Engagement Session Photographer

One of the main reasons to do an engagement session is to get more familiar with your wedding photographer in advance of the big day. Start there and work backwards.

@StPaulGal you recommend finding the photographer first? Our only problem is that we live 3 hours from the parks!

I absolutely recommend using your wedding day photographer for your engagement session. Think of it as a dry run.

Obviously it up to you, if having them taken right away at this specific location is important to you then go for it.

ETA: Congratulations on your engagement!

I love the idea of using your wedding photographer as your first choice. 2nd choice would be to contact the park you want to be photographed in and hire a park photographer. They would know best lighting/backdrops without having to scout first.

Has anyone had a photographer willing to travel?

I would think the vast majority of photographers would be fine with an engagement shoot a reasonable driving distance away like that.

@Kathleen very true, thank you!!!

Here's my two cents (also totally jealous about the Disney Engagement - I wanted a Disney Wedding but that was the first thing vetoed by FI).

Do your true engagement shoot with your wedding photographer for all of the reasons mentioned above. Also, lots of photography packages include an engagement session.

As for Disney photos, buy a memory maker package for the Disney Park photographers - they are under $200 if you buy in advance and will give you access to digital downloads for an unlimited number of photos. Then, spend a weekend (or whatever your days off are) putting your AP to use and going around to the different spots (there are always photographers in front of the castle, leading up to Spaceship Earth and near Everest looking towards the Tree of Life) and meeting with different characters for cute engagement photos. Some may not be great, but usually i find the photo pass photographers do a really good job. My family are photo freaks, but rather than lug cameras at Disney we use the photo pass and get amazing shots year after year. They tend to know how to get the best shots of the obvious things. You can't get one to follow you, of course, but if you have an idea for a shot you can usually get somebody nearby to take it for you.

This could be a good, not super expensive option, for getting both fun Disney shots AND exposure to your wedding photographer.

The vendor tab should help. I'm sure there are so many photographers around the Orlando area you won't have any issues.

Nick & Lauren Photography! They are in Orlando and sooo talented! They also travel (even outside the country) for weddings They go all over FL. These are two of the photographs they took on my engagement session with them!

http://nickandlauren.photos/

@Swissms thank you! I'll look into it!

@Beryl C. Those photos are STUNNING! Thank you!!!

Disney won't allow this.. you'd have to go through their photography packages. They offer prepark opening sessions. Check out their wedding website and you'll find it.

Or just use memory maker, since you already have it if your APs!

My photographer is based out of FL, and I live in NYC. He did not charge us a fee for travel, but this is before he blew up. Also, he said he has family up here and travels up here often, so it wasn't an issue for him.

Since you're in FL, you could look into his portfolio to see if you like him. The name is Stanlo Photography.

Most photographers are willing (and LOVE) to travel. You might run into a travel fee, though. Using your wedding photographer is usually the best way to go, so you get to know their shooting style and get comfortable with them. Of course, you can use another photographer though.

So maybe this is a dumb question, so forgive me... but if you use an outside (non-Disney) photographer, and you want your pictures taken inside the parks - would your photographer have to buy a park ticket? Would they be asking you to cover that expense?

Another reason to go with mouse-approved photogs