Photos: own camera vs ship photogs

[Laine Anderson]

At the character meet and greets is it possible to have your personal camera used instead of the ships photographers'? Or will they allow you to shoot alongside the photographer? Or maybe ask the photographer to allow you to shoot instead of them?

For family shots I can see using the ship's photographers but not for everything. The photos seem really expensive. I took a look at the Shutters website (MyCruisePhotos.com) and even the digital image package sounds like it has some restrictions on the number of photos you're allowed to unlock on the disc you receive at the end of the cruise. Can anyone else share their experience with that package?

 

[Ariel484]

At the character meet and greets is it possible to have your personal camera used instead of the ships photographers'? Or will they allow you to shoot alongside the photographer? Or maybe ask the photographer to allow you to shoot instead of them?

Yes to all of these. They'll ask for your KTTW card and then the character attendants will use your camera, or you can use your own, or whatever.

I don't know how it works for some of the other photo-ops where they have the backdrops set up in the atrium or where you can get your picture taken on the stairs during formal night, for example. The one that always bugs me is the photogs set up on Castaway Cay who won't use my camera to take a picture of us with the ship in the background. Boooooo

ETA: Didn't answer your other question because I haven't bought photos onboard.

 

[nearlyfallinstar]

I took a look at the Shutters website (MyCruisePhotos.com) and even the digital image package sounds like it has some restrictions on the number of photos you're allowed to unlock on the disc you receive at the end of the cruise.

If you buy the Shutter's package that includes all of the digital photos, then you get all the digital photos. If you buy a digital package that is only 20 pictures then you can only unlock 20 pictures on the disc.

Also, the photographers will not take pictures with your camera. You can take your own pictures however and CMs seem to be willing to take a picture for you using your camera. I'm pretty sure that the photographers will still take their photo first since I'm sure they are hoping you will buy photos from them before the cruise is over.

 

[turtle27]

The CM's will take your photo with your camera, it would be the character handler. Not sure about getting one taken with just the backdrop, no character, I guess you could take one with your other party members in front of it, but I doubt the photographer is allowed, that would cut into their profits, lol - kinda.

 

[Shelley Chiarats]

Our favorite is the all pics digital and prints package with Shutters. Then you can get as many shots taken as you want and keep them all. For the Character pics the Handler will happily take your camera and take a shot along with the Shutters photographer. But for the backdrop only pics the Shutters folks don't use your camera but I don't think they stop someone else from using your camera. Might work well for parents to take kids pics but not so well for full family shots.

 

[MunFam]

I have not ever seen someone take "portraits" of their family on the professional backdrops. Character greetings, yes, but not at the formal set ups. The others are correct. If there is a character handler there, they will take a picture for you...point and shoot style...so have your setting correct before you hand your camera over. They ALWAYS do "Mickey's camera" first, then you can use your own for character meets.

We were not sure we would stick with the prints and digitals package we bought in advance for the discount, but after seeing how hard it was to get good lighting inside the atrium (and the handlers were not good a cropping/zooming, etc), I gave up and just stuck with the Shutters package. We came home with a little over 400 prints.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

I have not ever seen someone take "portraits" of their family on the professional backdrops. Character greetings, yes, but not at the formal set ups. The others are correct. If there is a character handler there, they will take a picture for you...point and shoot style...so have your setting correct before you hand your camera over. They ALWAYS do "Mickey's camera" first, then you can use your own for character meets.

We were not sure we would stick with the prints and digitals package we bought in advance for the discount, but after seeing how hard it was to get good lighting inside the atrium (and the handlers were not good a cropping/zooming, etc), I gave up and just stuck with the Shutters package. We came home with a little over 400 prints.

We've had at least two pictures taken (on my camera) by CMs assisting at formal night locations. Maybe an aberration, but it happened.

 

[xlxo]

Some thoughts...

• if you plan to buy a photo package... let the designated photographer use their camera to take the image. The studio lights are set so there's no ugly shadows and the lighting is perfect with the background.
• How many pictures do you want with your camera? How long does it take for your flash to recharge? I'm sure the people behind you in line really appreciates that 10 second recharge wait. Especially waiting after a dozen people ahead of you doing the same thing waiting for their flash recharge.
• do you really want the character to be looking at the shutter's camera and your child to be looking at your camera. Please... have only one camera there at one time to ensure the eyes are looking at one camera at a time.
• Have you tried to be the last in line? If you want extra images with your camera? Have you considered joining the line in the last 3 minutes or when the line is short? I have. When you are the last in line, you might find there is no one behind you for those multiple intimate pictures with your own camera. Be careful, popular characters will have a handler to cut off the line sharp at the posted time.
• Do you like the borders on the images? Some don't.
• Are you paying for the digital copies? Why are they so low resolution? I guess it's faster to burn the disks.
• are you going to print your images from your camera?

 

[tinkmom2]

I only once purchased the package (It was $85.00 at the time) and ended up getting a refund because we didn't like the pictures. On our cruise in March we only liked about 4 pictures out of hundred. I ended up taking about 1500 pics myself. We do both. The Shutters photogs will take one with your camera if you request it. I always carry my camera around the ship because the characters are always walking around. Plus you can get some great candid moments.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

The Shutters photogs will take one with your camera if you request it.

Actually, they won't. But, if there is a DCL CM assisting the photographer, they will use your camera to take your picture.

 

[tinkmom2]

The actual shutters photographer that had his camera around his neck actually did take a pic with our camera. Every situation is different.

 

[mylittlebuttercup]

Just a word of advice--I had mixed success with having cast members use my camera. About half of the pics they took for me turned out blurry because they weren't familiar with my camera.

 

[DynamicDisneyDuo]

The actual shutters photographer that had his camera around his neck actually did take a pic with our camera. Every situation is different.

Yours was an apparent exception and should not be expected by anyone else. The photographers can get in trouble for doing that and should not be asked to. It is not their job and as mentioned before, undercuts their employer.

 

[AcuraTL]

Yours was an apparent exception and should not be expected by anyone else. The photographers can get in trouble for doing that and should not be asked to. It is not their job and as mentioned before, undercuts their employer.

I concur with this. On our recent Wonder cruise, the photogs stated to us they are not allowed to use others' cameras to take pictures. However, if there was a CM there, the CM will take the picture for you.

 

[MunFam]

I concur with this. On our recent Wonder cruise, the photogs stated to us they are not allowed to use others' cameras to take pictures. However, if there was a CM there, the CM will take the picture for you.

Same here. @tinkmom2 was the exception not the rule, so definitely do not expect the photogs to use your camera.

 

[tinkmom2]

I've had the photo pass people take our pics while at the park too with my own camera. Never had a problem. If it's pics with the Princesses I take the pics anyway. We purchased the professional pics in front of the ship and a few with my kids this time. It was a total of 3 8x10's and we got a free leather portfolio case to display them in. When I was on Castaway after the 5k, I was by myself and I had them use my camera to take pictures of me. I have personally never had a problem after 4 cruises. Point is, it never hurts to ask. We have gotten down to the the backdrops before dinner when no one else is there and used them. For instance on Pirate night they had the one with the Mickey sunset up. I had my daughter pose in front of it. It all depends what you want to spend and how important studio pictures are to you. Some people absolutely love the Shutter's packages. Personally I would rather spend my money somewhere else on the cruise. Not wrong, just my preference.

 

[gismo1554]

I've had the photo pass people take our pics while at the park too with my own camera. Never had a problem

Photopass people in the parks are Disney employees so yes will gladly take your photo with your camera.

Cruise photo people are subcontracted and employed by Shutters not by Disney so the same rules do not apply. They are professional photographers where as Disney trains the park photopass people in house. Unlike Disney photographers, they are not allowed contractually to take photos on other people's cameras. Its how shutters makes its money after all whereas Disneys main profits aren't from photos. This is also why there is such a huge discrepency in the prices between the all inclusive photopass digital option ($169) and the all in Shutters digital package ($300+ for my 11 night cruise).