Tag: Photography

The Best Budget Friendly Lens for Disney Parks Photography – Getting a New Perspective

by Guide4WDW

by: guide4wdw – Collin

The Best Budget Friendly Lens for Disney Parks Photography – Getting a New Perspective  

I know the first thing many of you are asking is why is a camera lens review on a Disney Parks themed website? Well, about a year ago I took the leap and dove into the Disney photography realm. I knew absolutely nothing about “professional tier” photos but wanted to try my hand at capturing higher quality images not only to share here but also to supplement social media posts, share greater details in reviews, and even potentially to use in print for future projects. 

I’m certainly no photography expert and will never claim the title of a “professional” because it’s more of a hobby than anything else. It’s something I enjoy and essentially that’s why I do any of this. Contrary to popular belief in the blogging realm, I don’t do this for the money, I do it simply because it’s what I enjoy doing and I’m thrilled to have the opportunity to share that with so many of you. I’ve said it before, but I never in my wildest dreams would have thought even one person would have had an interest in what I write and talk about. It blows my mind to this day but I’m incredibly thankful for the people it’s allowed me to meet along the way.

So to best answer that initial question I have to say a lens review is on this site mostly to encourage other folks traveling to the parks to try something new. It may not be photography, it may not be a website, and it may not be anything beyond trying a new restaurant in the parks, but trying something new can change your outlook in so many ways. 

Why am I sharing this? Well, hopefully it will help someone out there looking for something just like this as I was a short time ago. If you’re not at all interested in the review, I completely understand and invite you to check out one of our other posts here on the site. This will apply to a very limited audience but sometimes it’s fun to switch things up a bit in this content sharing journey. Theme park photography has become something I really enjoy and sharing things that interest me and potentially others is one of the many things this site is for. 

To jump right into it, I do have to credit Tom Bricker (the man, the myth, the Disney photography legend himself over at the disneytouristblog.com) for the initial lens recommendation. He’s the reason I caved and bought this lens and I’ve never once regretted the purchase.

In my opinion, the best budget friendly camera lens for Disney parks photography is none other than the Tokina 11-16mm F/2.8 DX Type II. the important parts of that lengthy description are 11-16mm and Type II. Essentially, for the non-photography folks reading this, an 11-16mm lens covers an angle of view of 104 degrees. While that seems trivial, it’s incredibly helpful in the Disney parks to capture things both in tight quarters and in a more creative perspective. It’s not going to be ideal for portraits or anything of that variety because it’s simply too wide for most of those applications. However, the lens is designed primarily for landscapes and architecture photography on crop sensor cameras. 

To further explain, a crop sensor camera is essentially the removable lens cameras about 95% of you reading this likely have. Full frame or FX sensor cameras are not fully compatible with this lens but if you have a full frame camera, you’re probably not looking at this lens to begin with. Also worth mentioning is the fact that this will not work on iPhones or anything of the sort. Additionally, the lens is currently built for Canon and Nikon cameras. 

The type II reference is also quite important because only the second version of this lens will auto focus with most DSLR cameras due to its internal focus motor. In the simplest of explantations, the previous version had to be manually focused by hand on most entry level DSLR’s in the Nikon lineup. The second generation put a focus motor in the lens itself allowing it to focus with even the most budget friendly camera in the Nikon lineup, the d3400 (an incredible entry level offering). I cant speak to Canon directly because I’ve never used one but I believe the same is true for at least select camera models.

Why Is This The Ideal Disney Parks Photography Lens?

Truthfully the main selling point for me on this lens was and is it’s incredible array of uses in the Disney parks. At an aperture of f/2.8 it’s capable of absorbing enough light to use a reasonable shutter speed and a reasonable iso on most dark rides to get the shots desired. It’s also great for nighttime photography when you really need that fast aperture to capture the image without a tripod (depending on the shot). 

For the non photography geeks out there, the process of capturing images in dark spaces is a delicate balance of aperture (referred to as f-stop), iso, and shutter speed. Aperture is referred to as being “fast” or “slow.” Faster lenses are paired with small aperture numbers. For example, f/2.8 is a wider opening inside the lens than a f/4 lens. The f/2.8 aperture allows the camera to gather more light. The iso number is essentially a representation of artificial light the camera is creating (without flash) to expose the image correctly. Higher iso numbers yield higher grain in the image, so it’s desired to shoot at an iso of 100 (or lower) to get the sharpest images possible in most cases. Lastly, shutter speed is a varying number referring to how long the cameras shutter is physically open when gather light on the cameras internal sensor. The darkest scenes require many seconds of exposure time with the camera completely still to gather enough light. However, for dark rides, you can only slow down your shutter speed so much or it will induce motion blur into the image. 

It’s an intricate process and this is a vast oversimplification of complex concepts but in essence, a lower number f-stop lens is better to have in your bag 99% of the time, a lower iso is better 99% of the time, and shutter speed will vary drastically. In all reality if you want tac sharp nighttime images you’ll shoot photos on a tripod, at iso 100, and at an f-stop at around f8-f/11 for peak image quality. However, none of this matters unless you learn to use your camera in manual mode. Also, if you’re going to buy this lens, I suggest you do so only if you’re going to learn to use your manual mode, aperture priority mode, or shutter priority mode. If not, the only thing this lens will provide you is a wider angle of view and very little difference in image quality in most cases. 

Your greatest resource in photography is knowledge of your gear and how to use it. I wont drone on in weird photography terms any longer but why is this lens a great deal??  

1. It’s incredibly sharp at its price point. It even comes close to comparing to lenses 4 and 5 times it’s price when used correctly.  

2. It’s an incredibly wide lens which is perfect for photos like what you see in this post. Personally, it’s my favorite kind of photography and I’m a bit of a wide angle freak. If you like these photos, you’ll love this lens because 100% of the photos in this post were taken on the Tokina. The photos here are not peak quality due to the websites compression, but if you want real details, check out our Facebook or Instagram pages. About 50% of those photos were taken with this lens.

3. It allows for vast creativity. Disney and ultra wide angle photography go hand in hand. This lens allows you to capture things no phone can capture, no standard zoom lens can capture, and will allow you take photos of things you never thought were possible. 

I’ve gone on and on about this lens, but what does it cost? Personally, I paid $279 for it and bought it refurbished directly from Tokina. I’m not a Tokina ambassador (even though that would be cool), I’m not getting paid by them to write this, and I’m not looking to sell you anything while writing this. The link to Tokina’s website is intentionally not an affiliate link. I recommend it because it is what I use and what has worked for me. So far it’s the main thing that’s kept me from jumping to a full frame camera and that’s a good thing considering what full frame cameras cost! 

It is without a doubt one of the best lenses out there for the money. There are a few different versions of it and I’ve heard the optical quality of the 11-20mm version of this is quite stellar as well, but I have not used it personally. The greater zoom length is pretty trivial to me so I opted for the the 11-16mm to save some money and recommend you do the same to save a few dollars. Chances are your standard kit lens that came with your camera will cover the 18-55mm focal range so this version works out quite well for most entry level photographers and many professional photographers as well. 

Last but certainly not least, it’s a lens that grows with you as you learn more about photography. Sure it does have some weird chromatic aberration in the corners or when shooting into direct sunlight, but it’s a two click fix in Adobe Lightroom’s lens corrections. It’s not without flaws but it is an incredible lens for crop sensor cameras and quite possibly the one lens I would take to Walt Disney World if I ever had to choose just one to carry with me in the parks.  

Your Thoughts


As always, if you have thoughts, concerns, questions, or even some tips of your own to share, don’t hesitate to reach out to us on Facebook or your favorite social media platform. Give us a follow while you’re there, and we’ll keep the conversation going in the future. We’re not the largest Disney community, but we’re one that’s there and one that listens. Thanks for reading and have a wonderful day wherever you are!


Need a Travel Planner?


If you want or simply need a little bit of planning help to make your Disney vacation dream a reality, check out the quote request form below this article for our friends over at Destinations to Travel. They’ll let you do as much or as little of the planning as you’d like and may even save you some money along the way! As always, thanks for supporting those who support us.


Ready to Plan?


Last but certainly not least, if you’re starting the planning process, a great place to start are with some of our top planning articles! Looking for dining? Check out Disney World Dining Tips For 2018. Want to start with some more tips? 44 Excellent Disney World Tips for 2018 or Disney World Planning Guide and Tips For 2018 are a great place to begin! Looking to save money on tickets? Check out our friends over at The Official Ticket Center for great deals that even made it into our 2018 Discount Disney World Ticket selections and another great way to help us create more content through your contributions at no additional cost to you! You’ll probably even save money along the way.

Disney World Pictures – Our Photography Guide for Walt Disney World

by Guide4WDW

by: guide4wdw – Collin

Disney World Pictures – Our Photography Guide for Walt Disney World 

Taking pictures of Walt Disney World has become a larger and larger part of the experience with social media and a “sharing” culture that has developed over the last 10 years or so. However, Disney fits in a relatively odd spot in that it’s a place that is recognizable the world over. Nearly everyone you meet has been there at least once so on each visit you want to capture something distinctly “you.” It doesn’t matter if it’s something you saw in the parks, or a moment you want to capture with friends and family, some how or some way you want to have the tools and ability to get the shot and savor that moment forever. This article was written with that goal in mind and hopefully to encourage a few of you to take the leap into the Disney photography realm or at the very least help you take a few better photos in the parks. 

On the contrary to all of this, I’ve always been a little torn on seeing the world through a lens. Today, everyone has a camera on them at basically all times and truthfully it’s a pretty good camera for about 75% of applications. As a result, we feel the need to document everything and in my opinion that’s not always the best way to do things. Obviously, you know I’m a photography guy if you look at the photos here or on our facebook or instagram pages, but at the same time I was that person for years that refused to experience the world through a lens or quite literally a screen at this point. I’d be lying if I said it didn’t detract from the overall feeling of being there and enjoying being in the moment without a care in the world. It’s also the main reason I elected to leave my DSLR in the room for one full day of our last trip. I love photos and photography as a whole but setting things aside and taking the time to enjoy the moment with no distractions can be the most powerful feeling in the world. Why do I share that in a photography article? Truthfully, because I’ve learned that lesson the hard way and no matter what, I recommend you always remember to be present in the moment and not so enthralled with a device that you forget to enjoy the little things.

Moving back to the topic of today’s post itself (after that tangent), I wanted to share some advice in what I would do or consider if you’re looking to take better photos at the parks. I’m also going to add before we get started that by all real definitions of the word I am not professional photographer in any way shape or form. According to Websters a professional is a someone engaged in a specified activity as one’s main paid occupation rather than as a pastime. I don’t work photography contracts at this point, and while that would be great, I’m simply a tourist with a camera and a ridiculous amount of stored away information about what makes up a good photo in the most general sense.        

Cameras          

Of course, the camera you use is going to make a difference and don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. Composition makes all the difference in the world but if your camera can’t handle the scene you’re trying to capture… well you’ve got a grainy image and some disappointment to deal with. Truthfully, the camera market is a market of diminishing returns the higher in price you go. In essence, you have five options of camera type at this point at a variety of different price points: Phones (yes, I will count those!), Point and Shoot, DSLR – Crop Sensor, DSLR – Full Frame, and Mirrorless (in both full and corp sensor varieties). For the most part, the prices are going to increase in that order.

Iphones 

In the world of convenience, iPhones are the ideal pick in every way shape and form. In the world of quality, they’re surprisingly good with daylight and sunset lighting due to new technologies and improved phone capabilities, but they really struggle in low light situations. In Disney terms, photos from Pandora, Dark Rides, Fireworks, and really anything without at least a fair degree of light present, a lot of grain is going to be introduced into the image as the camera tries to compensate for the lighting. The sensors on phones are so incredibly small that the light gathering capabilities simply cannot handle the environment. 


On the flip side, iPhones in particular perform surprisingly well in well lit environments. So much so in fact that often times you can rarely tell the difference between an iPhone shot and one from a DSLR without really cropping in to see all the details. For most applications, phones do surprisingly well and continue to get better with each increasing model. The kicker to it all is price. The new iPhone costs what? $1000 for the base model! Sure, it does more than just take pictures but an entry level DSRL can cost less than half of that! 


Point and Shoot Cameras

In my opinion, until mirrorless cameras started to become more cost effective for the average consumer (thanks Sony!), point and shoot cameras were making a come back. Almost ironically, (since they were the ones that started making mirrorless more affordable and worth having) Sony’s RX100 series was incredibly popular despite costing near $1000. Even at $1000 it’s the only point and shoot camera I’ve ever even considered buying and that is because of the image quality it can produce. Sony was and is smart in creating a point and shoot camera with almost full “manual” functionality similarly to what you’d find in a DSLR. As a result, it is likely the best point and shoot camera for night photography due to the added benefit of long exposures and being able to set exactly what you want the camera to do and the ability to override what the camera “thinks” is right. 

Super zoom cameras are good (the ones with the massive reaching extendable lenses that are attached to the camera body), but the Sony tends to be a cut above the rest and is the right blend of usability and image quality while remaining pocket size. There are more budget friendly options but the main goal is to buy a camera with the ability to shoot in full manual mode. You may not understand it at first but it’ll be worth it in the long run!   

DSLR Cameras 

DSLR cameras are my personal preference for anyone really looking to make the most of their Disney photos. Inevitably, DSLR’s tend to be more difficult to use and in all reality you’ll have to learn the ins and outs of aperture priority, shutter priority, and full manual modes to get the most out of your camera. If you don’t want to fool with all (despite how much I recommend that you take the time to learn) of that, stick with your iPhone or a point and shoot camera. The advantages of the DSLR only really shine through when you take control of the camera and get it out of the”auto” mode. 

Almost ironically, you can pick up an entry level DSLR from Nikon’s refurbished (outlet) site for around $400 ($398 on Amazon). Compare that to the RX100 and the cost vs. performance benefit is better in both regards. Sadly you lose out on some of the added benefits in the video realm of things as well as the form factor of the Sony as well. The camera world tends to be a game of trade offs. My personal recommendation, and the $400 one mentioned, is the Nikon D3400. The 3400 is a great deal for the money and truthfully the image quality is pretty superb for the price due to an extraordinary sensor. Every single image in this article was taken on a Nikon D3400. Of course, any entry level camera is going to have its downfalls and after using a 3400 for about a year I have to say one of its greatest weaknesses are medium to high iso situations. For the non “camera people” iso is essentially artificial light introduced into the image so that the exposure is corrected (that is a vast over simplification but the best way I can describe it) in very dark scenes while keeping your shutter speed high to “freeze” the scene you’re trying to capture. 

If your budget allows I’d recommend a higher end model, but for most theme park guests a d3400 or even the Canon or Sony equivalents should be more than adequate. If money was no problem (I’m a college student so money is always a concern for me lol) I highly recommend Nikon’s full frame lineup. Full frame cameras are going to always be more capable than crop sensor cameras and far superior in dark situations when equivalent lenses are being used. 


Full frame cameras utilize a larger sensor than the lower tier “crop sensor” alternatives but also accompany a much more aggressive price point. If you can afford it, Nikon’s D750 and D850 are some of the best cameras ever made. Tom Bricker even called the D750 The Best Camera For Disney Photography before the D850 hit the market. Obviously, he’s a far more accomplished and experienced photographer than I, but to say that’s high marks is an understatement. Tom is the go-to guy for Disney photography tips!

Last but certainly not least, you have mirrorless cameras. Sony is the pioneer for mirrorless and if you want the ultimate in performance the A7R III is a mind glowingly capable camera. The downside to the A7R III is that the camera body itself costs around $3,000. Up until a few days ago, Nikon had no real mirrorless alternative, but if your budget allows Nikon’s new Z6 and Z7 cameras look like they will be quite impressive once they ship! Mirrorless cameras offer up the blessing of a compact size while retaining incredible image quality. Truthfully I see mirrorless cameras as the next big thing in photography if the price continues to fall. The compact size is unmatched and the weight savings is a bit shocking. For Disney parks photography, light weight and compact size is a huge blessing when carrying around camera gear all day. (As always, if you do want to pic up a camera before your trip, buying through these links really helps us out here on the site and costs you nothing more!)     
                
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Lenses   

If you’re looking to take photos of your kids or even simple scenery around the parks, a stock kit lens that comes with most DSLR cameras and Mirrorless cameras from the factory will more than exceed your expectations. If you really want to up your photo game and develop the sharpest images possible, I highly recommend investing in a better lens than the one included with your camera purchase. Nicer lenses tend to be better in low light due to faster apertures and the results tend to speak for themselves. In the case of dark rides, a lens with an aperture of f/1.8 or lower is ideal for capturing light but no lens is going make you a better photographer without first learning to shoot in manual mode. It is the cornerstone for any great photo and makes all the difference in the end result – especially at night! 

In perhaps the greatest oversimplification possible, to get great shots at night ideally you’ll need three things. A tripod, time, and some patience. The darker conditions you shoot in the longer you tend to need to keep your shutter open, and the tripod is used to keep the camera as stable as absolutely possible during the longer shutter speeds. For areas like Pandora after dark, a shutter length upwards of 30 seconds is often required to retain a proper exposure for the image. If the camera is bumped or moved while that shutter is open, the image becomes blurry and basically unusable. The patience part of the equation tends to be waiting out the crowds. 

You’ve likely all scene the empty park shots, and they’re some the best shots around, but oftentimes we’re taking those images up to two hours after the park officially “closes.” If you wait around, Disney will let you mill around main areas for quite some time after officially closing while guests finish dining or riding those last minute attractions. The lighter crowds that late at night coupled with long shutter speeds (know as long exposure shots) essentially turn the individuals in the photos into “ghosts” if the keep moving continuously while the shutter is open for upwards of 30 seconds capturing the image. It’s a crazy concept and one that I’ll readily admit is hopelessly nerdy, but the results tend to be spectacular. Once you try late night photography, you’ll be hooked after you capture that one image that takes your breath away. 

The Average Guest

If you’re an average Disney parks guest, your iPhone is likely going to serve you quite well, but chances are if you clicked on this post you’re looking for more out of your photos and hopefully this answered a few questions. People ask me about my photos all the time, and truthfully I’m probably not the best person to ask. I’m admittedly new to this and don’t always get it right. However, to me this just goes to show that you can get a lot of neat shots (even if they’re not technically perfect – I still have a lot to learn!) with very little technical experience and on a relatively tight budget. My entire camera setup wasn’t all that expensive and if you’d like me to do a full overview of all the gear I use, feel free to let me know and I’ll make it happen! On the other side of things this article may not be all that popular and is likely the least “Disney specific” post I’ve ever written. It’s a bit tough to explain too much in detail in writing one article, but hopefully this answered a few questions and may help you in starting your road to taking show stopping photos that far exceed mine! 

Your Thoughts


As always, if you have thoughts, concerns, questions, or even some tips of your own to share, don’t hesitate to reach out to us on Facebook or your favorite social media platform. Give us a follow while you’re there, and we’ll keep the conversation going in the future. We’re not the largest Disney community, but we’re one that’s there and one that listens. Thanks for reading and have a wonderful day wherever you are!

Need a Travel Planner?


If you want or simply need a little bit of planning help to make your Disney vacation dream a reality, check out the quote request form below this article for our friends over at Destinations to Travel. They’ll let you do as much or as little of the planning as you’d like and may even save you some money along the way! As always, thanks for supporting those who support us.


Ready to Plan?


Last but certainly not least, if you’re starting the planning process, a great place to start are with some of our top planning articles! Looking for dining? Check out Disney World Dining Tips For 2018. Want to start with some more tips? 44 Excellent Disney World Tips for 2018 or Disney World Planning Guide and Tips For 2018 are a great place to begin! Looking to save money on tickets? Check out our friends over at The Official Ticket Center for great deals that even made it into our 2018 Discount Disney World Ticket selections and another great way to help us create more content through your contributions at no additional cost to you! You’ll probably even save money along the way.                 

Disney Photos! – A Few Tips to Capturing the Disney World Experience

by Guide4WDW

by: guide4wdw – Collin

Walt Disney World is perhaps one of the most picturesque places I’ve ever traveled to. For many guests that seems like a very odd statement and in many ways it is. When you arrive at a theme park, you expect to be entertained, but not quite in the way that Disney does it. Walt Disney World is shockingly picturesque in a way that portrays an excellent attention to detail and leaves guests wanting and hoping for that ultimate Walt Disney World photo. There’s certainly no science to capturing a great picture. From using your iPhone, to capturing photos with any tier DSLR, everyone can capture some great vacation photos that exceed expectations. Honestly, I’m very new in the realm of photography, but there’s a few ways to get an edge on your vacation photos that will set them apart from what you may have expected to capture and surprise yourself in a magnificent way. To be quite honest, I had no idea what I was doing 6 or so months ago when I picked up a Nikon DSLR and decided to up my photo quality on our next Disney trip. (Photos in this article are best viewed on desktop/laptop devices).

(Click for full size image.)


For lack of a better term, I was a lost ball in high weeds. However, there’s something amazing about this Disney community and the role of Disney fans helping other Disney enthusiasts. All it took was a quick Google search and a glance through a few websites to uncover a wealth of Disney photography information. Notice how I said “Disney Photography information” because that makes a huge difference. Disney is a unique breed of photography that is vast and very situational. Of course, I’m quite the amateur in this realm, but even I was able to capture a few unique shots during our four day trip. Truth be told, I learned more from the Disney community and those willing individuals experienced in the field than I would have ever learned on my own in many years of trial and error. 

Personally, the avenue that helped me more than anything else starting out was learning from Luis (Disney_Nuts on Instagram) through his new photography videos on Youtube. If you’re a Disney fan, be sure to subscribe to his channel and follow his pages. His content is truly incredible and his photo tips are second to none in the realm of Disney.

Here’s a quick link to all of his social platforms! This isn’t a paid endorsement of any kind, but his content speaks for itself: Social Media Links (Clickable) 


//www.instagram.com/embed.jsI had the privilege of running into him in the parks this week and I have to say he is an incredibly genuine guy with an honest passion for what he does. He took a few minutes out of his night to give me a few tips and there’s nothing quite like learning from the best.


However, as we move on to today’s topic, there’s a few things about Disney photography that you don’t necessarily expect going in. Again, I’m by no means an expert but these are simply a few things that caught me off guard. 

1. For Best Results Consider a Tripod
I know this is a tip that many guests will have no desire to follow through with and I didn’t expect to either. The kicker to the whole tripod situation is that in order to get great photos at night a tripod is almost a necessity if you want to be truly “free” in your location selection. If you’re on a budget, Trashcan tops and short polls are a great tripod stand-in option to keep the camera as still as possible for moments on end in order to let the camera capture light for sometimes up to 30+ seconds. For me, it was easier to catch a tripod on a Black Friday sale than to search for spots to rest the camera. 

On the contrary, if you’re taking phots during the day you’ll rarely need a tripod because your shutter speed will be much faster (here’s where it gets a bit confusing and number 6 on our list really comes into play). When it comes right down to it, it’s all about what you want to capture. For many, an iPhone will be an excellent starting place for family photos and in that case I’d skip the tripod and just enjoy the simplicity of the device because they truly do take excellent photos. If you want to get a little bit more involved with your photos and a bit more creative I’d recommend an entry level DSLR like the Nikon D3400 or mid range Canon options. The Sony a6000 is a great option as well in a smaller/lighter package, but personally I chose the Nikon for the lens options available (also true for the Canon). Whatever you choose to go with, getting creative will make the biggest difference in the end!           

2. A Kit Lense Will Definitely Get You Started
Every single photo I took on this trip and that I will share in the coming months here on the site and on our Instagram account were taken with a stock kit lens that came with the Nikon camera. If you’re on a budget, like me, it will definitely get you started. You’d be surprised what you can get out of the standard lens getting started and you may surprise yourself along the way. It’s a great way to learn and while it wont be tack sharp out of the camera, most social sites will downgrade image quality a bit anyway so in the end it’s not the end of the world. As you get better, and as I plan to myself, you can upgrade to something a bit nicer to truly get the most out of your camera. Again, I’m by no means an expert, this is just what I’ve found and learned along the way from those much more experienced than me.


3. Do What Looks Good To You
It’s easy to get caught up in “replicating” your favorite Disney photo or creating that perfect screensaver for your computer, or iPhone, but try to create something you’ve never seen before. Find a way to capture that memory of your dream vacation or a moment that truly takes your breath away to share or store away to take you back to that moment in the future. You may be surprised at how many people might share that same affinity for a similar location or a moment in time they also enjoyed over the years. 

Create what you want to save and share. Take a photo of what looks good to you and has a certain level of importance to you. If it’s a family moment, capture that memory. If it’s a beautiful scene, try to capture the setting. More than anything, take the time to first enjoy the moment as it happens and to be aware of what’s going on beyond the lens. It’s a delicate balance, or at least it was for me and to be quite honest one I didn’t get completely perfect and doubt I ever will.        

4. Consider an Editing Program
At the end of the day, you’re not going to get everything quite right in every photo. That’s where an editing program comes in and the vast advantage of shooting in the RAW format available on most DSLR and Mirrorless cameras. While intimidating at first, a program like Adobe Lightroom or even Snapseed (a simpler option available for android and IOS recommended in Luis’ videos) can vastly improve your photos. Lightroom is a bit pricey, but a great application in it’s desktop iteration. For the photos in this post I used a combination of both programs. There’s no best way to edit, but do what looks good to you and enjoy the process and you’ll be pleased with the results.   


5. Watch Some Youtube Videos or Get a Book 
Everyone learns a little differently. Personally, I’m incredibly visual. I love to see things done so that I know what to expect and see what the results should potentially look like. Circling back to Youtube, that’s why I highly recommend Luis’ videos. Not only does he share why you should use certain modes for certain applications, but goes one step further and shows you a step by step process of how to apply the tips in Walt Disney World. For some of the best examples, I recommend starting with the videos below. 

Another option for those of you who may learn better by reading is a book called Understanding Exposure (honestly this is an affiliate link, but also a book I used to learn). I bought it per the recommendation of the Disney Tourist Blog and I have to say it’s an excellently written book. 

No matter what your preference may be, learning before you arrive at the parks is a huge part of capturing a few great photos, but something to consider is that it should all be for the fun of doing it. You’re going to take some terrible photos from time to time. Some of the photos I’ve deleted over the last few days were truly atrocious, but it’s all part of the process. Delete the bad photos and move on to the next spot or try to capture that same photo another time. On our trip I took around 1600 photos in 3 and a half days. Obviously that’s a bit overkill (I just wanted have plenty to share here on the site), but of those 1600 I probably had around 300-500 good “keeper” photos to dive in and edit. Don’t get discouraged early on, it will come to you faster than you may expect. If I can get a few decent images out of camera, I know you can too, especially with the right help and a little dedication and inspiration.

Your Thoughts
As always, if you have thoughts, concerns, questions, or even some tips of your own to share, don’t hesitate to reach out to us on Facebook or your favorite social media platform. Give us a follow while you’re there, and we’ll keep the conversation going in the future. We’re not the largest Disney community, but we’re one that’s there and one that listens. Thanks for reading and have a wonderful day wherever you are!

Ready to Plan?
Need help planning your vacation? Let our friends over at Destinations to Travel (FREE – no obligation quote request form below) help you out at no additional cost to you! Their services are free and a great way for you to help out the site at no extra cost to you! Here’s a closer look at why I recommend an Authorized Disney Travel Planner!

Last but certainly not least, if you’re starting the planning process, a great place to start are with some of our top planning articles! Looking for dining? Check out Disney World Dining Tips For 2018. Want to start with some more tips? 44 Excellent Disney World Tips for 2018 or Disney World Planning Guide and Tips For 2018 are a great place to begin! Looking to save money on tickets? Check out our friends over at The Official Ticket Center for great deals that even made it into our 2018 Discount Disney World Ticket selections and another great way to help us create more content through your contributions at no additional cost to you! You’ll probably even save money along the way.