Planning a trip to Disneyland Park and want to get awesome Disneyland family photos? Keep scrolling to find out how to book a Disneyland photography session at an affordable price!
This post about how to book an epic Disneyland photography session was written by family travel expert Marcie Cheung and contains affiliate links, which means if you purchase something from one of my affiliate links, I may earn a small commission that goes back into maintaining this blog.
Create lasting memories by booking an epic, fun-filled Disneyland Photography Session for the whole family.
If you’re planning a trip to Disneyland Park or Disneyland Resort, you might want to make sure you capture your moment and the most magical photos of your family while you’re there.
We booked a photographer who has been photographing families at Disneyland for years, and he knew all the best spots for photos.
Not only that, but he also had some great tips for how to make the most of our Disneyland photography session. Keep scrolling to learn more!
A professional photographer who knows all the secrets can help ensure that you get amazing photos without any random people in them.
And they’ll probably save you a lot of time wandering around trying to find those spots yourself.
Check out my full guide to Disneyland photography for families below!
Don’t want to scroll? Click HERE for $25 off a Flytographer photoshoot!
Don’t have time to read a bunch of Disneyland blog posts and reviews? Here are some of our top picks for visiting Disneyland with kids.
Where to Stay at Disneyland
- Disney Grand Californian Hotel & Spa (it’s expensive but has a private entrance to Disney California Adventure)
- Howard Johnson Hotel & Water Playground (the water park is pretty fabulous)
- Courtyard by Marriott Anaheim Theme Park Entrance (amazing water park and has bunk beds)
- Fairfield by Marriott Anaheim Resort (it’s so close to the park, and the rooms are awesome)
- Best Western Plus Anaheim Inn (this is my favorite Disneyland budget hotel)
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Disneyland Photography FAQs
I always recommend doing both. The PhotoPass is great for getting photos with characters or at specific spots around the park. It’s also a good option if you don’t have a time crunch, and you can do them throughout the day. Hiring a Disneyland photographer is for a short amount of time, and you’ll want to maximize it by avoiding those lines. You can also refer to the Disney app for more information.
Nope! Those have been against the rules for a few years. You can take selfies with your phone, just not with a selfie stick.
Yep! Check with them to see if they have a DSLR or Mirrorless camera, as a full camera bag with tons of gear might raise eyebrows. Photographers who shoot at Disneyland frequently know exactly what they can use in the park.
Are Disneyland Family Photos Worth It?
Absolutely! When you think about how much money you’re spending on your vacation in Disney World, it would really suck to come home and realize that you only have a handful of “decent” photos.
I mean, there’s always one kid who is either sticking out their tongue or looking bored. Or one of the grown-ups is taking the photo and only gets in the shot for an awkward selfie.
We live in a very visual era, and it can sometimes be difficult to remember trips if you don’t have photos. And if all your photos are meh, you might not remember how much FUN everyone had in the Happiest Place on Earth!
The Disneyland Photopass
The Walt Disney World is truly a magical place, and they know how to capitalize on this by allowing visitors and tourists to take IG-worthy photos.
One of the easiest ways to do that is to use the Disneyland Photopass, which you can access in the Disneyland app.
The PhotoPass allows you to take photos with your beloved characters in any Disneyland Parks or Disneyland Resorts.
Most, if not all, Disney Parks have a Disney Photopass photographer to take your photos with. They are stationed at common Disneyland backgrounds, and you will notice a queue for those who want their photos taken.
Then, you can check your Disneyland app and view your digital photos. You can download as many photos as you like.
The downside of having your photos taken by a Disney PhotoPass photographer is that the queue may be long, and you would have to wait for your turn. It’s okay if you’re not on the clock.
But if you are, I suggest you hire a photographer to do your personalized photo shoot.
Our Disneyland Photoshoot
After canceling a few trips to Disneyland over the past few years, our family was stoked to finally be back in December 2021. So, we booked a Disneyland photographer to commemorate this.
We’ve done photoshoots at Disneyland in the past, where I wore something from the Disney Dress Shop, and the boys wore button-down shirts, suspenders, and bow ties (which always look adorable).
But, since the whole park was decked out in Christmas decorations, we thought we’d double down and all wear Disney-themed holiday gear.
We found our photographer through Flytographer, which is a network of photographers. It’s super easy to find the photographer of your dreams and book them for your trip to Disneyland.
Although there’s a Disney Photopass Photographer ready to take your photo with the characters you spot within the Walt Disney World, booking a photo session with Flytographer made it much easier.
Click HERE for $25 off a Flytographer photoshoot!
Why You Should Hire a Disneyland Photographer Through Flytographer
1. SECRET INSIDER TIPS
We’ve used Flytographer all over the world, and they ALWAYS know the best photo spots. They often find places that I wouldn’t have found myself, but the photos turn out awesome.
Plus, since they are professional photographers, they know how and where to take photos without getting random people in the background. And we all know how tricky that can be at Disneyland!
And I always pick their brains about the best food spots, “locals only” tips, and how to avoid crowds.
For our photoshoot at Disneyland Park, we did it in the afternoon during the holiday season, and it was packed. Other photographers and large groups were trying to take photos in front of the castle.
But our Flytographer photographer completely bypassed the main photo area, and we took our own special route around the castle to get amazing photos. Then, we circled back to the popular spot, and there were ZERO people, and the lighting was absolutely perfect!
2. POSING HELP
While I love taking fun photos of my kids at Disneyland, I’m not comfortable being in front of the camera myself.
It’s like I forget how to look “normal,” and I end up doing the same things with my hands, standing the same way, and even smiling the same. You might as well just copy and paste the same pose in every photo.
The photographers at Flytographer always know just what to do with me. And I’m so appreciative!
They quickly come up with poses for us, so our photos look natural despite being forced into awkward positions on camera! This also helps relax my kiddos.
After I saw the photos from our first Flytographer shoot, I realized how much of a difference their expert guidance made. Some of my favorite photos are of us doing activities during the shoot so we look natural and spontaneous.
Book a Family Photo Shoot
Whenever we travel, we almost always book a family photo shoot with Flytographer. They are super easy, affordable, AND guarantee that I’ll be in some photos. You can get $25 off if you book through this link or use the code HAWAIITRAVEL.
3. CAN LEAVE YOUR GEAR AT HOME
Families always seem to haul SO much stuff at Disneyland. Maybe you have a diaper bag or stuff for little kids, or you have a million water bottles and snacks, or you have a stroller full of merchandise.
And you probably have at least one backpack with all the stuff your kids might need.
Adding on camera gear is sometimes just not realistic. That’s why it’s awesome to hire Flytographer to haul that stuff for you!
Plus, you can get everyone in the shot without trying out different poses while using a self-timer (and having to repeat it over and over again).
4. THEY ARE FUN + EASY!
If you’ve ever done a holiday photoshoot with your family, you might think I’m crazy for calling it “fun” and “easy,” but I’m speaking the truth!
The Flytographer crew always knows how to make family photoshoots fun! They are able to read each family and pull engaging games and activities out of their imaginary toolbox for the best photos. They are true pros.
At Disneyland, our photographer suggested that our boys grab Mickey Bars and choose their own photo background. This really perked them up and gave them some ownership over our shoot.
He even had them pick a few rides to go on so we could get nice action shots!
Click HERE for $25 off a Flytographer photoshoot!
Top Disneyland Photography Spots
One of the most popular places to take Disney photos at Disneyland is in front of the Sleeping Beauty Castle. It’s so iconic and is on everyone’s Disneyland photo bucket list.
The “It’s a Small World” facade is also a great background because it’s pretty neutral but so recognizable.
Dumbo the Flying Elephant is also popular because your photographer can take a seat in front of you to capture your family enjoying the ride.
And the Tea Cups is an easy attraction for your photographer to sit in the cup with your family and get all the crazy expressions as you spin yourselves dizzy!
If you’re a Star Wars fan, the Galaxy’s Edge is also a great photo opportunity in Disney Parks. The scene is too cool not to take a photo of!
Toon Town has always been a popular photo spot at Disneyland because there are so many cool backgrounds. However, it’s currently being renovated, so it’s not available.
Read more: How to Maximize the Disney Aulani PhotoPass Service
How to Book Affordable Disneyland Photographers
While we’ve used a lot of different vacation photographers throughout the years, some of my most memorable experiences have been through Flytographer.
Basically, it’s a concierge vacation photography website where you can find photographers almost anywhere in the world, including Disneyland. Find the best prices here.
Flytographer makes it really simple to pick the perfect Disneyland family photographer. You can find out all about their photography style and secret places to take photos, and even scroll through their online portfolio before you book your shoot!
Flytographer’s booking process is simple and quick—just pick your preferred dates with a click of a button.
They will then check availability for you so that there’s no stress involved in selecting an available date or time slot when they get back to you with additional information on what works best for them!
What I love most about Flytographer is that they are FAST! We sometimes receive our photos before the end of our trip! I love looking at them on our flight home.
What to Wear for Disney Family Pictures
Of course, you can totally wear whatever you want for your Disney family photos. But I know some people like to get ideas, so I list a few options to add to your Disneyland packing list to make your photos look cohesive.
Pastels
If you are doing your Disneyland photography session in Fantasyland or along Main Street, the best color palette is pastels. We usually do a variety of pastel pink, baby blue, seafoam green, pale yellow, and light purple.
Disneyland Dress Shop
As I mentioned before, I’m a HUGE fan of the Disneyland Dress Shop, and I often wear one of their dresses for our Disneyland photoshoots. Then, I have my boys and husband wear coordinating colors to look cohesive.
If you do wear a dress like this, a crinoline underneath will help showcase it.
Matching Mickey Shirts
One of my favorite things about Disney vacations is coming up with family-matching shirts. These are awesome for walking around the park, but they can also look cool in photos.
We ended up wearing matching Santa Mickey shirts for this Disneyland photoshoot to really play up the holiday theme. Another option would be matching Mickey sweaters.
Minnie Ears
When I’m at Disneyland, I really don’t feel fully dressed without a pair of Minnie ears. And they look so great in the photos!
Minnie Ears works for just about any outfit, and it’s an easy way to make any outfit a bit more “Disney.”
5 Tips for Getting Awesome Disney Family Pictures Every Time
1. DO YOUR HAIR AND MAKEUP
It would be awesome if you could schedule your photos for right when the park opens. This way, you can do your hair and makeup at the hotel and feel your best. But that’s not always possible.
I know it can be tricky to look your best after a day of trekking around Disneyland, but it really helps if you can take a few moments to “clean up.”
You can either plan to go back to your hotel to freshen up or block out some time to head to a Disneyland restroom so you can re-apply makeup and re-do your hair.
2. WATCH POSING VIDEOS
I know that I just raved about Flytographer’s posing abilities, but I always think it’s a smart idea to have as many tools as possible.
That way, you’ll have a few solid “go-to” poses you can try out when you need to change things up.
One of my friends suggested watching posing videos on YouTube to help us figure out simple poses that still look natural yet confident!
This is one of my favorite posing videos because it breaks down a few easy poses that anyone can do.
Watching how-to pose videos has helped me figure out what to do with my hands, where to look, and how many ways there are for flattering your body.
Not only that, but you can get ideas on how to interact with your kids on camera so it looks carefree.
3. GET PHOTOS WITH YOUR PARTNER
Since Disneyland is such a kid-friendly destination, it’s really easy only to be focused on getting photos with your kids.
It’s much rarer to get photos with just your partner. That’s because a lot of families simply forget to ask.
So, now I’ve made it a point to let our Disneyland photographers know that I want to make sure to get a few shots of just me and my husband. These usually end up being some of my favorite photos.
And when you think about it, this might be your best chance of getting any decent photos with your partner during your entire trip.
4. COME UP WITH A SHOT LIST
One of the most important things that you can do for your Disney photographer is to make it clear about what you envision for the shoot. This includes the photography style and family combinations.
Flytographer asks a lot of great questions before your shoot to get you thinking about what you’re looking for so that way your photographer will be on the same page as you.
You’ll also want to consider your photo location and whether you’re picturing something specific (like riding on a carousel or getting shots with a Disney treat).
If you’re a visual person, it can help to scroll Instagram and create a folder of your favorite photos of OTHER families so your photographer can help you replicate some of the ideas.
5. USE PROPS
One last tip for getting the best Disney family photos is to include props.
Kids tend to relax a bit when they are holding something or doing an activity. It helps avoid the awkward “cheese” face so many kids pull as they get older. Plus, it’s a way they can put their own spin on the photos.
Some ideas include Minnie Ears, Mickey hats, bubble wands, Disney stuffies, or a cool souvenir they picked up on the trip.
Oh, and food always works!
Usually, we bribe our kids with a special treat at the end of the photoshoots, which we give them right at the end.
Depending on where you are taking photos, you could do Mickey ice cream bars, Dole Whip, caramel apples, Mickey Rice Krispies Treats, etc. These make up some of my favorite photos of my kids!
Disney Family Photography Wrap-Up
Get your Disneyland family photos taken by one of the best photographers on the islands.
Check out our list of recommended photographers at Disneyland and book a shoot with them today!
Remember to wear something you feel confident in so you can have an awesome photo session at Disneyland. Follow these tips to get perfect pictures, too!
Now get ready for some fun in the most Magical Place on Earth—it’s time to start looking at those cute kiddos again and planning how they’ll look when they’re standing next to that iconic Disney landmark or character.
Check out these awesome Disney family photographers! Click HERE for $25 off a Flytographer photoshoot!
Looking for more Disneyland content? Get my guide to visiting Disneyland while pregnant, how to save money at Disneyland, Disneyland Christmas activities, and how many days you need at Disneyland!