Picture Prices Ouch!

[Iamcruzin]

We always have purchased pictures when we cruise. 2 years ago we spent almost $400 on pictures. We posed infront of every background in different poses and not just on formal night. I am sorry to say that the pictures are in a box somewhere in a closet. Last week we went cold turkey. The only pictures we posed for were the ones in the dinning room or in port where they trap you. We didn't purchase a single picture this time and my wallet is better for it.

[donaldsc]

Maybe not as "professional" as someone who owns a studio, but darn near. These are folks who take photos day in and day out and get paid to do it. That sounds pretty "professional" in my book. Of course, considering the subject matter and the volume they have to produce, some of them have proven to be quite good at it... I've had wonderful photographers onboard who have taken alot of time posing us and getting the right shot within the extreme time constraints under which they work... Would the professional photographers here on the boards like to work under those conditions?

 

:p)

 

Obviously anyone who is paid for taking pictures is, by definition, a professional. Also, cruise photographers do a good job considering that they only have a few minutes to set up the poses and have only limited control over lighting, etc. They are paid for quantity, not quality.

 

However, if you really want good pictures and not cruise shots, you have to go to a land studio where the photographer has good control over lighting and backdrops, takes as many pictures as is necessary, gives you a bunch of proofs, and then professionally retouches the photo to improve it.

 

A cruise photographer can do none of these and the quality of their work reflects this problem. If you want a picture of yourself on the cruise which is basically an overpriced snapshot on cheap photo paper, they are OK. If you want a good portrait, you will not find them on the cruise.

 

DON

[gracie65]

DH and I had our first photos taken since our wedding 5 years ago on our last cruise. The one photo that we purchased was $25?, but was well worth it considering that we made copies at Wal Greens for $2.50 each. We were able to get photos to share with our entire family for under $40. Even at the cheapest studios, I could not have gotten this deal. Not to mention we had different pictures taken on different days and times to choose from. Will I buy another picture? Well that will depend on the quality, but at least I know that I can try and decide from there.

I hope you got a copyright letter from Princess. It wouldn't affect you so much but Walgreen's should have known better then to print copyrighted pictures without the release. Several major stores have been sued in recent years for breaking this Federal Copyright Law.

Just FYI, if you write the cruiselines they will normally mail you back a letter to give you permission to reproduce the pictures.

[NeurosurgeryNP]

Does anyone know why Princess charges so much for pictures purchased on the ship? I know they are a "for profit company" but I think they are very over priced. I would probably buy more often if they were a little more reasonable.

I don't think theyn are unreasonable when you look at the product you are getting - especially the posed shots by the professional photographers on formal nights and the casual photos. There is no sitting fee. When we purchased extra 8X10's from our wedding photographer, we also paid $25 a photo, the same price you will pay on the ship. The quality of the photos and the paper was equivocal IMO.

[rcacace]

Not that we buy pictures any more but just how does anyone know if the pictures are copyrighted or not? I can't see any markings to show they are. Are there watermarks that I can't see unless reproduced?

Just curious. :confused:

[gracie65]

Not that we buy pictures any more but just how does anyone know if the pictures are copyrighted or not? I can't see any markings to show they are. Are there watermarks that I can't see unless reproduced?

Just curious. :confused:

 

It has Copyright printed on the back. Most places like walmart, CVS etc. will see that & refuse to print. Sometimes it does slip through the cracks & they are done anyway. If you write to the cruiseline they will normally mail you a copyright release letter if you will just ask.

 

Here is a link that might be helpful: http://www.photolaw.net/faq.html

[mycruz]

I can certainly see paying for the formal pictures, but the casual ones are the what I really have issue with. Isn't it great though that we have a choice? can't imagine spending $400 for picture on one cruise though, yikes! :eek:

[gracie65]

I can certainly see paying for the formal pictures, but the casual ones are the what I really have issue with. Isn't it great though that we have a choice? can't imagine spending $400 for picture on one cruise though, yikes! :eek:

 

A few cruises ago it was our 11th cruise but our very first time to take our son who at the time was 6. Being a professional photographer I have lots of photos of my son & husband just none with me in them. I spent $700.00 on that cruise on pictures. To me photography is a passion. I had no family photos of the three of us so it was worth every penny. It's just one of those things where it's each persons personal taste. My husband prefers to spend his money in the casino. It's not my thing, but if he enjoys it on a vacation. We all have things that mean more to us then others as far as where we spend our extra money on a vacation.

 

I do wish they would implement a new type of photography set up. They do seem to waste a lot of paper. I'm sure with the economy the way it is people are spending less money on some of the cruise extras so even more paper is wasted. I offer online viewing to my customers. It saves me time & paper. I love the way Disney does with the photocard, it would make it so much easier. Maybe one day the cruiselines will finally switch to that kind of method.

[rcacace]

I love the way Disney does with the photocard, it would make it so much easier. Maybe one day the cruiselines will finally switch to that kind of method.

 

I'm assuming that there are many kiosks available for viewing or do you just have to wait in long lines as usual. :eek:

[galsmiley]

I wish they would give the option of a 4 x 6 (especially for the embarkation and port photos). They could then cut the price and I don't have to be a scrapbooking enthusiast to put them in a book. :)

[RickEk]

It has Copyright printed on the back. Most places like walmart, CVS etc. will see that & refuse to print. Sometimes it does slip through the cracks & they are done anyway. If you write to the cruiseline they will normally mail you a copyright release letter if you will just ask.

 

Here is a link that might be helpful: http://www.photolaw.net/faq.html

 

 

The photos we bought a few weeks ago have the copyright symbol ( © Princess ) on the back.

 

Most reputable mass-market photofinishing shops (Target, Walmart, CVS etc.) will not print without the release, but you might find a newbie employee who won't know the difference. I have heard that Kinko's apparently doesn't care... and will print anything.

 

Definitely get a release from the line though, it protects you from the possibility of a lawsuit (I truly don't think that a cruise line would sue you for reproducing a photo for personal use, but ya never know...). They will be more than happy to send you one and then you can get your $2.89 8x10 reprints legally.

[gracie65]

I'm assuming that there are many kiosks available for viewing or do you just have to wait in long lines as usual. :eek:

No, you go online to a web site when you get home. I think they give you 30 days to order.

[rcacace]

I wish they would give the option of a 4 x 6 (especially for the embarkation and port photos). They could then cut the price and I don't have to be a scrapbooking enthusiast to put them in a book. :)

 

I know the feeling. :mad: I would buy a few every now & then but everything lately has been 8x10 priced at a minimum of $20 each.

[psyfi]

FYI--Disney does this at all their parks with all their photographers so I'm certain it was plenty expensive to make the change!

Cruise ships bank on people making impulse buys of photos--gee honey don't we look happy? Gotta buy that "memory"!