Photographer in family Memory Maker or Not

[chenbru]

My husband and I are trying to surprise our children with a trip in September. I have a daughter who is 19 and a photography major in college. She has never been the disney and I am trying to decide if I should add the memory maker to our package.

I know that she will still take a billion and one photos, but I really want her to enjoy the trip as well.

What do you suggest?


Also will anyone be able to have their band scanned to get the photo added to our "file"?

Thank you

 

[allysetraskos]

I have a great camera so all we would do was hand it to the photographer and he would take the pic with ours.. There was no difference from ours to his. Most photographers down there know how to work good cameras. I wouldn't waste money on it.

 

[Mitzicat]

I would say do it...the photopass photographers gave my sister some great advice about lens, angles, lightening and she got some really good suggestions.

 

[handicap18]

I would say do it...the photopass photographers gave my sister some great advice about lens, angles, lightening and she got some really good suggestions.

That doesn't happen very often. One year I was taking pictures at EPCOT during Christmas and had my tripod set up near a photo pass photographer. He came over and we started talking. He was giving me advise on which setting to use. He said they use the night setting with the flash rather than the portrait setting. I told him my camera doesn't have any of the dial preset options. He then said "oh, well I wouldn't know how to use one of those camera's".

I've also seen lots of blurry pictures taken by photo pass photographers.

Thats not to say that they are all like that, but really its hit or miss with them.

I've been 5 times and while I've had the photo pass photographer take pictures with their camera I always hand them (or the CM with them) my camera and I've never bought one photo from them. The one's from my camera are either exactly the same or better.

 

[SillySallySews]

I know that she will still take a billion and one photos, but I really want her to enjoy the trip as well.

If taking photos is her passion then she is probably enjoying herself while she's snapping away.

I'm related to a photo pass photographer. There is no degree or experience required and they are not given any kind of in depth formal photography training what-so-ever. They basically just get a crash course on how to use an entry level DSLR. There might be some who are truly professionals, but for the most part they're not. I personally never buy their photos. Once per trip I used to hand them my camera and ask for a shot of my whole family in front of the castle. Some of them knew how to use my camera, others I had to set it on auto and their shots still come out terrible and the issue wasn't the camera. The last two trips I just handed them my iPhone for that one shot and both times they came out well.

 

[adc]

Was not too happy with the quality of my pics in February. There are a few decent ones.

 

[Love Tink]

There might be some who are truly professionals, but for the most part they're not.

They are all professionals, by definition (unless they are doing it as a volunteer job). However, their level of ability does differ greatly.

OP, the Memory Maker photos are very different from anything your daughter would take. They are mostly posed photos with characters, or in front of park landmarks. There are also ride photos and "magical" photos. The photos are not artistic or creative - they are meant as souvenirs.

There are two reasons to get the Memory Maker, in my opinion. One is so you can have lots of photos that include everyone in the family. The other is so you don't have to carry around a camera and worry about taking photos yourself. Some people find those things imperative, some don't.

 

[gtpoohbear]

I would still get MM. If she is taking ALL the pictures, then she won't be IN any of the pictures. What she takes will likely be the more candid things, or maybe scenic views, but it's nice to have some posed photos with the whole group, especially if you do any character meets or rides that have photos.

We always get MM/PP even though I still take hundreds of pictures on my own camera, they are two very different things, IMO.

 

[Simba07]

Most of the photopass people will take one with your camera too. That is the only way we get DH in some pictures. We are unlikely to do MM, since DH pics are usually better from the M&Gs.

 

[bopper]

If money is not an issue, I would say to get the Memory Maker. I love to take photos as well, but I also like having them from the rides or in front of the castle as a group etc.etc.
You can also do what everyone is suggesting as well.

 

[DVC Jen]

I am a photographer and do it all myself. That way I know I can get the shots I want when I want without depending on anyone else and slowing us down to wait.

Now with that said - a lot of the photopass photographers aren't really photographers in the true sense of the word. They are using preset cameras and or just doing what they are told without making any adjustments. My images always turn out better than the ones they take.

So it really comes down to this - does she want that responsibility or does she want to hand it off to someone else and just enjoy her trip?

 

[chenbru]

Thank you all for the input. There are a lot of different responses and everyone does have their own point of view.

It is hard for me to know if she will want to spend her time taking photos (which she probably will) due to the fact that she will hopefully not know of the trip till we get on the plane.

I think I will do it for the group photos and i will also ask to have them use our camera, but that is the only way I will be able to get the photos of the rides they are on. That i know is going to be something that my chldren will enjoy.

Thank you all for your help. Now just waiting for the trip to get here.

 

[Aliceacc]

My husband works part time with a photo studio when he's not teaching. He does everything from high school sports (for 4 different high schools) to concerts to you name it. My walls are lined with pictures of the kids.

We do Photopass every time; it's simply part of the cost of a trip to WDW for us. And,yes, my husband is that guy who will start and enjoy a conversation with the Photopass photographer about the merits of Nikon vs Canon.

He is actually IN the Photopass pictures! Honest!! You can tell that I'm married, and that he's part of the family.

When he's not in class, the odds are good that my husband has a camera in his hand. He'll be going to Six Flags with the Juniors in a week or so, and he won't put that camera down except to have lunch and dinner.

And WDW is only slightly different. He enjoys taking pictures, and gets lots and lots that the Photopass photographers don't. But he also knows that some days/nights, he can pack a much lighter bag. That makes a world of difference to him; that bag gets heavy after a while, particularly in the August heat in Florida.

Plus, as skilled as he is, he can't do the trick shots. He can't insert Tink or Stitch or any of the other extras the Photopass photographers can do.

When we consider the price of airfare and resort and park tickets and food for a family of 5 for 7 nights, the extra $160 or so for Photopass is a non-issue.

 

[chenbru]

When we consider the price of airfare and resort and park tickets and food for a family of 5 for 7 nights, the extra $160 or so for Photopass is a non-issue.

Exactly my thoughts as we are family of 7 for 6 nights but 7 days of passes and we did just get in on the free dining offer. I think it is a must. If we only end up with a handful of photos, they will the be handful that she was unable to take as they are rides.

Thanks

 

[TinkerElsasMom]

I believe memory maker is a must for families. A photographer in the family is amazing, however you want that photographer in the pictures too. Additionally, you get all ride photos and pictures taken with characters... You add it up and it's really a great deal.

 

[dimndgal1]

Does MM still include ride photos? That makes it worth it for us in a lot of ways. Also, since I'm the shutterbug it's nice to not even worry about a camera sometimes - I can enjoy the moment and not stress if the Photopass photog is going to grab the right shot with an unfamiliar camera.

One MAJOR perk for us is all the candids we end up getting with the Photopass Photog. Lots of DD6 running up to characters and DH doing high fives with Mickey that I would miss in handing my camera to the photographer.

 

[TinkerElsasMom]

Yes, MM includes ride photos

 

[chenbru]

Im sold. lol. We will with out a doubt be getting the MM. Yippie.

Now I just need a time when kiddos are not around to call and add it