey Mouse and that's him over there, when they're on stage. Once you get behind the scenes, they'll tell you that there are normally 7 Mickey's in the park. Do you really think they want outside tour guides "tearing down the scenary" while on stage?

Jim Hill obviously knows a lot of stories about Disney, but he doesn't KNOW Disney. If you're going to do business with Disney/in Disney, you're going to do it Their way.

Exactly. Thats what I meant when I said his business was in a disney park and he was spreading negative info (info they don't want on stage).

 

[SnackyStacky]

There's another Jim Hill story, but this one involved somebody else.

David Koening was offering a FREE tour. His guests paid nothing. And Disney STILL stopped them - and was just ITCHING to get rid of them. But because no money changed hands, they couldn't do anything. The Disney Guest Relations cast member asked David's guests how much they paid for the 1955 park maps they had in their hands. For something as meager as that - they could have ordered the cease and desist.

Full story here.

I have to concur with others that if you're going to be making money off of Disney's guests, they're going to have a little (or a LOT of) something to say about it.

I wish you luck, and I hope it works out well for you.