1313 S. Disneyland Drive here we come!!!
A Disney vacation makes for fun and colorful photos. If you are not as ‘creative’ in capturing photos, no worries. There are so many photo opportunities in the park. Disneyland is very photogenic and the park allows backdrops and scenery for unique and wonderful photos. I love having the memories when we return home and my children love looking at them years down the road. Growing up in a Disney family, some of my favorite memories were made at Disneyland. I love looking back at the photos my parents took and each and every time they make me smile.
Here’s my top 7 tips when heading to Disneyland with your camera.
1 Which Camera to Bring?
I love my DSLR & Tamron lens. I also love my camera phone. I have to say that I use them equally. I bring both with me on vacation. I usually take my DSLR with me on the first day when I know we will be taking a lot of fun shots at the park entrance, main street, and the castle. On days where we will be doing the faster action rides, I usually bring my cell phone. I love having my DSLR when we are taking it easy and not doing a lot of walking like in the evenings when we are seeing shows or visiting just one land in the park. That way the weight of it doesn’t slow me down. No matter what I always have one of them with me.
2 Leave the extras at home!
No need to bring a tripod. I have found that bringing a tripod just means one more thing to carry around and they are just bulky. There are so many garbage cans, rocks, and benches around the park where you can prop your camera on and get a still shot. Pull out a garbage can and use it for your shot, Disney won’t mind just as long as you put it back when you are done. 🙂
3 Backpack it!
While there are many camera bags on the market, I really love using my good ole’ backpack. I wear it at all times since it has everything we need daily at Disneyland within reach. From fruit snacks to park tickets & baby wipes it’s my go-to bag. I never take it off, even on the rides. I would hate to bring my camera bag and since it’s bulky and not comfortable to wear on my shoulder the entire trip. I could just see me getting annoyed with it and putting it in the bottom of my stroller and in the excitement forget it’s there and have it stolen.
4 Be Ready!
You place your kids in the perfect spot and they hold still and smile perfectly for the camera! NOT, do they ever hold still!?! I never know when a moment will present its self so I have to be ready. I like to keep my camera on my neck when I know we are in Princess Territory or near an iconic spot where Mickey is known to show up. This ensures I am ready when the Magic happens.
5 Charge Up!
Make sure you bring extra batteries if needed for your camera. You wouldn’t want your camera to die right when Mickey Mouse shows up, would you? If you have to purchase these in the park you will pay a premium and I am sure you won’t be happy about it. Also we like to put all our photos on our laptop when we get back to the room each night. We also plug in our camera so it’s charged and ready to go the next day. Just little things you may forget in all the excitement that make a big difference.
6 Get in the Picture!
This is the one I fail on every vacation. I get so busy taking the pictures that I forget to get in them. Remind yourself to hand over the camera every once in a while and get in on a shot or two. You will be happy to actually ‘see’ yourself in the memories years later.
7 Enjoy the Magic
Remember you don’t have to be obsessed with taking pictures your entire trip. If you do you will wind up missing out on a lot of the fun. Remember it’s okay to put your camera away to enjoy the moments.
Get the most out of your DSLR with a quality Tamron lens.
Remember that it’s not so much how ‘perfect’ your photos are, but more of having the memories when you get home.
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