Photographers toning it down ?

[fantasy51]

Bob, I understand about not wanting to move. I had this problem with friends last month. They wanted the photos and I didn't so I just sat where I was and let THEM move.

[fantasy51]

Last December I spoke to one of the photographers. She was very nice and polite and not at all pushy. I explained that I wouldn't have my photos taken as it's so rare that I get one that I like, and it would just be a waste of her materials. She answered by telling me that in fact it would help her meet her targets. That being the case, I submitted to the photo. As luck would have it, it was the only decent photo I've had taken on a cruise ship so I bought it for my mother.

 

Anyway, this could explain why so many of the photographers are pushy. They have targets to meet and they are being pushed by their supervisors. They therefore do whatever it takes. It's not good, but it shows that if we are annoyed, we need to talk to the supervisors or to Cunard, not take it out on the photographers themselves. If they are already being bullied by their workplace rules, let's not bully them further.

[glojo]

Hullo Glojo,

 

The problem ( at least as I see it ) is that the photographers actually stop passengers going about their day, and insist the passenger stop and has a photo taken.

 

In July and Aug on at least two cruises ( see Ossiesmum's posting as well as my own) they did not take a "no thanks" as meaning "I do not want my photo taken ,- instead they stopped passengers as they boarded, and told them that they needed to stop and pose for a photo because quote "you will need it for ID on the ship". The implication being that without it the passenger would be denied service .

 

This of course was a lie , and legally the photographer was committing fraud.

 

Past passengers knew this and told the photographers so, but there are always first timers, someone who normally does not travel, for whom the cruise was a once in a lifetime event, perhaps they booked with their local travel agent who also had never cruised.

 

Such passengers would get "suckered".

 

At dinner, you are enjoying your meal and having pleasant conversation, up comes a photographer interrupting and insisting we should

a/ "have a photo of your companion." (regardless than most likely we had never met until that meal), and

b/ "you need a group photo".

 

Why would they think anyone would need a photo of themselves with a bunch of strangers????

 

Of course no one is forced to buy at the outrageous prices , but and speaking only for myself of course I find the intrusion of these photographers into my day/evening a "blankety blank" invasion of my life.

 

In fact I have a hard time trying to maintain a ladylike behavior with them, I feel like grabbing their cameras and stamping them under foot into little pieces.

 

There should be a area OUT of the MAIN area where those who wish to pose in front of a piece of canvas, can do so , without intruding on the rest of us.

 

Why should the rest of us find our walkway blocked , why should I have to walk through the casino to get past these people? . Why should I have to be careful where I put my feet because they have cables running across the walkway?

 

We would soon find a difference if someone fell and Cunard had to pay compensation because they allowed an "unsafe public area".

 

The photographers may be "independent contractors" but Cunard still has the right to insist that they not endanger passenger safety

Hi Jimsgirl,

Thank you for the reply and you make some very valid points, but can they actually charge our accounts for these photographs that they claim are taken for 'id purposes'?

 

Shame on them for trying to take advantage of those that are taking their first cruise and shame on those in authority that either allow or condone this to take place.

[ToadOfToadHall]

I've been at tables where a quick glance around and a few shakes of the head made it clear that no one wanted the table photo, but if the signals are unclear or absent, I suppose that I wouldn't want to be the grouch who spoiled it all for everyone else. How have others handled this?

If the situation is not clear then tell the photographer that you will convene a meeting and a vote will be held. Of course, you'll need to elect a chairman first in order for the vote to be legal. So tell them to come back in a couple of hours when proceedings will have been completed (and by which time you'll have finished your meal of course - and left !).

[ToadOfToadHall]

Hi Jimsgirl,

Thank you for the reply and you make some very valid points, but can they actually charge our accounts for these photographs that they claim are taken for 'id purposes'?

 

No no. You'd still have to go and buy them at the photo place (whatever it's called).

 

But surely, when people found out they were being lied to they'd not buy them anyway ? Neither would you buy any others.

 

It's a good job no one suggested that to me (i.e. the ID thing) when we were getting on the QV 3 weeks ago - otherwise they would have need to see teh ship's doctor to have their camera removed !

[pepperrn]

What is the etiquette when you are sitting at a table for 6 or 8 and the photographer comes over and wants to take a group picture, which will require you to push your chair over or perhaps stand behind some of your seated tablemates, and you'd rather not participate? ... How have others handled this?

Hi rsquare,

I've said "count me out, thank you" and carried on eating ;) . They'll gather the ones who do want the snap to the other side of the table and make certain you're not in the picture (although I've noted that, on many occasions, the photographers will often suggest the "photo opportunity" only at tables that are "between courses").

Best wishes,

[Whitemarsh]

What is the etiquette when you are sitting at a table for 6 or 8 and the photographer comes over and wants to take a group picture, which will require you to push your chair over or perhaps stand behind some of your seated tablemates, and you'd rather not participate? I've been at tables where a quick glance around and a few shakes of the head made it clear that no one wanted the table photo, but if the signals are unclear or absent, I suppose that I wouldn't want to be the grouch who spoiled it all for everyone else. How have others handled this?

 

If someone at the table wants a group photo then it would only take a small act of kindness and an infinitesimally small amount of effort for the rest of the table to indulge them.

 

There is no obligation to buy the photo, nobody loses out financially, nobody will suffer any physical or emotional consequences from participating in a group photo at dinner.

 

Bearing all this in mind, it seems clear that the generous thing to do would be to participate in the group photo.

 

But we're all different, so I imagine that there is not a few of us that would sit there hunched over our dinner whilst we grimaced and glared at the photographer and snarled an angry "Nooooooooo" in response to a photo request.

 

Thankfully, those of us that feel the desire to grab the camera and "stamp it into little pieces under our feet" are (hopefully) in the minority.

 

By the way, I have some lovely group shots from dinner which bring back such happy memories of fun times whenever I look at them. Amusingly, one of them was entitled "Sailaway from New York 22nd December 2012" despite the photo being taken in the Queens Grill in March of 2013 en-route to Brisbane in the Coral Sea.

[jsr0711]

On our recent crossing (September 2013) the photographers were back to obnoxious. At boarding, one even tried to tell us that the photograph was required for "facial recognition." A first-timer we'd been talking with got dragged away and positioned before we could tell him that was baloney.

[Jimsgirl]

On our recent crossing (September 2013) the photographers were back to obnoxious. At boarding, one even tried to tell us that the photograph was required for "facial recognition." A first-timer we'd been talking with got dragged away and positioned before we could tell him that was baloney.

 

So it is still going on, the lie, to scam the innocent. Yes there are innocents boarding, not every one has the finances, the time , or the freedom from everyday life to go travelling three or more times a year.

 

How can any one defend these tactics. Even on this board, we have the 3 Wise Monkeys.

 

Those who , no matter, what will "see no evil, hear no evil and speak no evil ".

 

Call me names if it please you to do so, but for myself - and I write ONLY for myself :-

 

I will not stop when boarding, will not interrupt my meal, will not leave my meal in order to pose with strangers, ([possibly also interrupting those eating nearby), and I will continue to resent having to detour, to go through another area like the casino, because the "public" walkway is blocked by photographers cables, marked off spaces etc

 

It is my right to decide not to participate and I will not be "persuaded" by bullying , or lying photographers, or name calling by those who "do not wish to see, do not wish to hear, do not wish to think" .

 

Cunard needs to curtail these abuses. Set aside an area OUT of the public area and let those who wish to indulge do so without causing a nuisance.

The photographers could have a notice in the daily sheet, just like all other activities.

[ToadOfToadHall]

It seems from what people are saying that it very much depends on the ship you are on. So on the QV they will leave you alone if you simply say "no thanks" and wont chase you up the gang plank (my experience only 2 weeks ago). But it looks like on the QM2 that they lie to passengers and try to trick them into having their photos taken. Seems very underhand to me.

[glojo]

So it is still going on, the lie, to scam the innocent. Yes there are innocents boarding, not every one has the finances, the time , or the freedom from everyday life to go travelling three or more times a year.

 

How can any one defend these tactics. Even on this board, we have the 3 Wise Monkeys.

 

Those who , no matter, what will "see no evil, hear no evil and speak no evil ".

 

Call me names if it please you to do so, but for myself - and I write ONLY for myself :-

 

I will not stop when boarding, will not interrupt my meal, will not leave my meal in order to pose with strangers, ([possibly also interrupting those eating nearby), and I will continue to resent having to detour, to go through another area like the casino, because the "public" walkway is blocked by photographers cables, marked off spaces etc

 

It is my right to decide not to participate and I will not be "persuaded" by bullying , or lying photographers, or name calling by those who "do not wish to see, do not wish to hear, do not wish to think" .

 

Cunard needs to curtail these abuses. Set aside an area OUT of the public area and let those who wish to indulge do so without causing a nuisance.

The photographers could have a notice in the daily sheet, just like all other activities.

I have appreciated your input regarding this issue but I confess that I also agreeing with what Whitemarsh talked about in his last post!!

 

I personally HATE having my picture taken, I cannot emphasis that enough, but if I were with a group and no matter where the location, folks within this group wanted a group photograph, then so be it. If for any problem it took so much time that my meal cooled down then I personally would be happier knowing I was part of the group and I would put up with the inconvienance. BUT... We are all different and all have our own individual characteristics, and respect to you for having yours (you old grouch!!) :eek:;) (humour) .

 

You have however raised an issue that is clearly still going on and thanks to all those that mentioned it we novices are now aware of this scam... Is that the correct word as I am still unsure as to how they would get me to buy the picture if it were taken for 'security' purposes? (getting blood out of a stone comes to mind)

 

Don't let anyone grind you down and keep on posting :)

[balf]

So it is still going on, the lie, to scam the innocent. .

 

It would only really class as a scam if it cost you money surely. However I can't see the logic of paying these photographers by the number they take. Every picture that is printed costs money to produce, far better to pay them on sales.

 

I have no objection to the roadblock set-ups they opperate, I can navigate past them, but do object to the disturbance during dinner.

 

The waiters are quite good at that also, but that's another story.

 

David.

[Whitemarsh]

On our recent crossing (September 2013) the photographers were back to obnoxious. At boarding, one even tried to tell us that the photograph was required for "facial recognition." A first-timer we'd been talking with got dragged away and positioned before we could tell him that was baloney.

 

There is a logical explanation for this. They need a photo of you, and your key card, to match you up for any further photos you take during the voyage. This is to your advantage as when you use one of the automated booths to check out any photos you've taken since, the facial recognition program will have collated all the photos with you in them. They will all appear when you insert your card.

 

I really don't see what the big fuss is about this. It doesn't cost anyone anything and just makes looking at your photos easier.

[Whitemarsh]

So it is still going on, the lie, to scam the innocent. Yes there are innocents boarding, not every one has the finances, the time , or the freedom from everyday life to go travelling three or more times a year.

 

How can any one defend these tactics. Even on this board, we have the 3 Wise Monkeys.

 

Those who , no matter, what will "see no evil, hear no evil and speak no evil ".

 

Call me names if it please you to do so, but for myself - and I write ONLY for myself :-

 

I will not stop when boarding, will not interrupt my meal, will not leave my meal in order to pose with strangers, ([possibly also interrupting those eating nearby), and I will continue to resent having to detour, to go through another area like the casino, because the "public" walkway is blocked by photographers cables, marked off spaces etc

 

It is my right to decide not to participate and I will not be "persuaded" by bullying , or lying photographers, or name calling by those who "do not wish to see, do not wish to hear, do not wish to think" .

 

Cunard needs to curtail these abuses. Set aside an area OUT of the public area and let those who wish to indulge do so without causing a nuisance.

The photographers could have a notice in the daily sheet, just like all other activities.

 

Wow.....:eek:

 

Do every go back and read what you've written??

 

You've accused the photographers of "lying & bullying". You claim that they're scamming the "innocent" and called on Cunard to put a stop to the "abuses".

 

Do the rest of you agree with Jimsgirl? Have we slipped through the looking glass into a world of paranoid delusion where no accusation, no matter how ghastly, is too much to lay at the feet of Cunard staff.

 

Anyone would think Jimsgirl had uncovered a Cunard crime syndicate that was taking advantage of these poor unsuspecting "innocents". When in actual fact, it's highly likely the photographers are just trying to encourage people to have the embarkation shots done (along with the obligatory swipe of the key card) so that the face recognition program will have an easier time of it collating any further photos that are taken.

[Strode Wallace]

I mentioned this in my recent review of a QE Baltic cruise. What I find annoying is that the photo staff erects large backdrops on midships deck three blocking the view of the stairway and then puts up orange "trip hazard" warning signs around the backdrops. Can't they just forgo this and let us enjoy the beauty of the ship and take photos without the fake backdrops surrounded by the warning signs?

[Pushka]

I love photographs and have several thousand on my iPhone. I don't always want my photo taken and have found a quick no thanks is all that's needed.

 

If there is a queue on embarkation then I'll most certainly skip it. But at other times, well, it's just a bit of fun.

 

Although I do understand the ambience is rather ruined by facades and orange witches hats and the like. Plus the daggy electrical cords. That probably annoys me more than the asking.

[Scrapnana]

I must be amazingly unphotogenic because I never have trouble with the photographers. I do stop for the boarding picture because if I buy any, it will be the one.

 

A little off topic...

 

Does Cunard not take your picture when you register and get your key card? Last cruise, we had ours taken (by the check in people not the ship photographers). Then when we purchased something, the picture would show up so they knew you were the legit owner of the card.

[capnpugwash]

I must be amazingly unphotogenic because I never have trouble with the photographers. I do stop for the boarding picture because if I buy any, it will be the one.

 

A little off topic...

 

Does Cunard not take your picture when you register and get your key card? Last cruise, we had ours taken (by the check in people not the ship photographers). Then when we purchased something, the picture would show up so they knew you were the legit owner of the card.

 

Yes they do, I think that the photo that the smudgers are now trying to insist that you have taken is purely for "facial recognition" software uses.

[balf]

There is a logical explanation for this. They need a photo of you, and your key card, to match you up for any further photos you take during the voyage. This is to your advantage as when you use one of the automated booths to check out any photos you've taken since, the facial recognition program will have collated all the photos with you in them. They will all appear when you insert your card.

 

r.

 

Sorry if I appear dim but you've lost me here.

 

When you say "photos you take during the voyage" I presume you mean "have taken", ie by the ships photographers. But this is assuming that everyone will have photos taken (I don't) and if they do, that they will want to view them (I wouldn't)

 

All done for our own convenience of course, but I wonder why this new system is not highlighted in any pre cruise literature.

 

David.

[balf]

 

Does Cunard not take your picture when you register and get your key card? Last cruise, we had ours taken (by the check in people not the ship photographers). Then when we purchased something, the picture would show up so they knew you were the legit owner of the card.

 

Your photo used to actually be on the key card, just like a driving licence. I have often used this as ID when ashore. This was dropped some time ago but when you leave and return to the ship, along with the squeaky voice of welcome or goodby your picture comes up for the check out guy to see. Same with the shop.

 

Some posters have given the impression that the ships photographers are somehow connected to the security system. This is not the case.

 

 

 

David.

[ToadOfToadHall]

Do people actually know that they are using facial recognition software ?

 

Or do they just take your picture and ask for your room number ? That way, the photo would be tagged with your number, so when you pop your card in the machine's slot it can display your photos ?

[Pushka]

Some posters have given the impression that the ships photographers are somehow connected to the security system. This is not the case.

David.

 

My understanding is that the posters here are just the messengers of what some photography people are saying to passengers in order to get them to have photos taken.

 

On RCL your sea passes are swiped. I don't think there's any facial recognition happening on Cunard either.

[Olliesmum]

There is a logical explanation for this. They need a photo of you, and your key card, to match you up for any further photos you take during the voyage. This is to your advantage as when you use one of the automated booths to check out any photos you've taken since, the facial recognition program will have collated all the photos with you in them. They will all appear when you insert your card.

 

I really don't see what the big fuss is about this. It doesn't cost anyone anything and just makes looking at your photos easier.

 

You are missing the point. The photographers are telling passengers their photos are needed for ID and therefore lying to them. The actual quote of what they said on my August trip was "We need to take your photograph for ID."

 

Buying photos, automated systems etc. have nothing to do with.

 

*BTW in a former post I said our trip was on August 5th, in fact the sailing date was August 3rd. (Just in case someone says I must be telling fibs.)

[glojo]

You are missing the point. The photographers are telling passengers their photos are needed for ID and therefore lying to them. The actual quote of what they said on my August trip was "We need to take your photograph for ID."

 

Buying photos, automated systems etc. have nothing to do with.

 

 

Yup and the very act of attempting a deceit is plain wrong and whilst some folks might laugh it off, I can understand why others get more emotive about this behaviour. Live and let live but I still thank those who have highlighted this behaviour.

 

I cannot recall part 2 of my original question being answered but that is probably down to me.

 

do these photographers sometimes leave pictures in our cabins and if we do not return them... we get billed by default?

 

 

 

Regards

John

[capnpugwash]

You are missing the point. The photographers are telling passengers their photos are needed for ID and therefore lying to them. The actual quote of what they said on my August trip was "We need to take your photograph for ID."

 

Buying photos, automated systems etc. have nothing to do with.

 

*BTW in a former post I said our trip was on August 5th, in fact the sailing date was August 3rd. (Just in case someone says I must be telling fibs.)

 

Whilst I agree that these people can be invasive, when they say "We need to take your photograph for ID" they aren't lying. They need your picture for the facial recognition machine. Of course they choose their words cleverly because it is natural to infer that the ID to which they refer is the official ship's ID and not their sales tools.