A huge draw at any Disney park is the opportunity to meet characters, the movie and TV stars that appeal to multiple generations. Moms and dads delight in photographing their children with Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse while grandparents feel nostalgic about when they brought their family for the first time.
Then there are the solo travelers, like myself, who have photos with characters but sometimes would just take pictures of the characters themselves. We walk up beside the line and snap away during the nano second between visitors. When I want something more out of a character and the line isn’t too long and the sun isn’t making me melt, I wait. At the front of the line, a Cast Member will offer to take a photo of me with the character. I politely decline and turn to the character(s) and tell them we’re doing a quick photo shoot.
Alright boys. Work your magic.
Show me your serious side.
Work it. Work it.
Okay, now happy.
Yeah, now cool.
Thanks! You’re the best.
I never take more time than a family of 4 would take. My Canon EOS 30D is set to go as is the flash to brighten up gloomy days or shadows. There are words I never say to a character when photographing them even if it’s a fashion shoot. These do not exist on Disney property. I’ll let you decipher my code.
Next time I hit the parks, if an opportunity presents itself again, I’ll try out my point and shoot camera. If you use yours outdoors, set it for action/sports or better yet, continous shooting mode.
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I’m going to Disney in October and am looking forward to taking a lot of pictures. I never really thought about taking pictures just of the characters without me in the picture. I like the tip on using the flash. I shoot with a Nikon D3000 and rarely use the flash due to changing the white balance on the camera. I’ll have to try this tactic and just take pictures of the characters!
Lisa responds: Enjoy your celebrity photoshoot!