Pushy Photographers?

[inkkognito]

I had included this in my trip report but forgot to ask about it until I read the thread about the servers and the solicitation of Excellent ratings.
Has anyone felt that the photographers have become more pushy and insistent? After 26 cruises, we have photos of just about every one of the photo ops. I see no point in wasting time and film to take a photo that I know I will not buy. Usually, then asked if I want a photo, I politely refuse. But on our three-peat, I noticed that they do not want to take "no" for an answer and get very pushy. The worst was when we were dining in Tritons and the photographer came around to take photos at the tables. We said that we did not want one. He got insistent, but we didn't want to do it just to appease him because we would have had to interrupt our meal and my husband would have had to get up in somewhat tight quarters to come to my side of the table...why bother? After two or three times of being asking, we finally explained that we had cruised on Disney over 20 times and really didn't need another photo (I shouldn't have to explain myself, but I just wanted him to give up!). He took our tablemates' photos, but then he asked us AGAIN!! He was just as insistent, but finally he gave up. It was not the sort of thing I wanted to deal with when trying to enjoy my meal.
They were very pushy at the photo op with the ship in the background on Castaway Cay, too.
Normally, I advise people to take advantage of the photo ops, since you are under no obligation to purchase and it's fun to see how they come out. But if you say no, it should be accepted. Has anyone else noticed this, or were we just on a particularly aggressive cruise? I like Disney as compared to RCCL because they are usually much more low key with solicitations of drinks, etc., so I was surprised by this.
Barb
Visit the Platinum Castaway Club at: www.castawayclub.com

 

[Hopkins]

On our 3-day cruise in January, a photographer came around in Lumiere's and took our pictures at the table. A mother and older daughter living on her own(first time cruisers) refused the photo opportunity, at first. The photograper came to our table and asked them first and then after he finshed photographing everyone else, he asked them again, but they refused. I kind of pushed them into having the photographer take their picture by explaining that they are under no obligation to purchase the photo and he'll never know if they purchased it or not. So, they took the photo. Later, they thanked me because the mother/daughter both purchased that photo from their trip together. For some reason, they weren't taking picture of themselves.

Sometimes, when the photographer comes by, it's easier to take the photo then explain the story of why. Even though why makes a lot of sense.

Tina
Magic Western 1/18/03

PS: Hubby and I didn't take lots of pictures together, but now we make lots of effort to have both of us in vacation photos. It's easy with photographers on DCL, but they are staged photos.

 

[yensidfan99]

Oh I hope not. My DW and I will be on our 5/6 Disney cruise in February and while we love to get the formal pictures done we do not like getting harassed at every turn. This is one of the things we love about Disney. They are usually so low key unlike Norwegian which seemed to follow you around with the camera.

I would definitely be unhappy if after we politely said no they kept at us although maybe so as not to upset the vacation I might just give in since we are under no obligation to buy.

 

[two-foxes]

Shoot, I may be the minority here who may like getting their photo taken. I think that any chance for a good photo is welcome, and the minute or so that it may take out of my time is fine. Granted, we have only cruised once (period...but it was DCL) and I welcomed the photo ops, we did decline one or two and it was taken well by the photographer. We went and looked in Shutters every night, picked out the one or two we liked and got them. I could see how you may feel trapped at dinner, but hey, it could turn out to be that perfect photo!

BTW, I thought that DCL was pretty darn pushy with drinks, especially at the sail off party, and I was personally suprised at that! We were asked NUMEROUS times (more than once by the same person) if we wanted a "Bahama Mama"! I felt like I wanted to post a sign on my forehead saying "No Thank you...AGAIN!" I kind of took it for the whole ship atmosphere...but I found them much more annoying than the photographers....but then again, I am a bit of a ham!

 

[disneyholic family]

well....i'm probably not the right person to answer this...
we didn't find the photographers pushy...but then again, we were very happy when she came around at tritons...
we've found over the years that the pictures at WDW taken by the phtographers tend to come out very nice...
so we always pose for them and buy them if they come out....
on the ship , since we're not line peope, we didn't do any of the photo ops that required standing in line...
so when she came to our table for a picture we were relieved that we'd get at least one other besides the boarding picture...
on CC we passed up the picture with mickey (the line was a mile long) but we stopped for most of the others (there was no one in line...always a good selling point for us)..
however, i didn't find them to be pushy about it..
but as i said, we didn't turn them away...
i agree with you, they should take no for an answer if you're not interested.......

 

[ppiew]

On our 3 day last March, I found the photographers to be EVERYWHERE! And yes, they have become insistent. I have also noticed this in the past yr at WDW. At Typhoon Lagoon, they even stopped our inner tubes in the water of the lazy river to take pics!! I said 'no thanks', but they took them anyway. We didn't even go and look at the result. I too find it offensive if you are followed everywhere you go and they don't take 'no' for an answer. It is intrusive and rude. I realize they have to make a living too, but, hey, this is MY vacation to relax. And at dinner, one 'no thank you' should suffice.

 

[tstobb]

On our cruise, it seemed like the photographers were running the character breakfast. There was NO interaction other than the 2 second "sign & pose" before charging (yes, they actually had Minnie running) off to the next table - We'd pick the Garden Grill or Chef Mickeys for a character meal over that experience any day!

 

[PhillyCB]

I didn't find the photographers pushy at all on the 10/27 cruise. They were great and if you said no, then they went on to the next person. Of course, at Triton's no one said no at our table. I would have liked them to take a picture of the entire table but didn't think to ask until just thinking about it now. It would have been a nice souvenir of the dinners.

I did buy the embarkation photo and the ones on Castaway Cay with the ship and the big fish and when I couldn't find them in Shutters, I asked the guy behind the counter and he very nicely located them for me because he said "he had better eyes." Fact of the matter was that they were behind some other photos and he could tell by feel which ones where hidden.

 

[MarkRG]

Hmm, The only real time I remember that happenening on our last one was during sailaway, I was at the railing videotaping and the camera person interrupted me to take our picture. I admit to not being exactly thrilled.