Truly, one of the greatest things about being a Disney photographer is the families I get to meet and the memories I get to capture while they're enjoying their day at the park. The documentary sessions really bring out ALL the personality of that time! There's excitement, anticipation, sheer joy and of course...exhaustion. It's a long day :) But one that families treasure forever!
Here's my top tips for hiring a Disney photographer for your next Disney vacation!
Ideally, your Disney photographer should have a Disney World annual pass
This is a HUGE help as this pretty much insures that you won't incur any added fees when it comes to your session. And although Disney World annual passes are amazing, Disney has recently changed their annual passes which affected some blackout dates. So be sure to check with your photographer prior to make sure they don't have that date blocked out.
Embrace the crazy and unexpected
Sometimes during family vacations, people's personalities really shine through...especially those kiddies. Enjoy it because they're only that age once.
Plan your session for the morning and don't think your Disney photographer is crazy because they're lookin' everywhere for shade
My personal preference is holding Disney sessions in the morning. Everyone's kind of refreshed and haven't hit that "beyond exhausted" mark quite yet. Even though the parks do open around 9ish the sun is rather high at that time so your Disney photographer should be peeping out all the shady locations to prevent squinty eyes and harsh light.
Discuss with your photographer the locations within the park you'd like to photograph in
Unless you have a rocket jet pack strapped to your back, this chat should 100% happen because those Disney parks are BIG! Mapping out a plan with your Disney photographer makes the best use of your time together. If you opt for the documentary sessions, you have a lot more time to get it all in!
Stop and enjoy a parade
Family pictures are hard, no doubt. But Disney World has a wonderful way of making them a little easier by throwing in a parade here and there. Stop and watch it! Enjoy your time! More than likely your Disney photographer will just keep shootin' away and getting some great candids!
Expect other people to be in the image
As much as I would LOVE to make every single image free from other people, sometimes it's just not possible and sometimes it actually takes away from the story of the day. Certainly, there are times when the goal is zero outsiders and it's achievable...but often times, not for every image.
Stop for all of the Princesses, Heroes and Villans
These make for some of the best memories of your trip to Disney World. The Princesses, Heroes and Villans do an amazing job of giving every child and adult a moment of two of individualized attention and it makes for some great memories.