Photography for Disney Wedding

[samlingchan]

I'm very confused about the photography situation for weddings at the Park.

I am having my ceremony at SeaBreeze Point and my reception at the Living Seas Salon.

After talking to my planner, she says that I can have my own photographer for the ceremony but not allowed at the reception. I must use Disney's Fine Art and Photography.

However, I did some snooping around, and I spoke to Randy Chapman who says he does weddings for Disney, but doesn't actually work for Disney and his rates are WAY better than Disney Photography!

Unfortunately, Randy is already booked on my wedding date (April 20, 2012), so how do I get my hands on other photographers who are allowed in the park that aren't a part of Disney Photography?

Also, I really wanted to do a MK shoot and it was my understanding that you could only do this if you used Disney Photography - however I have seen some brides here who said they could book it and use their own photographer???

Does anyone have some insight to shed on this??

Thanks so much!

 

[lurkyloo]

No outside photographers (i.e., not employed by Disney Fine Art Photography) are allowed to shoot weddings inside the theme parks. Even if he were available, Randy Chapman would only be allowed to shoot your ceremony, not the reception. This ban went into effect just a couple years ago, so you may still see weddings shot by non-Disney photographers before that time.

What most people who want an outside photographer do is pick wedding venues outside the parks. You also might consider your planner's suggestion of having an outside photographer shoot your ceremony, portraits, and getting-ready photos, then use Disney just for the reception. They have a couple of stripped-down photo packages that cost less than their whole-wedding packages but are still steep for what you get (3 hours of photography, 4x6 prints of all photos, and either 24 8x10s or 40 8x10s in an album costs $1,700-$1,900).

Anyone having a Disney's Fairy Tale Wedding can do the Magic Kingdom Bridal Portrait Session. The difference is that if you do not use DFAP for your wedding photos, you must have the shoot on the day of your wedding in order for it to count toward your minimum expenditure with Disney. If you don't care about it counting, you can do it at any time, up to a year after your wedding.

 

[samlingchan]

As far as the MK Session goes, ANY photog can shoot in the park?

Thanks so much for this! It answered all my questions and more!

 

[Icecoldpenguin]

for the magic kingdom session it can only be done by disney's fine art photographers. there are absolutely no outside photography or videography allowed in the park which is why I changed my whole wedding up because disney has many restrictions.

Teresa

 

[tinkerbell 766]

As far as the MK Session goes, ANY photog can shoot in the park?

Thanks so much for this! It answered all my questions and more!

No sweetie, unfortunately only Disney photographers can shoot at the MK photo shoot or at any ceremony or event in a theme park!!! I know it can be very confusing!!!