Senior Portraits

[queenbee3]

Has anyone ever had their child's senior portrait done while at WDW? I have made some inquiries and I'd like something a little more professional than the Photopass Portrait Session. Does anyone know of another option?

 

[disneynutz]

What about the sketch artists that are set up in the resorts. I know that the lady at the BC does beautiful work.

 

[queenbee3]

Thanks for your suggestion, but I'm really looking for a photography session to take the place of studio session here at home. I thought Disney might be a really neat place to have her senior pictures taken

 

[dallastxcpa]

Any of the local photographers can do photo shoots at the resorts. We were married at WDW in 2003 and had Randy Chapman. He was sensational so in 2004 when we returned we had family portraits done at the Boardwalk. He took close to 400 pictures. Here are a couple examples.

And One from the Wedding:

Randy is awesome to work with. Check out his website here:

http://www.chapmanphotography.com/

If that is not exactly what you want check the wedding boards and the ladies over there can give you lots of suggestions.

 

[pyrxtc]

What aout hiring a private photographer to come into the parks with you to do some pictures? A good one would not have to bring anything major, just their camera and flash and could make it not look like much more than someone taking their kids pictures.

 

[dallastxcpa]

That's really a no no...

If you want pictures in the park you can book that through Disney Photography Services. A portrait session will probably run you about $500 or more with only a small portfolio of proofs (maybe about 20 4X6) pictures. All enlargements would have to be purchased seperately and a photo CD goes for about $1,000.

If you decide on DPS, ask for Mike Strickland. He has been with Disney for over 20 years and takes awesome pics. Here are some from our castle shoot.

http://www.disneyeventphotography.com/

 

[zalansky]

Why not do one of the portrait sessions that Disney does now at the resorts?

From the site:

Disney's PhotoPass® Professional Portraits
Save 20% on Disney's PhotoPass Professional Portraits! The Professional Portrait package includes a customized 30-minute portrait session plus all of your session photos on a CD. Our specially trained portrait photographers will capture dozens of fabulous photos using locations throughout our picturesque Resorts as a backdrop.

Disney's PhotoPass Professional Portrait services are located in the following Resorts:


Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa
Disney's Polynesian Resort
Disney's Wilderness Lodge
Disney's Saratoga Springs Resort
Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge
Disney's Beach Club Resort.
Reservations are required and can be made up to 30 days in advance. To reserve your session, call (407) 934-4004.

 

[photobob]

Why not do one of the portrait sessions that Disney does now at the resorts?

From the site:

Disney's PhotoPass® Professional Portraits
Save 20% on Disney's PhotoPass Professional Portraits! The Professional Portrait package includes a customized 30-minute portrait session plus all of your session photos on a CD. Our specially trained portrait photographers will capture dozens of fabulous photos using locations throughout our picturesque Resorts as a backdrop.

Disney's PhotoPass Professional Portrait services are located in the following Resorts:


Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa
Disney's Polynesian Resort
Disney's Wilderness Lodge
Disney's Saratoga Springs Resort
Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge
Disney's Beach Club Resort.
Reservations are required and can be made up to 30 days in advance. To reserve your session, call (407) 934-4004.

The only thing that would concern me about doing this is the quality of photographer you will get. You may get a good one, you may not. I don't know if Disney hires photographers for these positions or hires people and teaches them to take photos. There is a big difference. I am biased being a photographer, but I have seen some photos posted from a Disney wedding that were very good and I have seen some from the resort portrait services that look rather amateurish.

Thirty minutes is not much time for a senior portrait session especially if you want a clothing change or two. I usually spend a couple of hours minimum for seniors.

This does give me an idea for my daughters senior portraits, I think I'll be shooting them next June! I just don't know yet if it will be WDW or Vero Beach!

 

[ilovecoasters]

That's really a no no...

If you want pictures in the park you can book that through Disney Photography Services. A portrait session will probably run you about $500 or more with only a small portfolio of proofs (maybe about 20 4X6) pictures. All enlargements would have to be purchased seperately and a photo CD goes for about $1,000.

If you decide on DPS, ask for Mike Strickland. He has been with Disney for over 20 years and takes awesome pics. Here are some from our castle shoot.

http://www.disneyeventphotography.com/

Just wanted to say that your pictures are stunning.

 

[dallastxcpa]

Just wanted to say that your pictures are stunning.

Thank you so much.

 

[hakepb]

The only thing that would concern me about doing this is the quality of photographer you will get. You may get a good one, you may not. I don't know if Disney hires photographers for these positions or hires people and teaches them to take photos. There is a big difference. I am biased being a photographer, but I have seen some photos posted from a Disney wedding that were very good and I have seen some from the resort portrait services that look rather amateurish.

Thirty minutes is not much time for a senior portrait session especially if you want a clothing change or two. I usually spend a couple of hours minimum for seniors.

This does give me an idea for my daughters senior portraits, I think I'll be shooting them next June! I just don't know yet if it will be WDW or Vero Beach!

FYI, I was chatting with some of the SSR photographers (waiting for DME on a rainy afternoon) and the resort photographers are basically more senior than the park photographers.
You are probably correct that they are more Disney trained than Disney starting by hiring the best. (A lot of photography shops have people that capture a quality composition, imho a great photographer will capture a moment or emotion, and it is a world of difference in the end result)