Using PhotoPass as engagement pics?

[sarahb01]

Hello everyone!

My DF and I are planning a trip to WDW in February and I thought that maybe we could buy the PhotoPass CD and then go around to all the parks and get our pics taken and use those as our engagement/save the date pictures.

Has anyone done this? I thought we might get more pictures and more variety than getting a Disney photographer for the engagement session that would cost 300.

I just thought it would be a good way to cut costs and have pictures in all of the parks.

Thoughts?

 

[librarygeek]

I think it would be a great idea! As long as you're not wanting super professional quality, because photopass can be hit or miss and obviously these aren't people that are at the same level of a wedding photographer. But we had lots of great photopass pics from our honeymoon so I think you could easily use them for save the dates and stuff.

One suggestion I would give you is to think of some fun poses and stuff to do ahead of time. Some of the photopass photographers came up with neat ideas, but many of them just did a typical shot of us standing together, and most asked us to do one kissing as well. And try to find some photographers that do the magic shots, those are really fun

 

[mb187143]

My DF and I had the same thought - we wanted to get pics in front of the park icons for all 4 parks and use them for our save the dates if we could - well luckily we brought our own camera, because the photopass pictures came out horrible! We were able to get people walking by to take our pictures as well, and luckily they came out great, so we're going to use our own instead - i'm really disappointed in the photopass pictures. If you get good ones though, it's an awesome idea!

 

[MrsDuck]

While it seems like a great idea, I'd be worried about the quality of the pictures.

Like the other girls, I've gotten some really great PP pictures and then many awful pictures.

Again, it's a great idea and could definitely save you $, but the mixed quality is a risk you'd be taking.

 

[mb187143]

I will say though, rather than buying the photopas CD first and putting any money out, we just used the photopass card that we got from the photog on the first day - i don't know if that makes a difference, i'm just glad we didn't pay for anything up front because we weren't thrilled with them. We gave the card to the photog and he would scan it after taking our pictures, and we looked at them when we got home.

 

[Pinkgirl]

If you go ahead with this make an early pre-park opening breakfast reservation at Crystal Palace then you can get quite a few shots with no-one else in them in front of the castle.

 

[sarahb01]

I will say though, rather than buying the photopas CD first and putting any money out, we just used the photopass card that we got from the photog on the first day - i don't know if that makes a difference, i'm just glad we didn't pay for anything up front because we weren't thrilled with them. We gave the card to the photog and he would scan it after taking our pictures, and we looked at them when we got home.

That's a good point. I was just thinking about buying the CD first because it is cheaper, 99 instead of 149 if you buy the CD after. I also heard that you can get your own pictures uploaded on the CD as well. I know that the pictures are hit and miss. But I thought since we will be in the park for three days, we can get pictures at all the parks both day and night. We have to have a few that turn out right?

The main point of the engagement pictures are to have pictures to use for the save the dates and maybe a couple to print out and just have pictures for ourselves. I don't know if I can justify spending over 300 to have an hour with a Disney photographer for the engagement session, as I have heard the Disney photographers aren't always on top of their game either.

 

[sarahb01]

If you go ahead with this make an early pre-park opening breakfast reservation at Crystal Palace then you can get quite a few shots with no-one else in them in front of the castle.

GREAT IDEA! I didn't even think about doing something like that!

 

[mb187143]

That's a good point. I was just thinking about buying the CD first because it is cheaper, 99 instead of 149 if you buy the CD after. I also heard that you can get your own pictures uploaded on the CD as well. I know that the pictures are hit and miss. But I thought since we will be in the park for three days, we can get pictures at all the parks both day and night. We have to have a few that turn out right?

The main point of the engagement pictures are to have pictures to use for the save the dates and maybe a couple to print out and just have pictures for ourselves. I don't know if I can justify spending over 300 to have an hour with a Disney photographer for the engagement session, as I have heard the Disney photographers aren't always on top of their game either.

Thats what I wasn't sure of - thank you!! I hope you get some nice shots while you're there!!! I can tell you one of the guys on Main St. took some nice ones, and he had fun with us since we had our "Just Engaged" buttons on - even if it's not a picture you'll use on your S-T-D, it may still be a nice memory!

 

[librarygeek]

That's a good point. I was just thinking about buying the CD first because it is cheaper, 99 instead of 149 if you buy the CD after. I also heard that you can get your own pictures uploaded on the CD as well. I know that the pictures are hit and miss. But I thought since we will be in the park for three days, we can get pictures at all the parks both day and night. We have to have a few that turn out right?

The main point of the engagement pictures are to have pictures to use for the save the dates and maybe a couple to print out and just have pictures for ourselves. I don't know if I can justify spending over 300 to have an hour with a Disney photographer for the engagement session, as I have heard the Disney photographers aren't always on top of their game either.

I pre-ordered the photopass CD because of the savings. People have told me though if you pre-order it and decide you really don't want it, you can "return" it and get your money back. So if you're willing to go through the hassle then there's no reason to spend more money! I really think you'll be fine as long as you track down lots of different photographers - they won't all be bad! Really, we had 130 pictures from our trip and I don't think any were "bad" - some were better than others but most of them were really nice!

 

[AmberHeartsDisney]

We did the 100$ photo session here are mine

 

[sarahb01]

We did the 100$ photo session here are mine

Very cute pictures! I thought about maybe going that route too..it has to be at a resort correct? And do you get prints included?

 

[stargazertechie]

We used photopass for our wedding photos (we got married on the way down to Disney, and attended MNSSHP)

Here's the low-res screen shots (I'm still waiting on my CD)

Ditto to having the photog use your camera too as backup.


I do also suggest pre-ordering the CD. Disney will refund the $99 if you're unhappy with your photopass photos after the trip, but if you choose to purchase it after the first photo is taken, it'll cost you $149

 

[sarahb01]

We used photopass for our wedding photos (we got married on the way down to Disney, and attended MNSSHP)

Here's the low-res screen shots (I'm still waiting on my CD)

Ditto to having the photog use your camera too as backup.


I do also suggest pre-ordering the CD. Disney will refund the $99 if you're unhappy with your photopass photos after the trip, but if you choose to purchase it after the first photo is taken, it'll cost you $149

I LOVE the picture in front of the Cinderella's coach! So cute. It has been YEARS since I have been to WDW, where is the coach? I will need to start figuring out where everything is, so I can be efficient when I get there.

 

[stargazertechie]

I LOVE the picture in front of the Cinderella's coach! So cute. It has been YEARS since I have been to WDW, where is the coach? I will need to start figuring out where everything is, so I can be efficient when I get there.

It's only out for the Halloween Party- during the parties it's in fantasyland near It's a Small World (Near the old skyway station

 

[gracielou]

We used photopass for our wedding photos (we got married on the way down to Disney, and attended MNSSHP)

Did you wear your dress to the party and they had photopass photographers at the party? Did they give you any problems getting in dressed like that? I only ask because I was thinking about doing this and had read that it may be an issue. We're get to WDW on the 22nd and are heading to Cocoa Beach on the 25th to get married. We have MNSSHP tickets for the 25th, which is the same day we're getting married, and have already pre-ordered the photopass CD so this would be awesome for us!

 

[geek+nerd]

I highly recommend getting the CD as well, pre-ordering it. We did that for our honeymoon, and we got some really great shots that we now have framed. While not all the shots are the best, we had well over 500 shots (keep in mind we were there for 2 weeks) and a lot were really great. I would highly recommend just going to as many photopass locations as you can to up your chances of getting usable pictures.

 

[sarahb01]

I highly recommend getting the CD as well, pre-ordering it. We did that for our honeymoon, and we got some really great shots that we now have framed. While not all the shots are the best, we had well over 500 shots (keep in mind we were there for 2 weeks) and a lot were really great. I would highly recommend just going to as many photopass locations as you can to up your chances of getting usable pictures.

In my head I kind of see it like a treasure hunt. Running around trying to get as many pictures taken as fast as we can. Of course I am not really going to do this....well...

Anyway, all I am really looking for is one useable shot from each park for my STDs. I have never really wanted to spend the money on formal engagement pictures, especially the ones to get inside the parks.

I will for sure be buying the disc beforehand. Should I buy it online, or just buy it in the parks the first day we get there? Can I buy it, like say, 2 weeks before we leave online? Or is there a certain amount of time that I can't buy it before?

 

[elfbo]

Ditto on the question about how late before your arrival can you order the CD. Im debating on it. Oooh, or can you order it for the special price once you arrive before you get any pictures done? Their website is not super informative, lol.

 

[sarahb01]

Ditto on the question about how late before your arrival can you order the CD. Im debating on it. Oooh, or can you order it for the special price once you arrive before you get any pictures done? Their website is not super informative, lol.

I know that you can order it for the special price BEFORE you get any pictures taken in the parks. I was just hoping budget wise, I could order it in advance so I know that it was paid for.