Would you hire a non Disney photographer?

[steph-in-ky]

Hi!

[sdwrdt]

My first thought was: "No way would I pay a day's worth of admission to Disney just to have my pictures taken by a professional photographer."

But, then again, we're not rich and don't live close enough to Disney to have annual passes, so that might be part of it.

But, I assume with your price that you're not providing your clients' admission to Disney World - they would be responsible for that. But what about your admission? You'd need quite a few shoots to pay for an annual park hopper (& More?)

Who would be responsible for transportation?

We just had my daughter's senior pictures done and it was $48 for 2 hours (with not all of that being actual shooting because of changing clothes, etc) at their studio and grounds.

Would you be charging $100 for so much time, including getting in to the parks, etc?

Also, I'm wondering if Disney would allow it. Wouldn't you be competing against a form of their revenue (getting people to buy the pictures from photopass photographers)?

I can honestly say that I wouldn't consider it unless we had annual passes. When we were thinking of staying in Florida during my duaghter's dance intensive, my senior wanted her senior pictures done at Disney. So it might be feasible.

[DipsyDoodles]

Originally Posted by steph-in-ky

Hi! My name is Stephanie and I'm an on location lifestyle photographer. I'm trying to decide if I should make the leap and follow my dream. I've had a love for Disney for most of my life and since my photography business began I've dreamed of taking photos of couples in love and families enjoying the Disney magic.

I don't want to be a photopass photographer. I want the freedom to do engagement sessions or family sessions at the resorts, the parks, dowtown, or wherever my clients want them. My question to you is would you hire a photographer to do a session for you at Disney? I would offer engagement, family, and proposal sessions. I would also offer to spend time with your family in the park if thats what you would prefer.

Just trying to get some input before I move 12 hours away to follow a dream. To get my business off the ground I would most likely charge $100 for the session and include a cd of all your images with print release.

Please no haters, I'm just trying to get peoples opinions on if this would be a viable business. Thank you in advance

Yes, I absolutely would!! Best of luck and good for you following a dream, not many people have the nerve to do it! Let me know when you are there

[steph-in-ky]

[ancestry]

I do think Disney can and would object to this. Disney has their own professional photographers that you can hire to do a resort photo shoot. This would be direct competition to them. Just as they don't allow people to get married in the parks without booking through Disney, they aren't going to permit you to be a professional photographer in their parks when you aren't working for them. Now if you do it on the down low they may not catch on at first but when they do catch on they will put a stop to it.

I would never up root my life and move away to establish a business like this until I had it in writing from Disney that they would permit me to do such a thing and I highly doubt you will ever get that written permission.

[steph-in-ky]

Originally Posted by sdwrdt

I assume with your price that you're not providing your clients' admission to Disney World - they would be responsible for that. But what about your admission? You'd need quite a few shoots to pay for an annual park hopper (& More?)

Who would be responsible for transportation?

We just had my daughter's senior pictures done and it was $48 for 2 hours (with not all of that being actual shooting because of changing clothes, etc) at their studio and grounds.

Would you be charging $100 for so much time, including getting in to the parks, etc?

Also, I'm wondering if Disney would allow it. Wouldn't you be competing against a form of their revenue (getting people to buy the pictures from photopass photographers)?

Yes the client would have to have their own admission if wanting their session to be inside one of the parks. If I were to move to Orlando I would have my own transportation and my own annual pass so that wouldn't be an issue for the client. $48 is a really good price for portraits, but does that include any prints or a cd? If so thats a great deal I will admit, lol.

I don't see how Disney could object because anyone can bring their camera into the parks and take photos. I doubt they go up to people and ask if they are professional or not. My clients would be people who wanted a more personal one on one photo session in various parts of the parks and resorts.

[lizabu]

I also think Disney would have a problem with this so you would have to be kind of low profile. I also think $100 is way to little money for what you're doing. I paid $250 for a wedding photographer for only 6 hours plus I fed her and her assistant and she didn't have to pay anything to be there and that was a huge bargain. Spending a whole day at Disney your time and skill is worth so much more than $100

[Cheshire Figment]

I have known some people who had their own "tour guide" business and would escort people in the parks. They had their own APs. Disney told them they could not do this for any compensation and if they were caught doing it they would be banned.

As others have said, you would be in direct competition for business with Disney on Disney property. It is not a good idea.

[HeatherLassell]

Originally Posted by lizabu

I paid $250 for a wedding photographer for only 6 hours plus I fed her and her assistant and she didn't have to pay anything to be there and that was a huge bargain.

Wow you ONLY paid $250 for a wedding photographer for 6 hours? Sounds like you scored an amazing deal. That's incredibly cheap.

[HeatherLassell]

Originally Posted by Cheshire Figment

As others have said, you would be in direct competition for business with Disney on Disney property. It is not a good idea.

Unfortunately I think they are correct about this. Remember Disney is monitored. They would catch on that you're in the parks with your camera and different people all the time and you're taking pictures. Maybe you should become a PhotoPass photographer (i know you said you don't want to) if you want to be able to be paid to shoot in the parks.

[MissMet]

I would & I am... and paying a lot more than $100!! So I say go for it!

I hired a couple who are photographers to take our engagement shots. They are giving us 4 hours plus night shots, between two parks, cd, online site & dvd and the cost is $1,000! For $600 I could have gotten 3 hours in one park & just the cd & online site. The cost also included their travel (gas) & their park tickets.

There were others that were much less but their shots were the best I found online.

Here's their pics... http://www.conceptphotographyblog.com/?p=2666

[steph-in-ky]

Originally Posted by MissMet

I would & I am... and paying a lot more than $100!! So I say go for it!

I hired a couple who are photographers to take our engagement shots. They are giving us 4 hours plus night shots, between two parks, cd, online site & dvd and the cost is $1,000! For $600 I could have gotten 3 hours in one park & just the cd & online site. The cost also included their travel (gas) & their park tickets.

There were others that were much less but their shots were the best I found online.

Here's their pics... http://www.conceptphotographyblog.com/?p=2666

Thank you so much! That is exactly what I'm talking about. You could never get photos like that from a photopass photographer. Not that some of them aren't capable of doing it, they just don't have the freedom to. They can't work with one couple for hours on end and spend the time with them needed to get great shots like these. I think you made a great choice and I'm sure you will love your photos. Remember to just relax and have fun with it!

[lizabu]

Originally Posted by HeatherLassell

Wow you ONLY paid $250 for a wedding photographer for 6 hours? Sounds like you scored an amazing deal. That's incredibly cheap.

I know. The photographer was just starting out and trying to build up her portfolio and offered to do it for so cheap if she could put the photos on her website. We were very lucky.

Originally Posted by MissMet

I would & I am... and paying a lot more than $100!! So I say go for it!

I hired a couple who are photographers to take our engagement shots. They are giving us 4 hours plus night shots, between two parks, cd, online site & dvd and the cost is $1,000! For $600 I could have gotten 3 hours in one park & just the cd & online site. The cost also included their travel (gas) & their park tickets.

There were others that were much less but their shots were the best I found online.

Here's their pics... http://www.conceptphotographyblog.com/?p=2666

What beautiful photos!

[MICKEY88]

Originally Posted by steph-in-ky

I don't see how Disney could object because anyone can bring their camera into the parks and take photos. I doubt they go up to people and ask if they are professional or not. My clients would be people who wanted a more personal one on one photo session in various parts of the parks and resorts.

they can and will object, they have been known to escort people from the parks or downtown disney when suspected of doing commercial/professional photography.

there is a big difference between allowing people to photograph their own personal memories, and allowing someone to profit from the disney image etc.

there are a handful of photographers that do this, but I'm willing to bet that they had to get permission from Disney first.. as others have stated, contact disney for the answer.

[uscgrl93]

I know a girl out in California that hires her own photographer to follow her family around Disneyland and take pictures. She always wants the whole family in all the pictures and doesn't want to be the one taking them and having to mess with a camera. Kind of like her own personal paparazzi! lol!