Some silly questions about memory maker

[Fratthouse]

These questions are kind of silly, but we've had memory maker the past couple of trips, and I've been kind of disappointed with some of the pics. There have been several locations where the photographer has only taken one or two shots, and they aren't good at all (eyes closed, we're talking during the shot, etc.). I've seen others trip reports and videos and they have all these AMAZING photos. What tips can you give me to help us get better results (besides just being more photogenic ).

1 - I've read that you should tell the photographer that you've already purchased the memory maker package - what's a good way to do this? I can't think of how to phrase this without being completely awkward about it.

Me: "We purchased the memory maker package....so ....you know.....get some good shots, ok?"

Can you please help me with how to word this?

2 - I always see these cute little "magic shots" - do you have to ask for those specifically? We've never had a photographer offer / instruct us to pose for those. Can they take those pics anywhere or only at specific locations?

3 - Are there any particular places that are your favorite photopass spots that we shouldn't miss? Or any other tips for making the most of our memory maker?

 

[figment_jii]

1 - I've read that you should tell the photographer that you've already purchased the memory maker package - what's a good way to do this? I can't think of how to phrase this without being completely awkward about it.

Me: "We purchased the memory maker package....so ....you know.....get some good shots, ok?"

Can you please help me with how to word this?

I don't know if you can ask them to take a "good shot" without being awkward, but I would mention that you have Memory Maker, so please take a bunch of photos, including some candid ones if possible. While not all photographers will, I bet some will. More photos gives you a better chance of getting one.

2 - I always see these cute little "magic shots" - do you have to ask for those specifically? We've never had a photographer offer / instruct us to pose for those. Can they take those pics anywhere or only at specific locations?

Yes, just ask the photographer if they have any Magic Shots. They don't always offer, but if they have them, I doubt they'd not tell you if you ask. I would do a Google search for "Magic Shots Disney World" or something like that to get a sense of what shots are out there.
Here is one list: http://www.stitchkingdom.com/disneysphotopass/

 

[Donald - my hero]

We just got back after 2 weeks and i have over 300 shots to deal with. Our technique was simple ... we stopped at almost every single opportunity and put on our goofiest faces while we said "We'll smile pretty for you!" we found that if we acted goofy while they were getting ready (jumping way to one side if they asked us to move -- dancing around --- squeezing each other so we giggled)Worked really well. As did striking up a conversation about THEM! We made a point of going up to the photographers who didn't have a line. Never stated that we had purchased MM or not, nor did we ask for Magic Shots but i think we got them all simply because we were polite with the CM's who had the cameras. We also never got miffed if others wiggled their way in before us, simply waved them on & found those led to the BEST attention from the photographers. Basically, just have fun and treat them like friends not someone who is "working" for you and you should be super pleased. Oh also they'll be more than happy to use your camera as well ... I'm amazed at some of those shots as well.

 

[Guiness92]

Last year when we got our memory maker package, we got a special lanyard and card to carry around with us. When we handed it to the photographer they knew we had already purchased the package so they all seemed to go out of their way to get lots of shots and good ones too. Most of the time we had to ask for magic shots, but some photographers offered it. Face it, they are working, some workers are better than others, even in Disney.

There were some character greets with our DD and the photographer waited for us to take phone photos, I just looked at him and said, Don't let us get in your way, we are relying on your pics, thats why we bought the memory maker, so we wouldnt have to carry our camera around. That usualy got them to take lots of pics.

 

[asbyrneva]

Yes "Hey take good shots" may not work so well. It was easy and subtle last year when we had the lanyard so they knew who to take more time with cause we were already invested.

In August I said things like " Having the MM linked on the bands is Great! no need to worry about losing cards or laynards " They knew we had already "bought the pics" they were about to take.

I always ask for magic shots if its around where they typically do them. I don't ask for them if there is a line though - just think its annoying to everybody else in line. I would say about half the time they offer or surprise us! Got Olaf in August in MK cause the photographer told DS to look surprised. Then about 2 weeks after the pic, the video showed up. Was a great surprise because they were just rolling it out.

But they are all different for example did a meet with A&E. The photographer took 3 shots with Elsa. The other photographer with Anna probably took a dozen! Right in the same room!

 

[Angel Ariel]

We had multiple photopass photographers tell us that any PP photographer who is hand-holding their camera has magic shots available. They weren't usually offered to us, but 1/2 way through the trip we started asking those hand-holding the camera if they had any magic shots. Then they'd ask us what magic shots we'd had already, we'd list it out, and they'd pose us some way - usually without telling us what the magic shot was.

I'm just starting to look through our PP pics, but so far i've seen the following magic shots: Tink, balloons, a butterfly release (AK), Olaf, Sven, Pascal (AK, by EE)...I'm not sure who else we got yet. I can't wait to look, though!

I think asking for Magic Shots tips the PP photographers off to the fact that you've either bought MM or are thinking about it....why ask about them if you're not going to, kwim?

 

[Fratthouse]

I don't know if you can ask them to take a "good shot" without being awkward, but I would mention that you have Memory Maker, so please take a bunch of photos, including some candid ones if possible. While not all photographers will, I bet some will. More photos gives you a better chance of getting one.


Yes, just ask the photographer if they have any Magic Shots. They don't always offer, but if they have them, I doubt they'd not tell you if you ask. I would do a Google search for "Magic Shots Disney World" or something like that to get a sense of what shots are out there.
Here is one list: http://www.stitchkingdom.com/disneysphotopass/

Thanks so much - that link was SUPER helpful!

 

[Fratthouse]

We just got back after 2 weeks and i have over 300 shots to deal with. Our technique was simple ... we stopped at almost every single opportunity and put on our goofiest faces while we said "We'll smile pretty for you!" we found that if we acted goofy while they were getting ready (jumping way to one side if they asked us to move -- dancing around --- squeezing each other so we giggled)Worked really well. As did striking up a conversation about THEM! We made a point of going up to the photographers who didn't have a line. Never stated that we had purchased MM or not, nor did we ask for Magic Shots but i think we got them all simply because we were polite with the CM's who had the cameras. We also never got miffed if others wiggled their way in before us, simply waved them on & found those led to the BEST attention from the photographers. Basically, just have fun and treat them like friends not someone who is "working" for you and you should be super pleased. Oh also they'll be more than happy to use your camera as well ... I'm amazed at some of those shots as well.

That's awesome you got so many great shots! That's a great point that with photopass (like almost everything else in life), you get better results by being nice. We're always polite - but we'll make an extra effort to be friendly and chat with them

 

[Fratthouse]

Last year when we got our memory maker package, we got a special lanyard and card to carry around with us. When we handed it to the photographer they knew we had already purchased the package so they all seemed to go out of their way to get lots of shots and good ones too. Most of the time we had to ask for magic shots, but some photographers offered it. Face it, they are working, some workers are better than others, even in Disney.

There were some character greets with our DD and the photographer waited for us to take phone photos, I just looked at him and said, Don't let us get in your way, we are relying on your pics, thats why we bought the memory maker, so we wouldnt have to carry our camera around. That usualy got them to take lots of pics.

I agree - the lanyard would make it a lot less awkward! That's a great idea for telling the photogs at character M&Gs. They will often wait while I take pics with my phone, so that's a pretty natural segway to say "go ahead - we've got the memory maker, so we'll get the pictures you're taking, too." Thanks for the feedback!

 

[Fratthouse]

Yes "Hey take good shots" may not work so well. It was easy and subtle last year when we had the lanyard so they knew who to take more time with cause we were already invested.

In August I said things like " Having the MM linked on the bands is Great! no need to worry about losing cards or laynards " They knew we had already "bought the pics" they were about to take.

I always ask for magic shots if its around where they typically do them. I don't ask for them if there is a line though - just think its annoying to everybody else in line. I would say about half the time they offer or surprise us! Got Olaf in August in MK cause the photographer told DS to look surprised. Then about 2 weeks after the pic, the video showed up. Was a great surprise because they were just rolling it out.

But they are all different for example did a meet with A&E. The photographer took 3 shots with Elsa. The other photographer with Anna probably took a dozen! Right in the same room!

Good point about the line - we are usually too impatient to wait in a line for photopass shots, so there usually isn't a line when we're there. But we will try to be cognizant of not dragging out the session if there are other people waiting

On a similar note, all 3 times we've met A&E, we've gotten quite a few pics with Anna and hardly any with Elsa. Maybe they're just trying to keep things moving along???

 

[Fratthouse]

We had multiple photopass photographers tell us that any PP photographer who is hand-holding their camera has magic shots available. They weren't usually offered to us, but 1/2 way through the trip we started asking those hand-holding the camera if they had any magic shots. Then they'd ask us what magic shots we'd had already, we'd list it out, and they'd pose us some way - usually without telling us what the magic shot was.

I'm just starting to look through our PP pics, but so far i've seen the following magic shots: Tink, balloons, a butterfly release (AK), Olaf, Sven, Pascal (AK, by EE)...I'm not sure who else we got yet. I can't wait to look, though!

I think asking for Magic Shots tips the PP photographers off to the fact that you've either bought MM or are thinking about it....why ask about them if you're not going to, kwim?

Yes - thanks so much for this tip! I will definitely ask any photogs with hand-held cameras about the magic shots!!! Thanks again

 

[figment_jii]

On a similar note, all 3 times we've met A&E, we've gotten quite a few pics with Anna and hardly any with Elsa. Maybe they're just trying to keep things moving along???

I think it depends on the photographer. I actually had more photos with Elsa than with Anna on my visit.

 

[pad406]

I agree - the lanyard would make it a lot less awkward!

Looks like you're on site so you should be able to link to your MDX account and therefore your magic bands. So they'll simply scan your band, you shouldn't need the card, or at least that's how I understand (and hope) it works

 

[Fratthouse]

Looks like you're on site so you should be able to link to your MDX account and therefore your magic bands. So they'll simply scan your band, you shouldn't need the card, or at least that's how I understand (and hope) it works

Yes - it's all on your magic band now. We were just saying the lanyard was nice because the photographers could easily identify who had already purchased the memory maker package. Supposedly, when they know you've purchased the package they will take more pics and / or spend more time with your group because they know you are actually going to use the pictures - as opposed to someone else who hasn't purchased the memory maker and may not even go online to view them, much less purchase and download them. Having the lanyard saved you the awkwardness of trying to nonchalantly tell them you've already purchased the MM package.

 

[pad406]

Ah,got you now.

Might be worth a read of thisthread too

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=3268517

 

[Fratthouse]

Ah,got you now.

Might be worth a read of thisthread too

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=3268517

Great thread! I'm going through it page by page now!

Thanks everyone for helping - I got so much great feedback! I'm taking my mom & mother-in-law for their first (and maybe only) trip - so I'm so excited to make the most of our memory maker!!!

 

[texasgingerbread]

This is a good site too http://capturingmagic.me/photopass-magic-shots

 

[angierae]

"We've prepurchased, can you please take candid shots?"

Candid shots of character interactions are my absolute favorite ones. The posed ones are cute but I actually prefer the candid shots of DD and I interacting with the characters, so I am sure to always ask.

 

[BuzzyBelle]

Yes - it's all on your magic band now. We were just saying the lanyard was nice because the photographers could easily identify who had already purchased the memory maker package. Supposedly, when they know you've purchased the package they will take more pics and / or spend more time with your group because they know you are actually going to use the pictures - as opposed to someone else who hasn't purchased the memory maker and may not even go online to view them, much less purchase and download them. Having the lanyard saved you the awkwardness of trying to nonchalantly tell them you've already purchased the MM package.

When we went in 2013 we had the lanyard and photographers treated it like a golden ticket. We got a ton of great shots, magic shots, etc and most of the photographers were very excited to see the lanyard. In 2014 there was no way for them to tell we had MM and most photographers were very indifferent to taking our pictures. I didn't ask for magic shots or anything special, but didn't realize I had to push for it since it was so freely offered the year before. During character greets I had to practically beg some of them to take pictures and then they looked at me like I asked for their first bornI still feel like we got our money's worth with all the ride photos, borders, etc., but I do plan on being more proactive this year in making sure we get more pics. I tend to be a little shy when asking for things so hopefully if we're extra friendly and excited like others posted it will work out for us better this year.

 

[chloelovesdisney]

I've started asking any photographer not using a tripod if they do magic shots. Our last trip we ended up with a bunch of fun pictures.