Mark
10-24-2007, 01:48 PM
I was at WDW last week with my camera gear. My family wasn't with me, so I figured I'd just take the opportunity to take pictures. Twice during my trip I was stopped by Disney security. They wanted to know whether I was taking pictures for personal or professional use.
It seemed like a pretty silly question. After all, if I was taking them for professional use, I probably wouldn't admit it, knowing that I'd be told that I couldn't. Fortunately, both security guards took my word for it that I was just doing it for myself.
With the second guard (who stopped me while I was entering Epcot), I asked about what the rules were. She said that anyone taking professional shots needed to have a Disney guide with them at all times. I asked if I could get a guide (wouldn't that be cool), and she said that it was very difficult to get one and took quite a while.
I also asked her what sort of photographic behavior would elicit unwanted attention from security. She said that taking pictures of backstage or construction areas was the biggest no-no.
I want to stress that both guards were very nice and I wasn't being "harrassed." They just politely inquired.
Ever been harrassed for shooting at Disney? Anyplace else? Run into any other restrictions on shooting with "professional" gear?
BTW, there is a rumor that some other Tagger took a shot of me loaded down with a ridiculous amount of gear. The picture has me looking like a freak all festooned with gear and pods carrying who knows what. It just shows what sort of crazy images people can create with photoshop these days. I was really just carrying my one little camera and a few odds and ends.
It seemed like a pretty silly question. After all, if I was taking them for professional use, I probably wouldn't admit it, knowing that I'd be told that I couldn't. Fortunately, both security guards took my word for it that I was just doing it for myself.
With the second guard (who stopped me while I was entering Epcot), I asked about what the rules were. She said that anyone taking professional shots needed to have a Disney guide with them at all times. I asked if I could get a guide (wouldn't that be cool), and she said that it was very difficult to get one and took quite a while.
I also asked her what sort of photographic behavior would elicit unwanted attention from security. She said that taking pictures of backstage or construction areas was the biggest no-no.
I want to stress that both guards were very nice and I wasn't being "harrassed." They just politely inquired.
Ever been harrassed for shooting at Disney? Anyplace else? Run into any other restrictions on shooting with "professional" gear?
BTW, there is a rumor that some other Tagger took a shot of me loaded down with a ridiculous amount of gear. The picture has me looking like a freak all festooned with gear and pods carrying who knows what. It just shows what sort of crazy images people can create with photoshop these days. I was really just carrying my one little camera and a few odds and ends.