WDW Daily News

It’s pretty much a given that you’re going to be taking a ton of photos on your Disney vacation, so why not make them interesting? I think that the parks are the perfect place to experiment with new photography techniques and styles because there’s so many different things to see and scenarios to capture. Within just a few hours, you can see people, animals, scenery, dark rides, a fireworks show, and more, which makes for an interesting challenge for photographers. Here are just a few helpful hints for capturing some Disney photos that make for great keepsakes.

1. Find an interesting angle. Not every picture has to be taken from your eye level. For an unusual shot, try getting close to the ground and shooting upwards or holding your camera above your head to snap a photo. You might get some funny looks, but sometimes the shot is worth it! Use natural surroundings like trees or bushes to frame your shot, or include interesting objects like balloons in the frame.

2. Get to know your camera. Whether you’re using a point-and-shoot, a DSLR, or just your cell phone, it’s important to know what features and capabilities your camera has. Figure out where you turn off the flash, how to set the exposure, change the aperture, ISO, and shutter speed, and other necessary settings. Play around with the settings at home and practice taking pictures of your pets, kids, or stationary objects. At a last resort, read your camera’s manual, which is a bore but incredibly informative.

3. Always have your camera ready. Disney vacations are usually fast-paced and spontaneous. Something is always going on, and a moment can be over in the blink of an eye. You never know when something magical is going to happen, so it’s important to be ready to capture it. Make sure you know exactly where the power button is so you can turn it on quickly and snap away!

4. Don’t use flash on dark rides. This is one of my biggest Disney pet peeves. We all hear the warnings at the beginning of dark rides, but some people believe themselves to be exempt from the no-flash rule and decide to use it anyway. Flash photography can be distracting and takes away from the magic of dark rides. Believe me, nothing is worse than being stuck around someone who continually uses the flash on a dark ride. Once, someone in my boat on Pirates of the Caribbean even used the flashlight on their phone! Do everyone around you a favor; don’t be that person.

5. Capture the candid moments. Not every photo of your family has to be posed. Try to snap a shot of someone’s expression while on an attraction like the Astro Orbiter or while watching the nighttime fireworks. Get a picture of your child hugging their favorite character, eating their first Mickey bar, or waving to their favorite princess in the parade. Most of the time, these kinds of pictures tell a better story than “Say cheese!” shots, and they make for better memories.

6. Don’t forget to put the camera down. Although getting lots of good pictures is important, don’t forget to live in the moment. One of the best parts of a Disney vacation is spending quality time with your family, and you don’t want to miss out on that because your face is behind the viewfinder the whole time. Try to remember that it’s more important to have memories that go with each photograph than just have some neat shots with no sentimental meaning.

As a repeat Walt Disney World visitor, I frequently get asked, “Why go there again? Don’t you get bored?” Any Disney Parks fan knows that the answer to this question is always a definitive NO! I am always looking for new experiences or adventures to make each visit more exciting than the last. I have always loved taking photos at Walt Disney World (I sometimes wonder just how many shots I have taken of Cinderella Castle) but always went for the standard “Kodak Spot” touristy photos. In the past year, however, I found that shooting Walt Disney World in a more comprehensive way has brought a whole new level of enjoyment and appreciation for the parks. Finding that perfectly unique shot or unusual angle has become my new challenge. Looking at the World through the eye of my camera has helped me focus on the incredible detail that the imagineers have so lovingly placed there for us to find.

My favorite event to photograph is definitely the Festival of Fantasy Parade at Magic Kingdom Park. This parade is truly an incredible display of vibrant color, imagineering brilliance, and first rate showmanship and is my favorite Walt Disney World parade to date by far. The amazing colors and abundance of cast member performers make this parade the perfect opportunity for some outstanding pictures. The costuming is a work of art itself. Although I love to shoot the floats (especially the Brave and Tangled floats which are incredible), my favorite photos are up-close shots of the ground performers in their magnificent costumes.

I must admit I am truly an amateur photographer. At first, I was using my Iphone 5 to photograph the parade (I greatly prefer the Camera+ app to the built in camera) and got some really great photos this way. However, I wanted to take the quality of my Walt Disney World photos a little farther, so I invested in my first DSLR camera. My Nikon D3200 isn’t a first-rate camera, but for this relative beginner it is the perfect way to elevate my photographs without being overly complicated. I have found that the only downside to using this particular DSLR is that it is much more difficult to post my photos quickly to social media. Therefore, I have been trying recently to mix it up… taking some photos with each camera.

I love this parade so much that I shoot it twice- during the same parade! I have found that my preferred first spot for shooting is in Frontierland, somewhere on the Country Bear Jamboree side of the road which gives a great view as the parade heads towards me. As the last float passes, I grab my stuff and head through the passageway to Adventureland. I walk quickly (ok… I might run a bit..) out of Adventureland and towards Main Street, U.S.A. I typically duck into the first shop on the right as I hit Main Street, U.S.A. and head through each shop down the length of the street until I exit the Emporium at Town Square. I head to the right and typically can find a decent spot near the Car Barn. I typically make it with plenty of time. Now I can shoot the whole show all over again, but this time with different angles and backgrounds!

My new found love of photography has definitely enhanced my recent trips to Walt Disney World. I love finding new details to shoot and the editing time needed when I get home just seems to extend my vacation- I get to live it all over again! I have also enjoyed becoming more involved in social media, especially Instagram. Following awesome Disney Instragram accounts and posting my own photos to my Instagram account (@disneyluv4life) has become a new pastime and a great way of staying connected to Walt Disney World when I can’t physically be there. Photography has become the perfect way for me to add a new dimension to my Walt Disney World travel, and has allowed me to see my favorite place in an entirely new light!