Please help....where are good places to take photos? Last trip photos were horrible!

[addie]

Hi there,

When we got home from our last trip I was so dissapointed in our photos.

All of our character photos were dark (character breakfasts) and our park photos were dissapointing as well.

I know I have seen really good photos, I have even seen some photos where the characters are standing in front of a cute backdrop. I was wondering if you could help me out.

1) Where is your favorite place to take photos in each park?
2) What kind of a camera do you use?
3) Where do you take the character photos with the backdrop?
4) Where are your traditional (every time you go) family photos taken?
4) Any other tips you have I would really appreciate!!


Thanks!

 

[DebbieB]

One thing I love about my digital camera is you can lighten the pictures on your computer afterwards. If you have a screen on your camera, you can look at them immediately and decide if you want to reshoot.

One thing to watch for with the character meals - be careful if you are sitting in front of a sunny window. The camera may not flash because there is too much light and you'll end up with a dark picture. You need to see if you camera has a "fill flash" mode, which forces the camera to flash.

 

[danny1649]

Each Park Guidemap a little guy with camera at what are selected by Kodak picture spots on map.We have taken our pictures in these spots and have some great photos.Just a suggestion good luck and hope you get some great photos.

 

[Poohbear123]

A digital and a regular one. I have a point and shoot Minolta that cost me about 120.00 4 years ago. I also use 400 film and for night shots I use 800 without the Flash! I tried using Fuji Film, as a suggestion here, but switched back to Kodak. Make sure you check the date on your film. I also have a Sony Digital, that I got last Oct. Its a little more difficult to use, but have taken great Fireworks photos with it. Have to study the book more.

 

[campingcorgi]

I get pretty good photos with my poing and shoot 35mm and I was told years ago to use the fill flash most of the time. It really helps to brighten the shadowed areas. I use the fill flash unless I'm trying a special effect--night shots, fireworks, etc.

 

[maps]

if you go to toon town , they have special lines that lead you to the characters. they have the great back drops you've seen and the lighting is pretty good.

 

[mickeysaver]

I use an Advantix camera with 400 speed film. I always use the flash. If you look on the park maps, you will see there are little Kodak icons for perfect WDW picture ops. I got some great shots last trip by using those. Also, when you get your film processed, get one of those picture cd's done too. This will allow you to edit your pictures on your computer. I have found this to be a great way to save some shots that really didn't turn out that well originally.

There are many places throughout WDW that offers some staged photo ops. They usually will allow you to get a photo with your camera, even when they are trying to sell you the photo too. Good luck! Mickey

 

[geffric]

I take 3 cameras. A 35 mm , 400 speed film, that has a zoom lens, an advantix for the panamara scenery shots and the digial. I have problems at Crystal Palace because of the large windows and at AK breakfast because the room is so dark that many shots don't look right.

However, I get great ourside pictures. At MK -Use Castle as back drop, fun pictures of kids pulling the sword out of the stone, I like sme we have from Tom sawyer Island with Thunder MT RR in the background, use the paths less traveled around the castle to get some great shots with the Castle in the background, in the teacups, Minnie's house, by Goofy's barnstormer. I use tree of Life at AK, and in front of he Dinausar sign, great pictures in teh boneyard and at the Character signings. Epcot - all over the place you can get get shots.

I just take too many so I can get some great shots. Last year I took 10 rolls of film and 200 digital pictures for a 2 week trip. If you scrapbook remember that you want lots of pictures for a two page spread.

 

[laurie31]

I had a Yashica T4 35mm that made awesome pictures. Remember to use at least 400 speed film. I have recently converted to a digital Nikon Coolpix, which I also love! I really love being able to see the picture right then - with film I always took 2 or 3 just to make sure I got the shot - but what an expense! And once DD4 got it (my film camera) without my knowledge - I got the pictures developed and there were 15 pictures of a basket of dirty laundry! Argh! Now with the digital they can click away, then I can delete

Everyone else has given great suggestions about avoiding problems with backlighting. My suggestion is to take your camera of choice and pretend to be a tourist in your own town. Go take pictures of churches, big buildings, whatever (to simulate the castle, spaceship earth, etc) during the day and at night, and also of your family indoors. See how they turn out. Notice lighting, perspective, sharpness, etc. If they aren't great, take them to a reputable camera shop and ask the sales staff for advice on your specific problems. Often they are very helpful

As with any other skill, photography takes practice! Don't get discouraged, just keep taking pictures!

Laurie

 

[WDWAurora]

Ok, I've been experimenting. First of all, my absolute favorite to use is my Kodak advantix. I never have any that don't turn out, unless I'm taking them of things I shouldn't with that speed film. I use 200, unless I'm trying to do any of the nighttime shows, as 200 will capture both dark and light very well, but the distance is too great for the nighttime shows. I've had the camera for about 4 years, and I never have to let them "keep" pictures when I get them developed (you know, when they don't turn out, you "sell" them back and don't pay for the duds). I highly recommend the high end Kodak advantix cameras. It did great in March and May!

My boyfriend took his Intel Pocket PC CS 630 in March, and I took it back in May as well. His pictures tended to have some lighting difficulties. This is a digital camera, but does not have a screen, so there is a limit on the number of pictures (over 200). It still did a great job, and was much better for the nighttime shows. Distance shots were not as good, and it doesn't have a zoom.

I'm taking my Kodak digital in August, so I'll review it at some point after that. It has been a great camera though, and I'm confident I'll get some great shots from it.

As for locations, we found some great ones!! MK, you need to get the front of the castle, as well as possibly the sides, where the rose garden is. The bridge in front of Splash Mountain is cute, with the falls in the background. The front of Space Mountain is good, framed by the building and sign, and as you exit the ride, there is a SM car to take pictures in, and ours turned out really cute!! In Adventureland, across from Swiss Family treehouse there are usually characters in a doorway, those were cute (we got Timon and King Louie!)

Epcot, you can get the ball from across the lagoon in World Showcase, there are lots of little niches to pose. Outside the gates also gives a good view, as well as looking back at it from the big fountain on the WS side of the ball. I got a great one of my boyfriend from the bridge between France and the gateway, with the Eiffel tower in the background. All the countries have excellent photo locations!

MGM, the Lilo and Stitch photo area, near the animation tour is adorable, and the lighting is good. The Monsters Inc area is cute but the lighting is not as good. A lot of characters were out to the left of the Great movie ride, and the blooming trees behind where they were made a great backdrop! We took several on New York Street, mainly one of him in the little Police cart out there. Near Honey I Shrunk the Kids, there's a bug's life display with "flik" and it was cute, with a good backdrop. In the play area, there are lots of good photo ops, and one I love is with the roll of kodak film, so cheesy! The Star Cruiser bikes outside Star Tours were also fun to pose on.

Animal Kingdom: Tree of life, and at the entry to Bug's Life there is a cute monkey, taller than my bf (so about 7 feet tall) and is cute to have photos beside.

That's all I've got for now, good luck and have fun!

 

[stacy6552]

i was putting the scrapbook together for this last trip and I was really disappointed that we didnt get photos in front of our favorite rides and resturaunts. We took alot like that our first trip and it turned our really well.

 

[Harambe]

Our camera broke last trip at MGM! Sad part was it was right after Hunchback so I don't have pictures of my now-gone favorite!

Anyway - I had to buy the single use cameras that you can buy (for a pretty penny!) at the parks. The pictures were awesome! I had prepared myself for just so-so pics but they were all beautiful!

We always have our picture taken as soon as you come into AK, with the Tree fo Life in the background. The Disney photographers always take a nice family shot. It's the only time I make sure everyone is wearing something half way decent!

 

[Ratpack]

Originally posted by Poohbear123
A digital and a regular one. I have a point and shoot Minolta that cost me about 120.00 4 years ago. I also use 400 film and for night shots I use 800 without the Flash! I tried using Fuji Film, as a suggestion here, but switched back to Kodak. Make sure you check the date on your film. I also have a Sony Digital, that I got last Oct. Its a little more difficult to use, but have taken great Fireworks photos with it. Have to study the book more.

Off Topic:

I have a Sony Digi cam as well and this will be my first trip with it. The day shots I am comfortable with, but what would you suggest for night shots of Spectro? Night shot leaves the shutter open and with the movement of the floats it will leave a trail.

On Topic:

I always take photos of the family on the different rides we ride, then take a photo of the sign for the ride. Makes a cool scrapbook page.

 

[addie]

Thanks so much for your help!! There are some great ideas here! I will look for the Kodak photo place and follow a lot of these great ideas.

Love the idea of a photo of the ride sign and then a photo on the ride for a scrapbook page, great idea!

Thanks WDWAurora for all your great tips! I copied your post so I will be able to look for those places!

Thanks again!