I came to find there are very few photos of me. And the ones that are there are definitely not quality….
So my simple tip for you this week is to find EVERY Photopass Photographer you can and FORCE your family into a photo. Then you have a fighting chance of getting a picture worth keeping.
- Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party
- Pete’s Silly Sideshow
- Kilimanjaro Safaru
The great thing about the Disney Photopass is they will also use your camera in addition to theirs. I like the odds that one of them will come out ok.
If you can’t find a Disney Photopass Photographer do not be afraid to ask another guest. You can also offer to trade photos and you take one of their family too. I will often stop and offer to take photos of other people.
So get yourself IN those pictures MOMS!

Yes! Get in the photo get an Xshot if you’re not doing Photopass).
I had to google Xshot. How fun is that! But I do believe my husband would disown me if I carried that around. He can’t stand the camera bag and I won’t even attempt to carry a tripod. But this may be added to my solo trip kits. Thanks for the recommendation!
Such great advice! It is so hard to get the whole family in a photo and those Photopass photographers are usually so gracious. We always ask them to take some with our own camera first and then they will usually take much more time when they use their own camera for Disney’s Photopass!
Kellie – I agree they are great about that. It’s funny though – even when they spend more time using their cameras I still like the shots from my camera better. I think this happens when I take the time to set my camera up right for them.
The very first thing that I thought of when I heard this week’s theme was also Mom! You are so right about how important it is to have mom in the pictures!
Great minds think alike Gayle! We are important!!
What great suggestions, Mary! This is why I LOVE PhotoPass!
If there was no Photopass there would be no proof I existed!
Good advice! We use the Photopass photographers too so we can both get in the shot. Otherwise there would be a lot of photos of me. 🙂
Lol! Well you are the center of attention. 😉
So true! PP are the best! The XShot extender is handy for lighter cameras but probably not your DSLR. Thanks so much for sharing and for joining in the Disney Wordless Wednesday Blog Hop fun!
I saw that. Thinking it might be good for my iPhoneography and instagram shots. And I could always resurrect that old point and shoot if I had to. : )
Photopass saves MOMS! Great tips and pics
I agree! I would be nothing without them.
SO true. There are so very few GOOD photos of me taken by family members on our trips.
I can’t figure it out. I had my husband a point and shoot and tell him not to change a thing and still everything is out of focus!
Great tip on using Photopass- it’s so hard when you’re the family photographer!
So true! The price we pay for trying to capture the magic.
As always, such perfect advice Mary. Unfortunately, there was no Photopass when my kids were young, so I am completely absent from most every single Walt Disney World memory. Photopass should pay you a commission! (And congrats on getting your blog back- I think it was SO worth it!!)
I have many non-Disney trips where I do not exist. It’s sad.
Great advice! It’s so easy to forget to make sure there are pictures of the whole family with the photographer. I love you pictures, especially the one of your family in front of MK at Christmas!
Thanks Kimberly. I had to force my husband to do that photo. So happy I did.
Can’t agree with you more, Photopass is a great way to get some shots of everyone. You can even ask the photopass photographer to take a shot with your camera. But we still have a lot of shots like your first group :).
Sorry to hear there are others with fantastic photos of themselves in such unflattering angles. Here’s to Photopass Photgraphers everywhere!
Great interpretation of this week’s theme and a great tip! Although quite honestly, I’m not a big fan of having my picture taken, so I even try to avoid the PhotoPass pictures too 😉 I think they must be used to it, because they always seem to get me anyway!
Thanks for sharing this week!
I had to laugh at that. Typically I don’t want my picure taken but at the same time want my kids to know I was there. I think it is a balancing act. And only use the Photopass Photographers on cute days and before you sweat!
LOL Mary, great minds think alike! I love all of your mom shots and your kids will be forever grateful them too 🙂
Suz
That is what I am counting on!
Here, here Magical Mom! Love it!
I hadn’t tried the PhotoPass idea in earnest until our last trip, when I had pre-purchased the CD and wanted to “get our money’s worth, dagnabbit”! I agree, that was one of my favorite parts – actually having vacation pictures with the whole family in them. 🙂
I am still waiting for my ‘get my money’s worth trip’. My family won’t know what hits them when I do!
Hi! Stopping by from Texas Women Bloggers!! I am not shy about asking people to take pictures for me when I\’m on vacation. I like having group pictures!! Have a great day!
🙂
Rachel