A trip to Disneyland is, for most of us, quite a special experience. And, whether you go alone, with friends, or as a family, you’ll always find something fun and exciting to do. Not to mention that you can meet actual Disney characters and take pictures with them!
And, speaking of photos, Disneyland is the perfect place for an entire photo shoot! After all, how often will you find yourself in the presence of true magic? Sadly, you’re not the only one to get this idea, so you’ll have to fight the crowds and hyperactive kids in order to get anything good.
Plus, all your pictures will be filled with random strangers instead of amazing locations and wonderful Disney attractions.
But don’t despair! With a few tricks only known by pro photographers, you can turn that frown upside down and make sure your photos will turn out perfect.
Do Bring the Right Camera
You don’t have to bring all your photo gear in order to take amazing photos at Disneyland. In fact, it’s best not to, since the security staff may think you’re trying to do a commercial photo shoot (which is not allowed without special permission).
The best camera you can bring is either a full-frame or a DSLR. Both types are great for capturing intricate details and have accurate focusing features. If you want to take pictures in the evening or at night, make sure to choose a camera with a good low-light feature.
Also, when booking the rides (check current Costco Disneyland ticket prices to get a great deal), check if you’re allowed to take your camera. Some rides don’t allow this for safety reasons, and you’ll have to stash it away in one of the available lockers.
Don’t Schedule Your Photoshoot at Noon
First, it’s best to avoid taking pictures midday, especially during summer. The sunlight is strong, and the angle of the sun’s rays creates harsh shadows on people’s faces, which doesn’t look good in photos.
Plus, summer is the busiest season at Disneyland, and during noon, both parks reach full occupancy really fast. So, all your pictures will have random people in the background. Not to mention that you risk someone getting in your shot because they didn’t even notice you were taking a picture!
If you can’t schedule your trip for a less crowded time, make sure to arrive early or leave late. When the gates open first thing in the morning, the light is softer, and there are fewer people to shoot out of your photos.
Quick tip: To make sure you’ll always have the perfect background, get green or blue collapsible backdrops. It’s portable, easy to use when taking photos outside, and you don’t have to worry about random people ruining a perfectly good picture.
Do Use Disney’s Environment
While trying to capture as few strangers as possible, you’ll be tempted to use weird angles that focus on the sky or take photos on a bridge using the water as a backdrop, but this way, you lose most of the Disney magic.
To tell the whole story, use a wide-angle lens to capture the buildings, the rides, and the overall landscape that makes Disneyland so special. After all, pictures with Cinderella’s Castle, the rides, and the Main Street are iconic and can’t be missed from a Disneyland photo shoot.
Specialists recommend using a smaller aperture for this kind of shot, so you’ll have a deeper depth of field. As a result, you’ll be able to tell a better story with your images.
Wrap Up
In summary, when taking photos at Disneyland, don’t let the business of the place get you down. Use the crowds and the beauty of the place to tell the story from your unique perspective. Also, don’t forget to have fun while you’re there!
