What's the advantage of photopass?

[Sherry E]

When I went out there in September last year, we had a CM take one of us with the Photopass, and one with our camera, and the one on the photopass was horrible, but the one taken with my camera was great. I think its a hit or miss really...

The thing that pulls me in for the Photopass is that its only DH and I, so unless we want to ask someone every time, or have just one of us in each shot, its great to be able to utilize this. We didn't use it on our trip in 2006 and only have about 4 shots of both of us in them (asked random people) but this year we will use the photopass to add to our pics. I think its all just about you wanting to have lots of pictures of everyone in your party. Like everyone else said lol.

And it's great to have as a back-up because you can view all the pictures that have been taken by PP, and while they cannot add the special magical enhancements to photos on your own personal cameras, you can compare what they took on their PP cameras to what is on your camera, and if you find their set is better, you have something great. If you find yours are better, you haven't lost anything or spent any money. There is almost nothing worse - photographically speaking - than looking at a picture on your camera and thinking it looks good and then getting it uploaded only to find it looks crappy at home. Some of the PP photographers may be better or worse than others, and more skillful than others, but they have very good equipment to work with, so that is not the problem. You are right - the key is to just get as many pictures taken as possible, so you are guaranteed to get some gems in the whole batch!

 

[RuthieT]

Also, if you are concerned about the cost, do a photopass share. It worked out great for us and for a copy it cost us $15. We got to view all our pictures taken and add the enhancements to the pictures. We will for sure be doing this again for all our future trips.

 

[Bugdozer]

Can more than one person have the same card? So that several family members can get photos on the same Photopass?

Thanks.

Hi,

When you get home you take all your photopass cards and enter them into your account. All photos associated with a card will show up. If we sent the boys off alone they can use their own card and i just added it to the ones i had or I can give them one that i had been using for pictures. It is a great system. Saves time not having to look at them in park and the borders are such a great bonus to be able to add once home.

Bug

 

[Mybananas]

This sounds so cool! I'm definitely going to try out photopass when we go there. This will be my first time using pp.

I noticed some people have pictures of them holding tinkerbell in their hand. Is that something the photographers do? Or is that editing at home? If the photographers do the thinkerbell-in-hand trick, do you need to ask them for it or will they tell you about it?

 

[Dinder1]

Last time we went, I guess I didn't really understand the process... We only had a few pics taken, and I assumed that you had to pay per picture so I didn't even bother. Next trip, I'll actually have shots of the whole family ...this is why I love the DISboards.

 

[Dizneydaz]

This sounds so cool! I'm definitely going to try out photopass when we go there. This will be my first time using pp.

I noticed some people have pictures of them holding tinkerbell in their hand. Is that something the photographers do? Or is that editing at home? If the photographers do the thinkerbell-in-hand trick, do you need to ask them for it or will they tell you about it?

Tink is just one of the "Magical" enhancements the photographers can do. The photog is the one that sets it up when he/she shoots it. Ask every photog you see if they have any "Magical" shots. Some will tell you, others you need to ask.

They can add in:
Tink
Hook (only at DL)
Stitch (only at DCA-several options)
Soarin' (only at DCA)
Darth (only at DL)
Mickey seated (both parks)
Minnie seated (both parks)
Hitchhiking Ghosts (only at DL-sporadic times)

I think that's all?

 

[toni1227]

It is really worth paying the $7.00 for shipping to leisurely edit your pictures to your heart's content, in the comfort of your own home, on the PP site. You can edit for two hours, then edit again at your convenience in a week. You can experiment with different borders and effects, black and white, zooming in, cropping; you can do many variations of the same photo (like let's say you want to send the same exact Stitch-in-the-ground picture to every member of your family but want a different border or character enhancement on each one - you can save multiple copies). And it costs $59.95 plus $7.00 for U.S. shipping - no tax. It is a really good deal - moreso if you take LOTS of pictures. But now you know so next time you will be prepared and armed with lots of PhotoPass knowledge!!

Thanks!
This is what I figured but I was in the photo store and he talked me out of doing it online and I did not remember all what these boards said to do at the time. He also told me it would cost $20 extra do add stuff so I figured okay the pics were not all that great that we got, and there were not that many and the extra $20 was not worth it.
We were in a hurry to get back to the hotel...like major hurry and did not have enough time to make good decisions. Darn it. And we had the photopass people take pics with our cameras as well and they were JUST as good (if not better honestly).

 

[toni1227]

As PP have said, it's one way to make sure you all get in the picture. I too am the picture taker in my family and never seem to be in the shots. And yes, you can have the PP photog. take pictures of your family with your own camera. Many times they will offer to do so without being asked. I will say that the picture they take with their camera almost always comes out better. They take at least 3 shots, and they zoom in. With your camera you'll usually only get one, and it's usually not zoomed in.

Twice now I have been able to combined WDW and DLR on one CD order. Last year I ended up with 2180 pictures (after edits) of which 2030 were of my family (and friends) alone. 150 more were for 2 other families who shared my CD at WDW (I had met them the year before).

Right now when we go to DLR we aren't doing the PP CD and I miss it! I enjoy talking to the PP photogs. It's fun to act silly. And the pictures are, for the most part, wonderful. If you have kids, they are even more special. Since we've done them so often, now it's fun if we can come up with a new pose. Here's one of our most recent ones. Our fav. PP photog took this in Jan. He said he'd been thinking about it and wondered if Disney would let it go thru-they did and I think it's pretty funny!

When we go to WDW they also take PP pictures in the 2 waterparks. The photogs stand right in the water to get some great shots. Even when the giant wave is approaching. You can't get those shots yourself unless you have a very expensive, waterproof SLR. Last year my waterproof case (for disposable cameras) leaked so I wasn't able to take any of my own water shots.

This one is of my DD9 and her best friend who we ran into at BB. We knew they were visiting WDW but didn't make arrangements to meet up yet. The photog that day was great taking pix of the 2 of them. This was a special shot she had just taken once before-See how you can see the water slide in the center of the tube?


$67 isn't change ($59.95 plus $7 shipping) but it's a small price to pay (to me) for the memories. For about the same price you'll pay to get about 5 5x7 prints in the park, you can get all of them and print as many as you want. I get mine done at Sam's Club.

Great pics! Thanks!

 

[Sherry E]

Thanks!
This is what I figured but I was in the photo store and he talked me out of doing it online and I did not remember all what these boards said to do at the time. He also told me it would cost $20 extra do add stuff so I figured okay the pics were not all that great that we got, and there were not that many and the extra $20 was not worth it.
We were in a hurry to get back to the hotel...like major hurry and did not have enough time to make good decisions. Darn it. And we had the photopass people take pics with our cameras as well and they were JUST as good (if not better honestly).

I guess the only advantage of people going into the photo stores in DL or DCA is maybe if you need to get your pictures ASAP! Like maybe if you need a copy of something right away, you'd do that. Otherwise, I have assumed that the only reason people went in there to buy anything was because they eiether didn't know any better or maybe because, as you said, the CM talked them out of getting the CD (because those sneaky CM's know they will make extra $$$ off you if you buy onsite, BUT you don't get the benefit of ALL the editing and enhancing possibilities). People do also go in to view their stuff to see if everything is there and not missing, but many of us have gotten home and viewed the pictures online, and if we realized something was missing, we simply e-mailed PhotoPass with all the details, they found the pictures in question and put them in our PP account.

Yes, sometimes the pictures they take with our own cameras are better (not usually, though), but normally that is the fault of the photographer and his/her lack of skill. Some of them - like the one Dizneydaz likes at DLR - are REALLY exceptionally good, and they take time to make sure to get your shots right, and some of them are not great or they are rushed and hurrying you along. But with their Nikon cameras, they have the potential to take really excellent shots, so it all boils down to their skill and expertise, I suppose! If only there was a way they could take pictures with OUR cameras and add in the Disney enhancements and effect.....but then that would defeat the purpose of buying the CD, I guess. I don't like to tell them up front that I want pictures with my own camera, because they then may be careless in the quality of the pictures they take (because they want me to buy the CD or the single prints).

Overall, I think PhotoPass is a really worthwhile endeavor.

 

[KelliLee702]

Just wondering where I should pick a few when we first get there and hand them out to the family so everyone has one?

Thanks~

 

[Dizneydaz]

Just wondering where I should pick a few when we first get there and hand them out to the family so everyone has one?

Thanks~

You can get a PP card from any PP photographer. So, if you are entering DL first, stop and have your picture taken in front of the Mickey and balloons landscaping. You'll get a card from that photog. (I'm sure you can get several.) Make sure to take a picture of the back of the card (with the numbers) in case you lose the card. Use your cel phone or camera. If it gets lost PP may be able to find your photos, but if you have the number(s) saved, you'll be safe. I can't tell you how many cards I see laying on the ground. Also, a lot of times I put my name and number on the card with a Sharpie. Just in case. It's also easy to make sure you get your card back instead of someone elses.

Recently, while entering DL, CMs were handing out PP cards to guests as they walked by. This was in front of the AP center.

 

[Sherry E]

Just wondering where I should pick a few when we first get there and hand them out to the family so everyone has one?

Thanks~

Or, in addition to what Dizneydaz said, you can also get them at any of the 3 DLR hotels. They had them sitting right up on the front desk when we checked in last year at PPH.

In addition to Dizneydaz's suggestions about copying or taking a photo of the back of your card so you have the code in case the card gets lost, as well as marking the back of your card in some way (like with initials) to be sure you get the right card handed back to you after photos are taken, remember that each person in your party can get and use their own card if you all split up, but if you want the pictures from everybody's cards are on the same account, then make sure to collect all the cards or code numbers from the cards at the end of the trip so you can create one big account showing all photos. Otherwise, if they go onto the PP website and create an account using their own PP card, they will have to pay for a separate CD and it won't have anything to do with the account you created!