7 Rules A Disney Photopass Photographer Has to Follow- Ep 41 Confessions of a Theme Park Worker

[@SirWillow]

I get a lot of people asking if they are allowed to wear certain shirts. So here is the question to ask that will answer your question: Could someone get offended or insulted over what is on your shirt? If the answer is no, then the shirt should be fine. Anything that isn't promoting drugs, violence, discrimination... things that aren't "family friendly" should be fine.

[@paigecollins5412]

Just found this channel and just realized i've been watching for 2 hours😂 you seem like such a kind person and thank you so much for the information:)

[@toongrowner1]

know exactly how you feel. XD

[@mattd791]

Paige Collins I saw one of his vids late at night and decided to watch, I got hooked and watched more and more. Then I realized it was 5:05 in the morning and had to get ready for school.

[@maddiemoo4878]

Paige Collins same

[@gothicvampyre_]

Shark Ninja IKR!?

[@msanrai]

Paige Collins yeah! seems like a nice guy!

[@mckenna8663]

It always amazes me how the Photo Pass Photographers can take a picture of guests and the castle while on a tremendously busy Main Street.... yet it looks as if it's just them there in the clear. I know it's the angle....but how tough is that? The pictures are always perfect. Is it timing? The crowds (especially at closing and the street is so crowded) are so thick, and no-one is directing them to stay out of the way.

[@SirWillow]

+Mc Kenna a lot of it is the angle and the cropping of the shot. You set it up so that the people you are shooting fill up the front of the picture and there isn't a lot of room on the edges to show other people walking by. That helps to hide the others that might be there.

[@celticfire64]

I hope Disney photo pass doesn't have this rule for our Military who wear a Shirt with the name of the Branch they serve or served.

[@SirWillow]

@@celticfire64 why would they? What is offensive about that?

[@ArielsPhotog]

As a Spectrum Photo photographer (later to become Sharpshooter Spectrum Photo before Kodak took over) at Disneyland (1996-2002) its amazing how rules & regs have changed yet stayed the same in relation to photographing Park Guests w/ the characters and locations. The only times rules were stressed (since its all common sense anyway) was when we were photographing the Princesses. We had to act as body guards in concert w/ the Character Hosts we worked with keeping Guess from groping, grabbing, picking up the girls. I was Ariel's personal photographer for 5 years and i shot the head shots of the face characters for the Character Department Portfolio. I was also the "on call" photog for when the Disney Staff Photogs werent able to cover an event (before the whole department was closed and freelance photogs were utilized). Those were some fun, groundbreaking times being a first generation Character Photog.

[@1991backintime]

When I went to Disneyland in 07' we thought it was funny to flip off the cameras 🎥 in Tower of Terror and they HELD us at the drop until we put our hands down!! Lesson learned

[@anthonyseboe4646]

XD can't...stop...laughing...ppz help...can't breath.

[@erikaz1144]

Lauren K how long did it take you to realize to put your hands down 😂

[@1991backintime]

Erika Z about three minutes 😂

[@ArielsPhotog]

Its a shame at how many families were disappointed by people doing inappropriate things in photos and those photos had to be deleted.

[@GrahamHettinger]

This was fascinating! All the little things that I would never think about from a photographer's standpoint. And from a PR standpoint too on Disney's side.

[@fifthrider]

Great video. I know some people complain about rules like this but I'm grateful that these exist, and glad that Disney adheres to this.

[@TheRetroGuy2000]

Thanks for making this video. I am a former Disney cast member who was on the opening Photopass crew. Watching this video was like a flashback to my Photopass cast member days in 2005-2006. At the time I worked in the Photopass division, those FCUK t-shirts were really popular, and I was constantly re-positioning guests to avoid showing the logos on those shirts. At the time I worked there, we were also strictly forbidden from taking photos of the Seven Dwarfs, as Disney had some sort of licensing issue with those characters. Other photos we couldn't take included photos backstage, photos where there were wardrobe malfunctions (on either the guest or the character), photos which showed cast members sitting down or holding drinks, photos where guests had spilled food or drinks on themselves (happens more often than you think), photos where it looked like the family was fighting (for example, the dad with his hands around his son's neck), photos where children were crying, photos where characters from different universes were in the same picture (except princesses, which were somehow okay), photos where someone was doing something inappropriate in the background, and photos that showed too much skin. I was very excited to be on the opening team; unfortunately, several of the managers at Photopass at that time were extremely mean. I left the Photopass division in 2006, and always wondered why that department was so messed up. I'm glad, though, that the program continued; it provided a great service to guests.

[@SirWillow]

Thanks for posting! You caught a number of the things that I missed or left out. 2006- I wonder if we crossed paths at all. I started in June and was posted to MK at that point. The nice thing was that for me in 2006-2010 most of our managers were raised up out of Photopass, so they were pretty good (only had issues at all with one or two). That started to change though when entertainment absorbed Photopass and started putting their own people in as managers. Those first years were great ones, at least for me. I've heard from others that stayed that it changed quite a bit after I left.

[@TheRetroGuy2000]

I knew from the video that you had to have worked during "my" era, just from the original purple Photopass card you held up in the video (I still have some, from accidentally leaving them in my uniform repeatedly). I don't think we ever met; I left in March 2006, and I would have remembered you, though it's cool that we worked basically during the same era. When I came to the department, there were just 50 cast members in the department and it was still a pilot program that was phasing out Kodak. Everyone knew each other. Then the program grew, they added 300 new photographers, my old manager left, and my new manager never even bothered to learn my name. I always saw him look at my name tag before he said my name... and he only had eight people under him. So frustrating! He wasn't the worst one, though; there were a few managers that were way worse than that. However, I also have very happy memories of the program: some great "friends of character X" who were so fun to work with, making little kids smile by giving them stickers, the whole Make a Wish program, people coming from all over the world, Asian girls always making the "peace" sign, magic shots, fixing botched images so they were saleable to the guest, helping people, and taking a record 1,960 photos in a single 16-hour day! Good times. Thank you, Sir Willow, for uploading this video, which totally made me revisit memory lane.

[@SirWillow]

Love the stories from that era. I'm hoping to put together a "history of Photopass" at some point. it's been on the burner for a while now but just haven't managed to get it done. So I might be bugging you with some questions since you were in that time period. Did you have the pleasure of the brick?

[@TheRetroGuy2000]

You are welcome to "bug" me with questions any time, Sir Willow! Yes, of course we had The Brick. We also originally had a bigger, heavier PDA than the ones we later used, and we also had to carry tripods through a china shop, as our HQ was originally behind a shop on Main St (last time I was visiting, that location was a glassblower's shop). With cameras strapped to our necks, The Brick, the big PDAs, the tripods, the spare Brick, the radios, the batteries, the extra batteries, and whatever else, we were loaded down!

[@laurenm7929]

Woah there’s so many things I had never even thought about! But being a Photopass Photographer sounds like such an interesting job!

[@kmanhbk18]

These videos are really fun to watch its cool to see the backstage side of these parks

[@HannahWoodardLockaby]

As a photographer and Disney dork I found this fascinating!! thank you for sharing this!

[@artisannoteworthy]

Most of these rules I'm going: "DUH". I actually got a great photo of Tigger giving me bunny ears, but I knew it was coming, so I looked up and laughed. One of my favorite pictures ever.

[@JCole78]

As a Photographer who is not a professional but more than an enthusiast, and loves Disney World I loved watching this. To often people don't realize what a photographer must do to get the shot. Even in what may seem the most simple situations. You have gained a new subscriber.

[@klebson]

When I went to Epcot with my wife, she was pregnant, and we asked to take a picture with Chip 'n Dale kissing her belly. But they said no, and the photographer explained to us that they couldn't do it.

[@jakelakota3010]

I have been going to WDW for YEARS and love this stuff. And dangit, I DO remember the guy telling us to move in front of that guitar!!

[@cloroxbleach5784]

You just got a brand new sub! This is a super fun channel! Keep up the amazing work!!!

[@zedwards2776]

Slytherin Unicorn Ha! I'm a Slytherin!

[@XxxCaitlynBoylexxxX]

Has anyone ever told you, you sound like Rex from Toy Story :)

[@DogNamedWatson]

Caitlyn Boyle I was going to say, he sounds a lot like Wallace Shawn...although that may be a bit...inconceivable...to some. (Wallace Shawn voiced Rex)

[@darkerSolstice]

YES, that's it. I kept hearing the Sicilian.

[@SirWillow]

Check out my facebook page if you want a laugh about that. facebook.com/TheSirWillow

[@c0lleenbean]

i read this as i was watching and holy crap he sounds just like him!!

[@TacticalRaver]

He could honestly pass as a younger Wallace Shawn! He looks and sounds like him

[@Bob3519]

It sounds like being a photographer at an amusement park would be alot of fun. Wonderful to see families having a fun time.

[@andyreid8969]

Hey Sir Willow I am from the UK and am pretty sure you took the photo pass photo that adorns our piano. We were in WDW in 2007 and you were the first cast member we spoke to. You arranged us and even took the photo using my own camera. So thank you. People like you made the 3000 mile trip worth while and totally magical!

[@SirWillow]

Awww, that makes me feel so good knowing I could have blessed you. That was the best part of the job. Since it's on your piano I'm guessing I did good. :-) Thanks so much for sharing. I'd love to see it if you don't mind sharing it. (my facebook page works for that ifyou'd like. You certainly don't have to. The link is in the video description.)

[@Yukendoit]

I use to be a photopass photographer. I remember having a fun time with the guitar at studios. I loved working Epcot for some reason. The energy there was so calm.

[@AdmiralPreparedness]

I'm a 59 year old Disney Super Fan. Where were you when I needed to know some proper Disney etiquette???. Thanks for being here.......Now I have to go back and apply what you taught me......And my grown up children.......Subbed!!!

[@carolschleeter8986]

liking the new intro!

[@zoezoet8122]

I think your videos are actually really cool and helpful! It helps alot to know all this stuff and save the embarrassment from yourself. lol.

[@happehpills5945]

Loving the intro! I love watching the evolution of the channel bit by bit.

[@SirWillow]

Thanks! It is fun to go back and look at those first videos and see how much I've learned and improved already. Still lots of room to doing things better, and I've got some ideas about other things I want to try in the future as well. (think greenscreen if I can get one! :-) )

[@happehpills5945]

You're welcome! It's so exciting! I really love your Disney videos, especially now that I'm living in Florida, haha. "Look at the castle!" has become a family tradition now, thanks to your vids! Greenscreen is great! I can recommend some good and affordable products if you're interested! (They've worked great for me!) It's super fun working with it.

[@LMvonLebkuchen]

"No photos of dangerous behaviour" "Mickey! Mickey! Watch me eat this fire!!" But I guess standing on trashcans probably happens more often. Best photo with a chracter and logo tee shirt I have seen? That one floating around with someone in a Dead Mau5 tee and poor Minnie looking horrified XD

[@SirWillow]

dangerous behavior could be tossing a kid in the air, doing flips, jumping off of walls/ rocks or a variety of other things. A Disney photographer taking a photo of that could be considered endorsing it, which could lead to a variety of problems. That's why it's not allowed. But I would have loved to see a fire eater with Mickey!! LOL

[@gblan]

I've gone to WDW many times and I gotta say the Photo Pass photographers are some top shelf employees. I can't say I've ever heard a remotely negative word from any of them. Always polite, fast and eager to get you that perfect shot.

[@sandrao4726]

Fellow Photopass photographer from long ago ('06-'08 @DAK & MK). This was my first video to watch of yours, but it brought back so many memories. It amazes me how much there was to remember of spiels and rules and working as fast as possible with the characters.

[@SirWillow]

06-08? I wonder how many times we crossed paths. I only worked at DAK a handful of times, but I'll bet we worked together at MK here and there.

[@sandrao4726]

I'm sure we have. My base park was DAK, but I worked all over when I could get a chance, including resort dining. Epcot and DTD were the only two places I didn't work. My last six months were at MK, and I loved getting the Magical Moments position for the day.

[@stayforthetingles]

I'm into photography and I love Disney so much! I have been wanting to be a Disney photographer and this video was really interesting. I love behind the scenes of it all.

[@alexwillis7980]

I love your channel. Brings back good memories of Disney, and it's so fascinating to hear an inside take on it

[@jiafeiskinnyproducts]

This is so entertaining. How did I not find this channel till now! Definitely subscribing

[@theendicott2838]

What kind of rules are there for people that aren't characters (regular cast-members like photographers and janitors) being in pictures with guests? Let me give an example: a few times when meeting a character, I like to ask that their photographer/handler steps in and I take a selfie. So far I haven't had a character say "No, that's not allowed." But I have had photographers that said they weren't sure it was okay, and I had to ask the character. I also had two cast-members that looked like supervisors of some kind (they were carrying clipboards) say they wouldn't be in my picture with Rabbit. I also had one guy ask me to delete the photo after I mentioned what I was planning to do with it. I do it as a sort of "Thank you", because the cast members make the parks possible. I even made two KZbin videos about it (they are still on my channel). Have I been breaking the rules this whole time, they are just too polite to say so?

[@SirWillow]

Cast members in costume aren't supposed to be in any pictures with characters. And they aren't supposed to be in photopass pictures either. Out of costume (their work clothes) is fine, but not in it. However, you should be perfectly welcome to use your camera to take pictures of cast members while they are working. The reason they asked you to delete it after they found out you would put it online is because if they are seen in their costumes in a photo with the characters, then it could cost them their jobs. (and just a name tag and/or Disney ID is enough to qualify)

[@babymomma0886]

Love your videos so happy I found your channel. We visit Disney almost weekly

[@abseedeaf]

in our last trip we had a photo taken with a streetmosphere performer at Hollywood studios with our fast pass. it was not with our own camera. he stayed for a couple a posed funny with us. we did ask him directly if he would join us. so maybe that was an excellent edition to the rule

[@SirWillow]

If the streetmosphere performers, and those in similar roles, gave us express permission we could take their photos, but that tended to be the exception to the rule rather than the norm. In the cases where they did, we would find time later to call in to the office that screened the photos to let them know it was coming through and not to block it. They'd put a flag out for it so it would still be there and make a note that they would send up that it was cleared- all things you wouldn't see as a guest. That was all due to union rules, contracts, and copyrights governing "fair use" of the character, and while there might be some loosing of that restriction it was likely because they indicated to the photographer that it was ok and to go ahead and shoot. :-)

[@BrettVano]

Good post, dude! Thanks for taking the time to put it together!

[@ThemeParker]

Very intersting stuff!! I love to learn about these things :P

[@TrongleCruiseIRL]

I used to be in Photopass as well, 2014 MK and 2015 DHS! Love the channel, Subscribed!

[@constanceway45]

As someone who has gone to kennywood since i was a child, I love love love the kennywood book you have in the back :)

[@redfishbluefish5151]

My Dad took a picture with a First Order Stormtrooper once and the guy acted like he was choking my Dad, and my Dad had his mouth wide open with his tongue sticking out. Seeing the picture, you can obviously see that the trooper's hands are no where near my Dad's throat, but the photographer would not take the picture until my Dad put his tongue back in his mouth. I was actually surprised that the photographer took a picture depicting a stormtrooper "choking" my Dad. It really was a funny picture though. Great memories.

[@paulieag]

This channel is so cool! I'm 14 and I've been to Disney 11 times, and I love it!

[@xTwilightWolvesx]

Paulieag 12 Same! I live in England so getting to Disney is pretty expensive. Before the holiday/vacation started (this was our first trip) my mum swore up and down that she wouldn't go again due to it being so expensive, but before it was even over she was already booking our next trip 😂 It's absolutely amazing there 😍

[@marybearbear9139]

this video really helped me out! I'll be going to Disney soon so it's nice to know all the do's and don'ts of taking picture's, so it can be smooth and easy!! X)

[@kiskaloo6843]

Nice video, but, couple of points. I have had some very poor quality photos in my photopass account, too dark, out of focus etc, so how did they get through QA as I was so disappointed when I viewed them. Also, some photographers need an update on their training, one guy in MK (I could name him) made a horrible comment to me when I told him I was from the UK, I actually reported him, but, I don't know if anything was done and a Main Street photographer had a Princess Diana obsession and wouldnt let me get away to my early morning ADR at Be Our Guest, she was also inappropriate about other members of the UK Royal Family. But, the worst are the ones who stand around looking bored at Meet and Greets when kids are interacting with characters instead of snapping away and capturing priceless moments, especially when little ones are involved. Some of my favourite photos have been taken during the interaction before we pose, a priceless memory of Carl Fredrickson from UP dancing with me while Russell and Doug were still larking around with the guests before me was captured forever by a marvellous photographer and I have it on my wall forever. I also love the ones who will agree to a pose (appropriate of course) like me swooning over the statue of Gaston, he loved the pose and I hope he used it for other guests too.

[@SirWillow]

Thanks for the comments. As you've experienced, not every photographer is a good one. Most of them are, but it can take a while to weed out the not so good ones, and when you have 55k employees (I've heard 70k recently), you're hiring constantly and some are going to slip through. Same is true of QA. They may have also debated whether it was better to delete the photo and have the guest (you) wonder why it wasn't there, or better to leave it, even if the flash didn't work (dark) or there were other issues and let the CM's at the counter try to make what adjustments they could. That happens sometimes as well.

[@mindys1198]

Neat, I love the attention to detail that Disney does in EVERYTHING. Thats what makes it the most magical place on earth! I cant wait til September when I get to go on my 5th trip. and since I have AP I'll be sure to get lots of pics.

[@randzopyr1038]

Always amazed at how much time and effort goes into Disney's brand control - I highly doubt other local theme parks are anywhere near as strict with their photographers.

[@banihex]

lol, did not expect to get "mentioned" in this video. I live in DC, but I play the Christmas show at Epcot the last 5 weeks of the year! Everything about Disney is thought out in every way possible, a complex machine!

[@sirenasilverstorm]

nice video and cool new intro, also verry interesting content I did not expect the clothes thing

[@virg0_lem0nade]

i love your "did they really just say that??" guest stories lol, i would love to see more of those in the future haha

[@SirWillow]

I'm working on another one. I had hoped to have it done earlier, but losing my "filming location" for the week and a half threw it off schedule. Hopefully within the next 2 weeks. :-)

[@delzdevofficial]

Wow... Just watched this video and already I have learnt an awful lot especially how to direct people when taking photographs! Very simple and the key points were clear and precise! Seriously, this information has really helped me (and others) understood the nature of Quality Assurance! Thank you very much for sharing your knowledge and experience! I do not work for Disney but now that I have witness this video, I feel confident in wanting to capture better images for future events...

[@sbellock5]

Buying the photopass was probably one of the best decisions I have ever made. Money well spent, great photos, great memories, some of which never would have happened without those photographers.

[@jezzy5130]

i just found your channel and binged watched like ten of your videos XD. You are so entertaining to watch and seem like such a nice person! I really hope you never run out of content!!

[@SirWillow]

don't worry, I still have lots of stories to tell and things to talk about. :-) It's just finding time to sit down and get the videos made.

[@nicholas_scott]

I run into the issue when my kids fall asleep waiting in a character line. But usually the characters are cool with leaning over the stroller to get a picture.

[@richardmeredith6534]

Just love this guy, and I'm pretty sure I've seen him when I went to Disney several years ago! Disney needs to clone about 10,000 of this guy and load the park up with him!

[@Vehemences]

I love this guy! I just found this dude, and I LOVE THIS! Amazing channel!

[@DisneyMarkUK]

Why have I just found you now, you're fab and I've just subscribed 👍🏽

[@DannyD714]

is the vulcan salute an appropriate hand gesture? i always do it on attractions that take your pic,but haven't tried it with a character.

[@SirWillow]

Far as I know it should be fine. I remember talking some photos with guests doing that and Goofy trying to (it was quite funny) so that one might be ok. I can't say for sure as I don't know if the rules on it might have changed in the last few years, but it was fine when I was there.

[@jbsanantoniofan]

wow...now i know how to aggravate a disney photographer....mission established lol

[@ReggieGurl04]

jbfansa There's always one in every crowd. 🙄

[@chickenpermission6890]

TAYLOR WOODRUFF this isn't tumblr

[@chickenpermission6890]

TAYLOR WOODRUFF ? From what.-.

[@fasdfdsdfs]

As Barney Stintson from How I Met Your Mother would say "Challenge accepted." XD

[@desstenycarden8033]

as someone who wants to be a photopass photographer, this was really interesting and helpful for what to expect!

[@AndreSthegeekydude]

it was really nice to hear that juggler took his time to pose with kids at the park!

[@katheinsignares9878]

i love your information, I watch your videos from Colombia, and your intro is improving, keep giving us your advices and adventures. I keep practice my English

[@SirWillow]

¿Eres de Colombia? ¿Dónde? He visitado Bogotá y Medellín. También he visitado un par de parques de atracciones allí. Me gustó mucho el parque que visité en Bogotá. (Bima) Colombia es un país precioso.

[@katheinsignares9878]

Soy de Barranquilla, tienes que venir a su carnaval!! Aquí no tenemos parques temáticos, pero si mucha alegría :)

[@SirWillow]

I'd love to visit Barranquilla. I have heard it is very pretty. Me encantaría visitar Barranquilla. He oído que es muy bonito.

[@katheinsignares9878]

I'm dying to visit disney world again, I'll hope I can go this year!! And of course welcome to barranquilla anytime :)

[@MrDmonies327]

So this explains why a few of the photopass guys asked me to position my arm in a manner I thought was a little strange. I was wearing my festive Grand Marnier shirt!

[@SirWillow]

More than likely. :)

[@FavoredAlmonds]

I love your videos they always put a smile on my face. :)

[@emmab9328]

Just earned a new subscriber!!! Amazing channel and keep it up!!

[@ericasmith5348]

I was at a restaurant in Animal Kingdom, me and my fiance had sat down at a table to eat our meal and a group of people sat next to us at a separate table and they were talking quite loudly about how they hate guests and the only people I've ever known to use the word guest are theme park employees and I slowly started to realize that they were PhotoPass cast members who were visiting the park and they were talking about how PhotoPass sucks and how they will sometimes purposely mess up the photos and how they hate certain kinds of guest and how they will miss the special moment with the family and they won't take the picture of It, then realized one of the people that was sitting with this group was the PhotoPass person the day before that I was taking my pictures and i then discovered why I had messed up and missing pictures. I guess my point in telling this story is have you ever worked with someone like this and what is your solution if you notice your PhotoPass person not taking pictures like they are supposed to.

[@SirWillow]

+Erica Smith there were a few. Very few. They usually didn't last long before they left or were "encouraged" to leave. In a case like that I absolutely would have reported that to guest relations. For them to talk that way in the park could lead to termination, and I feel like that would be deserved in this case. Any other info you can give would be nice as well so they can track down exactly who it was.

[@drewconway7135]

You sound like the home room teacher from the movie "Clueless." And I mean that as a sincere compliment! Interesting content. 👍👍

[@Puzzles_and_Parks_with_Kyla]

Just found your channel. Really enjoy the backstage look into how everything works! It's fascinating! I already hold Photopass photographers in high regards, but my goodness I had no idea how many details you were aware of to have (or not have) in photo.

[@audreyleeyoung]

Interesting video. I guess you got recommend because I do Disney videos too. I will be watching more of your videos.

[@wildkatarn7141]

Been a PhotoPass photographer since it's opening here at Disneyland, Anaheim back in 2006. 😁 Best job I've ever had.

[@Will-kt8so]

Wow that's a lot of very specific guidelines but it sounds like a lot of fun most of the time

[@blake9102]

This is a awesome channel I've only been to disney 1time I want to go back this summer but my mom got back surgery so we couldn't go

[@sadclownvods]

Great channel man! Glad you were in the spotlight and I could find this channel! New sub for you man!

[@kellyeverangel]

what about all the photos where gaston lets people touch his biceps, are those okay?

[@SirWillow]

they wouldn't be taking them, and Gaston wouldn't be telling them to do it, if they weren't.

[@troodon1096]

That's OK because it's in character for Gaston, and he's the one asking them to do it.

[@Collinsfamilylights]

Omg I'm a kings island lover I love the picture of the vortex on the left

[@dondeestacoconut]

Great video. Thanks for the insight!

[@WPUpioneer]

They covered up my Genie shirt when I met pocahontas! I guess different movies

[@descry8619]

Thanks for uploading this! :D I'm actually thinking of visiting soon and I was wondering if you knew if cast members are allowed to carry guests for photos? I'd really like to have my picture taken with Gaston carrying me hahaha

[@SirWillow]

Carry them? No. Not ever. Way to many issues. Doesn't matter if it's a baby or an adult.

[@descry8619]

Ahahaha okay, thanks for responding!

[@alinelaura7714]

I was just about to mention the intro xD it looks super nice!

[@hremaddox]

Thank you! These are good to know! My little girl loves to give bunny ears in photos. I'll make sure she knows not to at Disney world so that we don't lose some of our pictures...lol.

[@prettytwisted2010]

As a guess of Disney that buys photo pass for my vaction can i request characters to be inserted in the pictures and if so which ones are available. Maybe you can do a video about how they decide what characters they insert.

[@rauljcolon]

Learned a lot thanks. I was wondering if the no rabbit ears behind a character applies to Gaston since his dynamic is so different.

[@playstoregoogle7440]

Pastor's kid over here! I subscribed after I heard you were a pastor XD

[@quesocat42069]

How does this photopass thing work? How for instance do you make sure that the photos you take of a guest get to that guest? Do you take a photo of a ticket or something or somehow mark the photos in the camera as coming from a certain person? What kind of gear did you actually use?

[@SirWillow]

+cheese my next video may help answer your questions some as I will be talking about all the stuff I carried. There is a photo pass card we would give out that would be scanned and that would keep track of all of the pictures that were taken. I know there are some other vids from others that also talk about and show how it works as well.

[@ErebuBat]

It would be cool to hear about extra magic photos and how/when you indicated and decided to give those out.

[@SirWillow]

That's actually in the works queue for a future episode, and probably not to far off. In the next month or two I would guess, if all goes well.

[@somethingrandom9887]

cheese I wouldn't know about disneyland, but I work at an amusement park in Australia and here we scan the guests wristband (there is a unique bar code on each wristband) and then when the guest goes to one of the photo kiosks they can scan their wristband and all of their photos will come up

[@kayleecase8382]

I'm guessing grabbing characters is different for how old the kid is? I have some cute pictures of my 6 month old grabbing mickeys nose. I hope they didn't get in trouble for taking those pictures! They are some of my favorite from that trip!

[@SirWillow]

Babies and little ones are excepted because they don't know better. And it's just stinking cute! :-)

[@ZakkuTakku]

Oh so the characters can give us bunny ears, but we can't do the same to them? Double standard much?! Ha ha just kidding. Still though, I never really got why the whole bunny ears with characters thing was such an issue? Could someone explain this to me please?

[@boataxe4605]

Disney loves double standards, employees are not allowed to wear mustaches even though Walt himself had one!

[@potato-rn4eh]

Zach Harris it may be because you don't know guests' intentions, whereas characters like Goofy and Gaston and many more are known across the world as the silly type and therefore people would see it as a harmless prank. Like they'd expect it from a silly character that they know. Yknow? That's just a guess though 😂

[@boataxe4605]

+Ambitious Zoku They consider them a sign of bad character.

[@MrNateSPF]

Some facial hair is allowed now, but it is still extremely strict defining specific shapes, lengths and the color must look natural. Just as a side note, almost all Disney Villains have facial hair.

[@X.tiger.lilly.x]

great intro!!

[@cfergy21]

Very interesting stuff. I have noticed a few pics went missing here and there but not sure what it might have been.

[@SirWillow]

Could have been any number of things. Might have been bad photos (flash didnt' go, out of focus, etc.), could have been they didn't feel something was appropriate, or every now and then there will be a technical glitch and the photopass numbers don't get attached, or put on the wrong card, or they don't upload. Those are rare, but when you take hundreds of thousands of pictures a day, it does happen.

[@daniellethurlow4448]

this is the first of your vids and I'm half asleep...I finally realize the stuff on your right side is from SDC!!!! that park is my favorite park in the entire world!!!! my parents worked their for years.

[@SirWillow]

LOL Some of it is. I've actually got things from a variety of places. :)

[@Ariel_Alcazar.34]

thanks, I leaned some things, from watching the video! ☺

[@alinelaura7714]

What about pentagrams? It's just a star circled by a... Well... Circle. What if the star is upside down? Does that change something? Thank you so much for answering. Sending lots of love!

[@SirWillow]

Because of what it represents, it depends most likely on how noticeable it is. If it's large, like on a t-shirt, they may cover or hide it. If it's small or hidden- like on a necklace or earring that you don't really see they probably won't notice it.

[@kitsilanocat]

SirWillow what about large crosses or other religious symbols on shirts? would those be okay, or would that associate the characters too much with a certain group?

[@DeannaBrownlee]

This was actually pretty interesting! I can't quite figure out why the bunny ears are forbidden, and why characters can do it while guests cannot. But I think there are boundaries and limits that all photographers should respect. Everyone should have a safe, positive experience.

[@troodon1096]

It's hardly a profane gesture or anything, but it is essentially mocking the person you're doing to. For a character to do that to a guest, it's all in good fun, but a picture of a guest doing that to a character could be viewed as mocking that character, and in extension, Disney itself. My guess anyway.

[@aerofool66]

Thanks for such an informative video. I am curious on how one becomes a PhotoPass photographer at the Magic Kingdom. Could you possibly make a video about that?

[@SirWillow]

+Scott Farmer check out my Creation of a Castmember video for name of that story. :-)

[@healinggrounds19]

I work at WDW and I love your channel

[@mgehrum]

have you ever been a, character photographer or a handler, when an even bigger character, from outside the park,, ever downsized the character you're escorting, ie . Michael Jenson ,ect.... btw love your videos. Thanx for the memories .

[@Disneysenthusiast]

You can't take photos of cheerleaders doing stunts? Wow! That good to know! My cheer team is going next year and they all wanted to stunt. Thank you for the info!! Always good to know😊😊

[@SirWillow]

Disney Dreamers not only can they not take pictures of it, but if you are doing stunts in the park you can get in trouble and possibly kicked out. don't do it. :-)

[@niamhpreece7548]

I went to Disneyland Paris a few years ago I was 10 I think and I got a giant stitch plushy that was nearly as big as me and one of the photographers stopped my family to take a photo and I remember being so embarrassed and awkward it was definitely interesting to say the least...

[@rachaelmichaelis2637]

Just curios, when you said no weird touching or anything. What if a little child was squeezing mickeys nose? Or playing with plutos ears? Or something. I'm just wondering

[@SirWillow]

+SeeU Michaelis little ones are fine. It's the ones old enough to know what they are doing that I'm referring to. :-)

[@workshard4mk361]

First time watcher. Great information

[@FairbrookWingates]

All sounds pretty reasonable. No bunny ears though? Aww. :) I suppose I see why, but that does seem to push the edge to my mind. I'll admit I'd be amused to have a pic scritching Pluto's nose or (gently!) tugging Mickey's ear, but I suppose hands off policy prevents a world of problems before they start. Plus, as you say, more could be done with a guest camera, so that makes it pretty cool. Thanks for the fun info!

[@katherinegrice1801]

You have given us the ins and outs of the hiring process at Disney. Could you do the same with the other parks? Along with that, give us the process from beginning to end on different jobs at each park.

[@SirWillow]

It's going to be pretty similar from park to park, and it's changed a lot in the years since I got my job. I can't say about other jobs at the parks as I didn't do them.

[@nicelogin2]

In a non-theme park event I attended, I was told not to take photographs of people with a certain wristbands. Is there something similar for Disney?

[@SirWillow]

+Vice Ad not that I'm aware of. But we did generally only take pictures of people who wanted their pictures taken since we were hoping to sell them to them later, so it really wasn't a problem.

[@tyleranimated2334]

6.So That's Why My Everest Photo Wasn't On Our App

[@philollenberg]

That's a lot to memorise and have to mentally "checklist" when you're shooting 100+ shots every day. Hopefully you were well-compensated and appreciated!

[@SirWillow]

+Phil Ollenberg try 1500 to 3000 photos most days. :-) we could do 30 to 50 families an hour, or more, depending on where we were working. :-)