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5 Tips For Photographing Your Next Disney Vacation

Editor’s note:  Join the WDW Radio Blog in welcoming guest writer, Beryl Young, as she shares tips, notes and personal stories about capturing photos on your Walt Disney World vacation.


Planning a Disney trip for your family is a special occasion and and whether this is your family’s 1st or 101st trip to the parks you’re likely thinking about photographing your next Disney vacation so you can preserve the Disney magic for years to come.

As a mom who has dedicated her life and business to helping parents creatively and beautifully preserve memories, one of the most frequent requests I get is for tips on shooting in Walt Disney World.

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Over the next few months I’ll be sharing some of my best advice from shooting tips, to favorite locations, to what camera to bring, to ways of creatively editing your Disney photos to make them shine.

Today we begin with basic photo tips that will have you getting more intentional about beautifully documenting your trip.

Before my tips however, I should mention that the Disney PhotoPass service is amazing. I highly recommend investing in the service if you can swing it. Disney will take your photos at character spots and in popular locations around the park. Plus, you’ll be able to download and print all the photos when you return home

Even still, there will be other moments, locations, and memories that you’ll want to capture on your own during your stay too.

5 Tips For Photographing Your Next Disney Vacation

Here are 5 of my favorite tips for photographing your next Disney vacation no matter what kind of camera you’re bringing along with you so you can make the most of preserving your magical memories:

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1. Make a Plan

I like to do a bit of research before my trip to decide the types of photos that are my non-negotiables. Things like a quintessential Disney photo in front of Cinderella Castle, a picture with a Monorail whizzing by in the background, or photos of my kiddo with Mickey, Minnie, Goofy or Donald. I also try to think a bit about our park plan for the day, the light in the parks, and the mood of my family, so I can mentally think through timing of each of those photos during our day. I also communicate with my family the most important photos I’ll need them to pose for so they know they won’t have to stop for pictures all day long.

DSC_2776_edit2. Tell A Story

Disney photos can involve a lot of posing with characters or standing in front of landmarks to smile and ‘say cheese’ which can make a final vacation album a bit boring. Think through how you can be a ‘journalist’ and naturally document your vacation. Are there rides, hidden Mickey’s, and Cast Members you can photograph to add to the overall story of your trip? Do your kids stop to eat a Mickey’s Premium Ice Cream Bar, dance with a favorite character, or get fairy dusted in Magic Kingdom? How can you document the unscripted magic of your days and tell your story better?

3. Shoot With Intention

Remind yourself that this trip is about spending quality time with your family and Disney magic will help hold the memories in your heart, photos or not. It’s easy to get caught up in wanting the perfect photo at every popular location or with favorite characters. But sometimes simply slipping the camera away and enjoying your family can be just as rewarding as the pictures, if not more so.

4. Look For Light

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Most of my Disney photos occur either first thing in the morning when we arrive at the parks or later in the day as the sun is beginning to set because that’s when the light is best for photos. In the middle of the day the sun is hot, harsh, and bright. Plus we’re usually in line for rides and enjoying the parks during that time. If well lit photos is important to you, try to plan the most important photos for when light will be lower in the sky (early or late in the day). For the others you can either look for a shaded area to stop and shoot or allow a snapshot to be perfectly ‘ok’.

DSC_2893_edit5. Location, Location, Location

The most important thing about your Disney photos is to capture the essence and magic of Disney. But don’t underestimate the power of unexpected photo locations during your stay. Some of my favorite candid Disney photos have happened back at our resort hotel, during our favorite dining reservations, or outside the parks at Disney Springs. So go into your trip with a basic plan of what you may want to capture, but stay open to unexpected photo spots as well!

Most importantly remember that your trip is all about making memories with your family and let the photos unfold from there.

(Photos from the author’s personal collection.)

 

14089272_10100935819936217_1946168055186874775_nBeryl Young is the founder of Recapture Self a community for moms who are ready to reclaim their identity beyond parent – using creativity as a guide. Disney is her happy place and she admits to using planning her next Disney trip as a form of self-care. If you would like to learn more about taking care of you, snapping great photos, or register for a FREE photo class, visit her site here.

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About Lou Mongello

Lou Mongello is a former attorney who left the practice to pursue his passion, and is now a recognized Disney expert, author, speaker, and host of WDW Radio. Learn more…

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