Photography etiquette within the parks

[mergatroid]

With most people now owning smart phones with decent cameras on them, there's probably more pictures being taken than ever before in the parks. What I noticed this year however is a big increase in the number of folks stopping in the middle of a walkway, stepping back a few steps from the person taking the picture and expecting all those behind them to walk around them whilst the picture is taken.

I'll always try and be patient and respectful and try not to walk across somebody whilst they're being photographed and would hope others would show me the same courtesy back. However when we stop for pictures we always pick a spot that's as unobtrusive as possible and make sure it's not a busy area where people need to pass. I also noticed that many are taking longer to get their pictures with many young ladies (sorry girls but it's true) taking ages making what can only be described as 'duck faces' whilst hugging their buddies with little to no concern on those they're inconveniencing.

Now maybe as I'm heading into my 50th year I'm just becoming grumpier, however I think there should be no stopping in a crowded walkway for pics and wherever you stop you take 10 seconds or less if others are kindly helping you by waiting to pass (and preferably no silly 'duck faces', it's not sexy or funny but that's optional)

Rant over and thoughts?

 

[networkpro]

With most people now owning smart phones with decent cameras on them, there's probably more pictures being taken than ever before in the parks. What I noticed this year however is a big increase in the number of folks stopping in the middle of a walkway, stepping back a few steps from the person taking the picture and expecting all those behind them to walk around them whilst the picture is taken.

Rant over and thoughts?

Its a generational thing. Younger folks are more self-absorbed and attached at birth to an electronic nanny forgetting that they are in the real world and others inhabit it.

 

[Gitson Shiggles]

With most people now owning smart phones with decent cameras on them, there's probably more pictures being taken than ever before in the parks. What I noticed this year however is a big increase in the number of folks stopping in the middle of a walkway, stepping back a few steps from the person taking the picture and expecting all those behind them to walk around them whilst the picture is taken.

I'll always try and be patient and respectful and try not to walk across somebody whilst they're being photographed and would hope others would show me the same courtesy back. However when we stop for pictures we always pick a spot that's as unobtrusive as possible and make sure it's not a busy area where people need to pass. I also noticed that many are taking longer to get their pictures with many young ladies (sorry girls but it's true) taking ages making what can only be described as 'duck faces' whilst hugging their buddies with little to no concern on those they're inconveniencing.

Now maybe as I'm heading into my 50th year I'm just becoming grumpier, however I think there should be no stopping in a crowded walkway for pics and wherever you stop you take 10 seconds or less if others are kindly helping you by waiting to pass (and preferably no silly 'duck faces', it's not sexy or funny but that's optional)

Rant over and thoughts?

Depending on my mood, this could go two ways:

1. I’d offer to take the group picture myself. Selfies are overrated and should only be used sparingly.

2. I’d lose my patience and photobomb them.

 

[Mikey73181]

By the end of my past trip I had my kids trained. If I saw a spot I wanted to take a picture and there wasn’t a lot of people standing around. I’d have them run ahead of me, stop and turn around and then I’d snap the picture. At first they’d take to long to run ahead, or wouldn’t turn back fast enough, but by the end we had a decent amount of pictures without a whole lot of people (except way in the background) in the picture.

 

[Hakunamatata]

Walking by, then in front, then stopping in front to do the same thing they are doing gets the point accross.

 

[LittleBuford]

Its a generational thing. Younger folks are more self-absorbed and attached at birth to an electronic nanny forgetting that they are in the real world and others inhabit it.

I see this happening with people of all ages, and it predates the smartphone era.

 

[Mickey5150]

I've never found it hard to take a step to my left to walk around a group taking a photo. Seriously, this shouldn't even be a topic, walk around.

 

[Hockey89]

I've never found it hard to take a step to my left to walk around a group taking a photo. Seriously, this shouldn't even be a topic, walk around.

Actually it should be a topic... Dead stopping in the middle of the walk way is beyond rude... Excepting people to wait as you take a piuc after pic as well... Let me guess you do this all the time.

 

[Mickey5150]

Actually it should be a topic... Dead stopping in the middle of the walk way is beyond rude... Excepting people to wait as you take a piuc after pic as well... Let me guess you do this all the time.

Actually I don't take pictures at all, that's what photopass is for. This world would be a better place if people didn't get upset at small things that really don't matter. Again, take a step to your left and keep walking, doesn't hurt anything.

 

[Weather_Lady]

I agree that stopping in walkways is inconsiderate (and a great way to get yourself run-into by a person, stroller or scooter that didn't notice you - which if it happens because you stopped abruptly in a thoroughfare, means you deserve what you get ). That being said, if someone has paused for a photo and I can't go around them without becoming a star attraction in said photo, I'll give them a few seconds to get their shot before continuing on. Disney World is such a stimulating place (sights, sounds, smells, constant activity) that I think it sometimes overwhelms people, and causes them to do things (e.g., stopping in a crowded walkway to take a picture, or even just to "take it all in" mentally) that they otherwise would think better of.

 

[RustySpork]

With most people now owning smart phones with decent cameras on them, there's probably more pictures being taken than ever before in the parks. What I noticed this year however is a big increase in the number of folks stopping in the middle of a walkway, stepping back a few steps from the person taking the picture and expecting all those behind them to walk around them whilst the picture is taken.

I'll always try and be patient and respectful and try not to walk across somebody whilst they're being photographed and would hope others would show me the same courtesy back. However when we stop for pictures we always pick a spot that's as unobtrusive as possible and make sure it's not a busy area where people need to pass. I also noticed that many are taking longer to get their pictures with many young ladies (sorry girls but it's true) taking ages making what can only be described as 'duck faces' whilst hugging their buddies with little to no concern on those they're inconveniencing.

Now maybe as I'm heading into my 50th year I'm just becoming grumpier, however I think there should be no stopping in a crowded walkway for pics and wherever you stop you take 10 seconds or less if others are kindly helping you by waiting to pass (and preferably no silly 'duck faces', it's not sexy or funny but that's optional)

Rant over and thoughts?

Personally, I think people who stop in the middle of walkways for any reason should be ejected from the park and banned for life. No you don't need to put your child in or take your child out of their stroller in the middle of the walk path. No, you don't need to whip out your iPhone and back into us for that picture. No, you don't need to all stop to take in whatever it is you're looking all standing at side by side blocking the whole path. No, you don't need to block an entrance so you can see what's inside the shop.

This isn't grumpy, it's simple common sense and common decency.

 

[RustySpork]

I've never found it hard to take a step to my left to walk around a group taking a photo. Seriously, this shouldn't even be a topic, walk around.

You've obviously never been to WDW when it's open. You've also never been stepped on because someone backed into you to take a picture.

 

[LittleBuford]

Actually I don't take pictures at all, that's what photopass is for. This world would be a better place if people didn't get upset at small things that really don't matter. Again, take a step to your left and keep walking, doesn't hurt anything.

It’s only ever something I notice when the picture being taken causes me to stop (so as not to walk between the photographer and the person/people being photographed), but even then, I don’t mind giving them a few seconds. If they’re taking too long, however, I will sometimes walk between them (trying as best as I can to do so between snaps).

 

[mergatroid]

I've never found it hard to take a step to my left to walk around a group taking a photo. Seriously, this shouldn't even be a topic, walk around.

I possibly notice it more as I have some difficulty walking due to dystonia. I could use a wheelchair but I prefer to walk. The speed I walk is slightly slower than most and trying to step to the left with lots of folk walking faster than me can be awkward. As an example I fell over this year at Disney when a young child ran in front of me and suddenly stopped. I could either walk into her or try to step to the side to avoid her. I chose the latter and lost balance and fell but fortunately my pride was hurt more than anything.

 

[LukeS7]

Its a generational thing. Younger folks are more self-absorbed and attached at birth to an electronic nanny forgetting that they are in the real world and others inhabit it.

As a "younger folk" who works in the tech field and has been a photographer, I feel the need to respond to this.

This is much more a societal thing than a generational thing. We as a society have moved in this direction. I see people older than me using technology in ways they shouldn't/rude ways almost daily, be it texting when driving, taking a Skype call in a public place without headphones, etc. Just last month I saw an in-law with an iPhone get in front of a wedding photographer so they could get their own photo of the bride walking down the aisle.

We as a society are more reliant on technology than ever, and that isn't something that is going to change and that isn't necessarily a bad thing. Where it becomes negative is when you introduce the idea of "tech etiquette", and the people who ignore it, to the equation. Whether that be older people who don't bother to learn what is/isn't appropriate with it or younger people who were not taught it growing up and just had a tablet tossed at them for entertainment.

As to the concept of photo taking being self absorbed behavior: photo taking (for most) isn't so much about being self-absorbed as it is about capturing a moment that you may not have again and having something tangible to remember it by. Granted, social media has spurred those who are self-absorbed to do this more, but I still find that to be a smaller subset of people.

 

[Astro_Digital]

Photography etiquette within the parks
Does not exist.

People take pictures then, what ?
Who looks at the pictures after a vacation ?

When I first went we purchase 15 or 20 rolls of film, develop them put them in an album that we never pull out.
Now with digital pictures costing nothing "except if you pay Disney for a Photo Pass" even more pictures are stored on the cloud never to see the light of day.

We look at these pictures very rarely, we take them because the cost nothing but seldom do we see them again

 

[RustySpork]

As a "younger folk" who works in the tech field and has been a photographer, I feel the need to respond to this.

This is much more a societal thing than a generational thing. We as a society have moved in this direction. I see people older than me using technology in ways they shouldn't/rude ways almost daily, be it texting when driving, taking a Skype call in a public place without headphones, etc. Just last month I saw an in-law with an iPhone get in front of a wedding photographer so they could get their own photo of the bride walking down the aisle.

We as a society are more reliant on technology than ever, and that isn't something that is going to change and that isn't necessarily a bad thing. Where it becomes negative is when you introduce the idea of "tech etiquette", and the people who ignore it, to the equation. Whether that be older people who don't bother to learn what is/isn't appropriate with it or younger people who were not taught it growing up and just had a tablet tossed at them for entertainment.

As to the concept of photo taking being self absorbed behavior: photo taking (for most) isn't so much about being self-absorbed as it is about capturing a moment that you may not have again and having something tangible to remember it by. Granted, social media has spurred those who are self-absorbed to do this more, but I still find that to be a smaller subset of people.

The older generation often blames younger generations for the things that they themselves are often the most guilty of. The projection is real.

 

[LittleBuford]

As a "younger folk" who works in the tech field and has been a photographer, I feel the need to respond to this.

This is much more a societal thing than a generational thing. We as a society have moved in this direction. I see people older than me using technology in ways they shouldn't/rude ways almost daily, be it texting when driving, taking a Skype call in a public place without headphones, etc. Just last month I saw an in-law with an iPhone get in front of a wedding photographer so they could get their own photo of the bride walking down the aisle.

We as a society are more reliant on technology than ever, and that isn't something that is going to change and that isn't necessarily a bad thing. Where it becomes negative is when you introduce the idea of "tech etiquette", and the people who ignore it, to the equation. Whether that be older people who don't bother to learn what is/isn't appropriate with it or younger people who were not taught it growing up and just had a tablet tossed at them for entertainment.

As to the concept of photo taking being self absorbed behavior: photo taking (for most) isn't so much about being self-absorbed as it is about capturing a moment that you may not have again and having something tangible to remember it by. Granted, social media has spurred those who are self-absorbed to do this more, but I still find that to be a smaller subset of people.

Well said! I’m in my mid-30s, so not old but not terribly young either. The behaviour under discussion here cuts across generations. The same goes for so much else that is routinely blamed on those pesky young ’uns.

 

[JohnD]

Whether you have a phone or camera, you're going to want a photo of the icon in the hub. I'd say that's part of life in a Disney park since October 1, 1971. I don't mind that so much.

What I do mind is dolts who insist on taking a flash photo inside a dark ride disrupting my experience of the ride. I came to enjoy a ride, not have echo flash inside my eyelids. And what do they have to show for it when exiting the ride? A washed out useless photo.

 

[LukeS7]

Whether you have a phone or camera, you're going to want a photo of the icon in the hub. I'd say that's part of life in a Disney park since October 1, 1971. I don't mind that so much.

What I do mind is dolts who insist on taking a flash photo inside a dark ride disrupting my experience of the ride. I came to enjoy a ride, not have echo flash inside my eyelids. And what do they have to show for it when exiting the ride? A washed out useless photo.

100% agree. Flash photography during dark rides is an actual problem, and it's amazing how many people just have the thought process of "FLASH MAKE PHOTO BETTER"