Whether you are a photographer or not, it is a given fact that when you go on a trip to Disney World you are going to take photos of everything and anything. For those that only manage to make it to Orlando every couple of years like me, planning a photo taking strategy is not going to be the top of your to-do list with everything else you have to plan. However here are some tips for the average holiday goer that may save you from gringy, out of focus, dimly lit shots that hide away in a dusty folder on your computer.
Before you go
Have a browse on Instagram, Facebook photo groups & Flickr to get ideas for photo spots. Some people also add information regarding the camera they used, the lens, camera settings, location which cuts down on a lot of time during your trip.
Know your camera
Before you leave, make sure you have a basic understanding of your camera's functions. There is nothing worse than trying to get a great shot and getting frustrated because your camera isn't behaving the way you would like and then before you know if you have missed the shot. It is totally okay to read through your camera's manual to learn about the preset shooting modes. You'll be amazed to see what your camera can accomplish once you know what it can do. Don't just keep your camera on the auto setting, practice at home before you leave just by taking photos of the dog or candid shots of the family. Learn to take motion shots to prepare yourself for Parades and Disney characters and night shots to get some great photos of the fireworks. If you are planning on using a camera on your phone then there really isn't much to learn but smartphones do have limitations compared to a DSLR. Also please do not be one of those tourists that takes photos of the parade on an IPad, you will look silly and you will annoy people.
Setting up
Taking action shots whilst on a ride rarely come out perfect, but getting a good photo is a great way to capture happiness whilst at the parks. Trying to get your camera ready whilst on the ride means you are missing out on the attraction and could end up setting up incorrect settings in the dark. Take the time while you're in line to get your camera settings ready so you can get that perfect candid shot.
Get the details
Yes it's great to look at the bigger picture, but there is some real beauty in the smaller details. Try capturing the crowds, the wait times, lines, balloons. There is intricate details all over the parks, taking photos of these little moments help tell the story of your trip and would look amazing printed off and displayed in an album. The most basic Disney shot is landscape shots of Cinderella Castle, Spaceship Earth or the tree of life. In comparison, hardly anyone takes photos of the sword in the stone, lampposts throughout World Showcase or wall murals. These photos you might not think too much off at the time however they can really set you apart from other tourist photos out there.
Equipment
One of the most important things to remember is that it's not all about the gear. You can take a good photo using a DSLR, an IPhone camera even a disposable camera. You don't need a fancy, expensive camera to take a good photo, you can take beautiful photos using what you have got, all you need is a good eye. You don't need to invest in things like stabilizers when you have perfectly good arms to get some smooth footage. What I would recommend is bringing a backup battery as your camera battery will certainly not last forever and you'll kick yourself if it dies 3 hours into the day. Portable chargers are certainly handy for phones but not necessary for cameras as they are useless if your camera dies in the middle of an important moment. Bringing along extra memory cards is really important, you have no idea how quickly those can fill up and make sure to store them in a safe place as they can be easily damaged. I would recommend importing your photos to your computer at the end of everyday in case of anything getting damaged or lost, you don't want to get to the end of your holiday and discover all of your photos are corrupted. If you are serious about photography, you might spend years purchasing the perfect lenses & accessories and carry them with you everywhere, but this definitely isn't necessary if you are more of a casual photographer.
Take your time
This is probably the most basic tip but i'm still surprised at the amount of badly composed shots just because folk will be in a rush to go to the next ride and get a quick snapshot, my family is definitely guilty of this. Take your time and be patient, this may be tough to do on a holiday with limited time when you are trying to cram everything in but you will thank yourself for taking a second longer to wait for people to get out of the shot or finding the perfect angle.
Lighting
Lighting is one of the most important things to consider when taking photos. Florida isn't called the "Sunshine State" for nothing, it's always important to keep the sun behind you when taking photos, if you don't all of your foreground elements like faces will be silhouetted. Always try and take photos first things in the morning or sunset aka golden hour, you can get some really beautiful shots that will need minimal editing. The sun is way too harsh during the day for photos and you don't want to stress about getting the perfect shot when you are in blistering heat. Enjoy the time you have and only take photos during the optimum times. I don't recommend using flash for far off shots for example the castle during the fireworks or Fantasmic, flash is only good for relatively close shots and just wouldn't work on for long distance. For photos of food, try and sit by a window for the natural lighting and leave the flash. If you are stuck with bad lighting, try shooting from a different direction or a different area until you find a place where the lighting works for you. It would be a pain finding the perfect lighting for every shot, so if your subject is back-lit you can use the flash to fill in the lighting.
Think outside the box
It's pretty easy to slip into cliché photo mode, family photos in front of the castle, forced smiles while someone tries to get a photo of you eating. I'm not saying don't do it, it's kind of hard to avoid photos in front of the castle but don't let them be the majority of your holiday photos, leave that to the photopass photographers. The most interesting photos I have found are the candid shots, nothing beats a true reaction or a shot of someone trying to fit a whole turkey leg into their mouth. The walls in Disney parks are definitely some of the most popular spots for photos but try exploring different backgrounds. Try taking establishing shots, little details that build up to a bigger picture, don't get me wrong i'm sure your friends will love seeing 17 different shots of your mickey waffles but maybe try thinking outside of the box. I've found that little photos of ice cream carts and other little aspects, take me back to my vacation more than a standard photo of the Cinderella castle.
Get in the photo
I need to practice this myself, but don't forget to get in the photo! Try taking selfies or handing your camera to someone else. I can't tell you how many trips I have came back from and realized I had no photos of myself. You paid for this trip you deserve to be in the photos! I hate faking smiles and posing but even if you hand the camera to someone else and they get a candid shot of you, it's better than nothing. these are photos you will be looking back on in 10 years time thinking, where was I? If you don't like handing your camera off to a stranger, photopass photographers are always happy to use your own camera, or try taking a GorillaPod and apply a self timer.
Don't forget to take video
I'm slightly more obsessed about video more than photos at the moment, you can create home DVDs to watch for years to come. Hearing your family laugh, real time reactions it will add to the memories you are capturing. Try using video editing software like Premier Pro, IMovie or my favourite Final Cut Pro 10. These are easy to use for anyone not just professionals.
Photo Editing
For photo editing try to remember less is more, don't take it so far that it looks like a fake photo. What I would recommend is taking the photos in RAW format, this means you have the most flexibility with editing however I will warn you that the file sizes for RAW are huge! Try using applications like Adobe Lightroom, Photoshop or the Inlight app. If you are a fan of Instagram, the in app editor is also great.
Do's & Don'ts
Do make the most of Photopass Photographers
Don't force a photo
Do take multiple photos at a time
Don't compete with others for the same shot
Do take one lens that is universal
Don't stress about photos
Do get low when capturing characters
Most importantly, Enjoy your trip!
It's lovely to have photos to look back on from your trip of a lifetime but remember to enjoy the moment. Don't watch the parade from behind the camera, don't ruin Pirates of the Caribbean by using the flash on your camera, Just take it all in, laugh with friends and family, don't let your food go cold because you are trying to get the perfect lighting. Remember this is a holiday, don't treat it like a series of Instagram posts and just enjoy yourself!
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