What Do Your Photos Look Like (If You Used Disney Fine Art Photography)

[TiffinyKaye]

Hi everyone!

My fiance should know within the next three days if we can get the venues we want for our Disney Fairytale Wedding...but we are still SERIOUSLY going back and forth on photography. We figured out a way to get everything we want photography wise without going seriously over-budget by using Regina Hyman...but then I can't book my photo sessions with Disney Fine Art Photography until 45 days before if I used an outside photographer. That alone should be enough to tell me to use Disney's photography services...but some of the MK photo shoots I've seen aren't very convincing. If I heard more stories about Disney's Fine Art Photography looking JUST like it does on their website or on the Ever After blog...I'd be all over it.

Does anyone have any REAL examples of their actual wedding photos taken by Disney Fine Art Photography? What's the ratio of good photos to bad? Were you ultimately happy with your service and the finished product?

Thanks everyone!

Tiffiny

 

[alyaki]

Hi Tiffiny,
Have you checked out the LittleKittyMarie's planning journal, Wishes in Casablanca? I believe she used Cricket and a 2nd photographer from DFAP for all of her wedding photography. Cricket does some beautiful work.

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2801466

-Alyaki

 

[TiffinyKaye]

Hi Tiffiny,
Have you checked out the LittleKittyMarie's planning journal, Wishes in Casablanca? I believe she used Cricket and a 2nd photographer from DFAP for all of her wedding photography. Cricket does some beautiful work.

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2801466

-Alyaki

Hi! Thanks Alyaki. I did look at the thread from earlier...but apparently missed a lot of the pictures (because they're back on page 28). They are pretty! I'm going to have to talk to the DF tonight to see what he thinks.

Crap! Now I'm going to have to deal with confrontation. I've been in contact with Regina Hyman too...and I LOVE her photography. I LOVE Cricket though too with DF. So, I guess the real question is...when you request a specific photographer--what is the likelihood that you'll get them?

I just hate telling people no. Plus, Regina gives you the image disc--whereas Disney charges you up the whazoo for it, and it feels like you never get control over your photos. But then Disney goes and holds you hostage over the MK session. Plus, Disney charges you for EVERYTHING (like parent books), while Regina has a package that includes them that is only slightly more expensive than Disney's Romance package--AND you get more hours with her. So many variables...

Another question--does anyone know how flexible portrait session availability is? My DF and I will only be able to go to Disney World for one week in September to do our planning session, and were planning on doing the portrait sessions then too at both Epcot and MK. I wanted to go through Disney so that I could book those a year out...but if we go Regina, then I can only book them 45 days. I am afraid that if I'm booking at a 45-day window instead of a 12-month window (or 11...however long it takes us to sign the contract), we won't be able to get our session. And not only that--but I don't want ANYONE in Disney photography to take my pictures other than Cricket.

Decisions, decisions...

Tiffiny

 

[lurkyloo]

I would not let the jump on booking an MK session be the determining factor in selecting a wedding photographer. Rarely do you hear of a couple not getting the MK session date they want due to it being booked by another couple. Usually if they can't get what they want, it's due to the weeks or months-long blackouts imposed by the parks (usually for putting up and taking down holiday decor but sometimes because of New Fantasyland construction).

 

[TiffinyKaye]

I would not let the jump on booking an MK session be the determining factor in selecting a wedding photographer. Rarely do you hear of a couple not getting the MK session date they want due to it being booked by another couple. Usually if they can't get what they want, it's due to the weeks or months-long blackouts imposed by the parks (usually for putting up and taking down holiday decor but sometimes because of New Fantasyland construction).

I really hope you're right, Carrie--because that's seriously one of my biggest fears. There's already this pit in my stomach about paying them the $2000 for the MK/Epcot shoots...but then to think that we might NOT be able to get them because we won't be able to get the dates of the shoots to coincide with our travel arrangements, or even the outdoor lighting...it scares the crap out of me.

Say they CAN'T accommodate our September time frame...if that's the case, how long do you have to pull out of something like that? If you get to the end of your wedding and give you a final bill, do you still have the ability to say, "Kay--this obviously didn't work out, so we're just not going to do it anymore?"

I don't want to make my photography choice based on the MK shoot...I just know that of all the things that are motivating us to do the Disney wedding in the first place, the MK and Epcot shoot are two of the biggest, followed closely by having Mickey Mouse and Minnie there. I am just super fearful that I won't be able to get that, and it'll fee sad.

Do you think they only do a good job on the MK shoots if you're using them for your wedding photography too? I've heard a lot of horror stories from people who had JUST MK shoots with Disney and separate photographers...but not a whole lot of upset people who have had MK doing both. Maybe they realize that they're more on the hook if you're giving them that much money?

I really should stop being so adversarial about Disney's motives....

Tiffiny

 

[lurkyloo]

I really hope you're right, Carrie--because that's seriously one of my biggest fears. There's already this pit in my stomach about paying them the $2000 for the MK/Epcot shoots...but then to think that we might NOT be able to get them because we won't be able to get the dates of the shoots to coincide with our travel arrangements, or even the outdoor lighting...it scares the crap out of me.

Say they CAN'T accommodate our September time frame...if that's the case, how long do you have to pull out of something like that? If you get to the end of your wedding and give you a final bill, do you still have the ability to say, "Kay--this obviously didn't work out, so we're just not going to do it anymore?"

They should be able to tell you well in advance if your date isn't available due to restrictions imposed by the MK - that you can find out before 45 days out. And the photo shoot is only on your wedding bill if you do it around the time of your wedding. Otherwise, you just pay for it when you do it. So there's no way you'd have to pay for it upfront and then potentially not be able to do it.

Do you think they only do a good job on the MK shoots if you're using them for your wedding photography too? I've heard a lot of horror stories from people who had JUST MK shoots with Disney and separate photographers...but not a whole lot of upset people who have had MK doing both. Maybe they realize that they're more on the hook if you're giving them that much money?

Another way to look at it is that people who are OK with having Disney shoot their weddings would naturally be more OK with the way their MK photos look than people who want a different style than Disney's for their wedding photos.

 

[TiffinyKaye]

Did you find scheduling your session difficult or inflexible, Carrie? Yours may have been easier (because it was in February, right?). We are looking at early-mid September...which is right on the cusp of having a "difficult time" to do it in. We're thinking we'll be there September 6th-13th of 2014....which I selected because we're still early enough in September to where hopefully the sun will be out during the session (or just rising), AND hopefully early enough to miss the scramble to decorate for Halloween. I think the Halloween stuff comes out like the 3rd week of September--so hopefully we just miss it. Because it's such a narrow window though...that's what scares me.

On the upside--I definitely do see a difference in quality when I look at pictures shot by Disney. The ones on their blog are pretty amazing...but that's on the blog. I found another wedding website that I"m sure other brides have:

http://magicaldayweddings.com/

I found it a while ago, but for some reason, was too ditzy to think about the fact that you can SEARCH the website for different photographers. There ARE some great examples of Disney Fine Art Photography's work...but it's still not as super awesome as, say, the stuff that ultimately ends up on Disney's blog or the website.

For any bride out there who wants to see the work of brides and grooms that have submitted their stuff...not just the websites of the photographers...it's a great resource.

And, of course, I know you know about it, Carrie--because you're on there! (Can I just say how stunning your photos absolutely are?!--seriously, every time I look at them)

Okay...enough for now. I decided today that I AM admittedly crazy. That said--I think it says something that I can admit it. It's only when you can't admit the crazy that it becomes super dangerous...


Tiffiny

 

[asunnysideup]

The thing with Disney photography is not being able to CHOOSE your photographer. You can request one - and some of them are GREAT - but you can end up with a not-so-great one that you didn't want. It's really luck of the draw.

For my fiance and I, photography was important (and expensive) enough that we wanted to KNOW who we were getting. And you have to pay extra for hi-res images through Disney - most outside photographers just include hi res in their package.

It's all up to what you want though!

 

[TiffinyKaye]

The thing with Disney photography is not being able to CHOOSE your photographer. You can request one - and some of them are GREAT - but you can end up with a not-so-great one that you didn't want. It's really luck of the draw.

For my fiance and I, photography was important (and expensive) enough that we wanted to KNOW who we were getting. And you have to pay extra for hi-res images through Disney - most outside photographers just include hi res in their package.

It's all up to what you want though!

Yeah, ASunnySideUp...we're kind of leaning the direction of more control. And I just found out from DF that the thing I LOVE about Disney photography is not what he loves. I love the "softness" of their style...I think it's all fairy-taley...and I love it. DF doesn't though. Regina used to photograph for Disney though...so I would guess that she could do BOTH. So, I'll just ask for both.

Okay everyone...I'm going to be super, duper antsy FOREVER up to the 45-day mark...but I think I'll go Regina.

Thanks for the support, community! I appreciate that you put up with me!

Tiffiny

 

[alyaki]

Yeah, ASunnySideUp...we're kind of leaning the direction of more control. And I just found out from DF that the thing I LOVE about Disney photography is not what he loves. I love the "softness" of their style...I think it's all fairy-taley...and I love it. DF doesn't though. Regina used to photograph for Disney though...so I would guess that she could do BOTH. So, I'll just ask for both.

Okay everyone...I'm going to be super, duper antsy FOREVER up to the 45-day mark...but I think I'll go Regina.

Thanks for the support, community! I appreciate that you put up with me!

Tiffiny

Regina is really awesome to work with.

 

[TiffinyKaye]

Regina is really awesome to work with.

Have you worked with her, Alyaki? We've only talked over email, but she seems super nice!

 

[Bewitch324]

Tiffini--I hear what you are saying about your concern with photography. Ultimately, I think the bigger risk is using Disney for all your photography rather than the 45 day window issue with the portrait session. Because you can't guarantee your photographer and Disney's overall prices for photography are SIGNIFICANTLY higher than many of the favorite outside photographers around here, I think you'll be much happier and much less stressed about your wedding pictures if you go with Regina for your main wedding photographer....

We decided to book outside photographers for our wedding in November 2014 (David and Vicki Arndt) and we're super excited about working with them...and yes, I'm worried about the 45 day window for booking the portrait session, plus worrying about the photographer we'll get, plus worrying that sometimes in November there are blackout dates on the MK shoots...but ultimately, I decided that having great photos from the wedding day without having to stress about WHO would be taking those pictures and whether they would be good quality was just so much more important. Hopefully the MK portrait shoot will work out for us, if so, I'll be thrilled, but if not, maybe we'll be able to come back and do it later or maybe we won't. Either way, I know 100% we'll have great photos of our special day and they're not costing an arm and a leg, either!

Brooke

 

[1EvilQueenfan]

We are having our wedding on the Disney Dream and are also doing the MK/Epcot photo shoot. What I did was give a list of requested Photographers and a list of photographers that I did NOT want, one being Carrie's photographer. Our session is next month and I will be sending a confirmation email about a week or so prior. Something to think about

Jodi

 

[lurkyloo]

Did you find scheduling your session difficult or inflexible, Carrie? Yours may have been easier (because it was in February, right?).

Yeah, we were in early February and they were offering 2 sessions a day. Sometimes they only offer one.

On the upside--I definitely do see a difference in quality when I look at pictures shot by Disney. ... There ARE some great examples of Disney Fine Art Photography's work...but it's still not as super awesome as, say, the stuff that ultimately ends up on Disney's blog or the website.

That's because they hire pro freelancers to shoot the stuff for the main DFTW website. The only time you see Disney Fine Art Photography's work is on DFAP's own site and any Florida real weddings published on DFTW's official blog.

 

[TiffinyKaye]

Are you certain about that, Carrie? Some of the pictures on the website, I've been able to confirm were taken by a couple of specific people. For example...those awesome castle pictures are generally taken by Cricket.

I think if I were go to Disney, it'd be Cricket all the way. Knowing that I can't guarantee her though...then I think I will go with someone I can guarantee. Regina!!!

I wish we could do Roots. For all my spouting off of about being a proud capitalist and just spending everything possible...they were really out of my budget. Their stuff is gorgeous though. GORGEOUS.

Tiffiny

 

[nydisneygirl1975]

Tiffany
I've worked with Regina three times. Once for our wedding, a family shoot and just last week an anniversary shoot. PM me if you want to chat.

 

[TiffinyKaye]

Will do, and thanks so much for helping!

Tiffiny

 

[sanapunk]

We're thinking we'll be there September 6th-13th of 2014....which I selected because we're still early enough in September to where hopefully the sun will be out during the session (or just rising), AND hopefully early enough to miss the scramble to decorate for Halloween. I think the Halloween stuff comes out like the 3rd week of September--so hopefully we just miss it. Because it's such a narrow window though...that's what scares me.

Halloween decor has started going up as early as the last week of August for the past 2-3 years