Ultimate Disney Parks Photography Guide

ByTom Bricker
255 Comments

Looking for the best camera or lenses, tips for taking great photos or to improve your photography? This guide offers tutorials to take better photos in a variety of scenes at Walt Disney World, Disneyland, and beyond! (Updated July 17, 2024.)

These tips will help you take better photos of Disney fireworks, dark rides, Cinderella Castle, and much more that’s specific to the parks. However, the first thing you should do is learn the basics of photography. For this, I highly recommend a copy of UnderstandingExposure, which covers the technical side of photography. For understanding what makes for an aesthetically pleasing photo, read The Photographer’s Eye, which covers composition.

All of the expensive equipment in the world won’t help you if you haven’t learned the basics, and those two books are the best way to learn the basics and how to take photos that aren’t just snapshots. Books are how I taught myself photography and many others have done the same. Books are a lot cheaper than a new lens, and if you’re a beginner, those will improve your photography more than a new gear. You are better off with an iPhone plus skill and knowledge than a $10,000 camera and cluelessness.

Along those lines, realize that no camera “takes good pictures.” Some cameras can help an adept photographer more than others, but if the person taking the photos doesn’t do things right, photos taken with a fancy camera can look worse than photos taken with an iPhone. Likewise, many experienced photographers can take better photos with an iPhone than inexperienced photographers can with expensive DSLRs on Auto Mode.

This guide will primarily focus on providing you with resources for learning more about photography, so you can really take your photos to the next level. If you’re sitting around at home practicing social distancing or self-quarantining, the good news is that this is the perfect time to learn photography!

It’s surprisingly easy to improve your photography at home, alternating between reading books and practicing with subjects around your house or in your backyard (my #1 subject for testing out new photography techniques is our cat!). Knowledge is so much more important than equipment, and once you learn more about photography, you realize you don’t need to waste additional money on more equipment!

With that update out of the way, let’s continue with a few of my favorite photography books…

Disney Photography Tips

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We’ve done a number of blog posts providing tips for improving your photography at Disney. I can’t stress enough that knowledge is the biggest component of taking good photos at Walt Disney World (and beyond!) so you should really read some of the tutorials I’ve written. They have helped a lot of people.

You should read these after you read Understanding Exposure. These guides all assume you have a decent foundation to understand the basics of photography, and you might be confused by these if you don’t know the basics:

This just scratches the surface on the photography guides we’ve written. To read and learn more, browse the photography category of posts on the blog. Once you’ve learned a bit, it might be time to buy some new equipment to help you take better photos. Read on for our buying suggestions…

Cameras

The first thing you need to do is determine which type of camera is right for you. Over the past decade, I’ve tested 20+ cameras and talked with hundreds of beginners who wondered which camera to buy. From that, I’ve learned that the “right” camera for a beginner is almost entirely a matter of personal preference and goals.

For the vast majority of people, modern camera phones are more than capable. Newer models of the iPhone, Samsung Galaxy, Google Pixel–and probably other phones with which I’m unfamiliar–are all fantastic. If you’re simply sharing on social media and don’t have demanding conditions, specific use cases, or need the highest quality, camera phones are probably good enough. They are the right answer for 90% of people, which is a big reason why the camera market is shrinking. I even regularly forgo taking my big camera bag and just use my phone!

Let’s assume that, for whatever reason, you want a dedicated camera. When thinking about which type to buy, you have to think about your intent. Are you primarily interested in capturing quality photos of your family’s memorable moments on vacation? Consider a nice point & shoot. Concerned about camera size and weight? Go point & shoot. Want an starter camera that will make learning easier? Again, think point & shoot.

We think the Sony RX100 is the best point & shoot camera line on the market. I’ve used multiple different versions of this camera since it launched over a decade ago, and have been wowed by all of them. Unfortunately, Sony hasn’t updated this line in a few years and the RX100 VII is still really expensive despite that. You might be able to pick up a used or older model cheaper–and I’d recommend considering that. Mine is still going strong 5 years later.

Another alternative would be opting for the Sony ZV-1, which is a newer camera that costs less than half the price of the Rx100 VII. It’s marketed at vloggers, meaning that it’s also very capable of video. As someone who exclusively does photography, this isn’t a selling point for me. But it’s fairly undeniable that the Sony ZV-1 offers better bang for buck, and is a nice upgrade from iPhone quality photos and videos.

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Everything above that is either going to be a DSLR (if you’re old school) or a mirrorless camera. My two main cameras now are the Nikon Z7 II full frame mirrorless camera and Nikon D850 DSLR. Both of these are pro grade cameras that offer unparalleled performance. They’re not cheap, and are only recommended for those who are truly serious about photography and have unmet needs by lower-tier cameras. I would not recommend anyone learning photography purchase either of these.

Honestly, I’m not sure which entry-level “big” cameras I would recommend at this point. My camera testing and reviewing days are behind me, and I’ve been so satisfied with the Nikon D850 and then the Nikon Z7 II that I haven’t bounced around trying other cameras in the last ~5 years. Consequently, I’ve become a bit out of touch with entry level models and what Canon, Nikon, Sony, and other brands are doing to innovate.

If you want look at the equipment I currently carry, check out What’s In My Camera Bag for 2024. That’s going to be the best resource if you’re interested in going with a full frame Nikon mirrorless camera and are wondering which lenses to purchase.

Ultimately, which of these cameras you buy depends upon how serious you are about photography. If you’re just getting started, no matter how excited you are about photography, it’s probably smart to not buy anything above an entry level model, no matter how large your budget.

Guide Conclusion

As mentioned above, the vast majority of people just getting started in photography are probably best suited by a high-end point and shoot camera, with my absolute top pick being the Sony RX100. This is a great way to get a taste of serious photography with customizable settings and excellent image quality, but in a compact package. Most people won’t outgrow that camera, but if you do, then look at DSLRs or mirrorless cameras.

If you’ve already decided that a DSLR camera is your best option, you’ll want to think about everything you need to go along with it to really take your photography to the next level. If you’re on a limited budget, start out by making 3 upgrades: 1) tripod, 2) wide angle lens, 3) prime portrait lens or mid-range zoom lens. I’d say these are the 3 best purchases a new photographer of the Disney Parks can make to improve their game.

However, if you really want to take your photography to the next level, gear is not what you need–at least not exclusively. What you need is knowledge. You will never take amazing photos in auto mode. You need to start by getting a copy of Understanding Exposure to learn the fundamentals, and then read more advance books, tutorials, and practice like crazy. Anyone can become great at photography, but you can’t get there just by purchasing fancy toys. 🙂

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Finally, a word of warning. Don’t take shortcuts when buying photography equipment. Yes, it’s expensive, but I’ve discovered first-hand that buying photo gear on eBay or Craigslist is a huge risk. You don’t know how the seller took care of their gear, if it’s grey market (meaning US manufacturers won’t service it if there’s a problem), or what problems may come up down the road. You also don’t save that much over buying new. Finally, you don’t get a warranty. Things do go wrong with cameras, seemingly inexplicably, and it would really stink for that $1,000 investment to break with no recourse for you.

We’re Amazon Prime members, so we almost always order from Amazon.com. I also recommend Adorama.com, B&H Photo, or Abes of Maine, but I generally avoid all other online photo retailers (I STRONGLY recommend avoiding J&R Cameras due to two negative experiences I’ve had with them). By the way, if you are considering a purchase of any photography equipment, lenses, or anything else for that matter we would greatly appreciate it if you use the links in this post to make your purchase. It benefits the site, doesn’t cost you a dime, and helps us to keep providing you with useful(?) content!

Your Thoughts

What have you found helped improve your photography? Have other photography tips of your own to add? Other gear recommendations? If you have questions, please leave them in the comments below and I’ll try my best to help!

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255 Comments

  1. Hi Tom,
    Hopefully I’m not repeating a question here, but I was wondering what post processing software you use, e.g. Photoshop, Photoshop Elements, Lightroom, etc., if any? I am realizing more and more that most great photos are not just straight off the SLR but have been post processed in some way. Also wondering what kinds of post processing techniques you find yourself using most often? I understand if you don’t want to reveal all of your tricks, but any pointers would be appreciated!
    Thanks,
    Jane (Disneyland trip scheduled for this September – can’t wait!!!)

    Reply

  2. Great info. Another option to consider is a nice micro 4/3 setup. You get a lot of fun interchangeable lens options with much less weight for your aching shoulders and back. Everything from fish eye to telephoto are at your disposal and you can throw them all in a small bag (I use a camera bag insert in a normal backpack). You may sacrifice some image quality, but for most of us that’s ok and usually still significantly better than a point and shoot.

    Also, someone mentioned the Disney photographers. While this may the wrong crowd for that kind of thing, they’re a great resource for getting everyone in your party into particular shots because they are happy to take you photo with your gear.

    Reply

  4. WAIT. Hold on. You take all these photos on your blog?! I totally thought they were stock images, but I’m pretty new here 😉 They are beautiful!! Every post I read, I think to myself “dang, those are some gorgeous photos.” Great color, great clarity, great composition, just so great! I am a wedding photographer, and I have never brought my dSLR with me to Disney World just because I hate flying with it, and I figured I wouldn’t enjoy carrying it around the parks. I’m also kind of nervous about damaging it, since it’s my money-maker 🙂 haha.

    I usually take my Canon Powershot S95, and it’s ok, but not awesome. It’s nice to be able to turn it around and take some snapshots of me and my husband without much trouble. It’s a little harder to do that with my Mark iii unless I have my 28mm on. Since we’re driving this year, I think I might try to take my backup camera, a Mark ii, especially if we get to stay in Kidani! It’ll be fun to take some photos of the scenery there.

    Reply

  5. Hi! Hopefully you know this already from my comments but I read your blog all the time. 🙂 I’m looking into wireless remotes, and I was wondering if the $15 Nikon one you suggested works with a canon camera as well.

    thanks so much!!! Keep the great posts coming!

    Reply

    1. Somehow I don’t think many people are going to be satisfied with that idea…

    2. Not unless a photographer follows me around and takes pictures of everything i want. LOL

  7. Hi Tom!

    First of all what a great website you have. I stumbled upon this blog while searching…what else taking better pictures at Disney World. 🙂

    I will be taking the family to Disney World this coming September. (we have been to Disneyland and Disney World several times)

    I own a Nikon D5100 along with this lens line-up…
    Nikon 35mm f/1.8G DX
    Nikon 17-85mm f/3.5-5.6G VR DX
    Nikon 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6F VR (FX)

    I was only planning on taking the the 35mm & 17-85. Leaving the 70-300 at home.(yes I know the extra reach would be nice at Animal Kingdom, but my family already visits many zoos. I have enough animal shots).

    So my question is this…. what general advice can you provide for general picture taking for the electric parade, inside with character meals, at night. What settings do you most commonly use? Aperature Priority? Full Manual? Good starting poiont for increasing the ISO. I have some great shot at Cars Land (California Adventure Park) where I had to increase the ISO to 3200 & 6400. Is that a good starting point for the parades? My newest lens is the 35mm f/1.8. I really looked hard at the Sigma 30mm and 18-30 but, due to other home costs, those lens jsut were not in the budget for right now. Yet I knew I needed a big aperature for Disney for the reasons a mentioned above. Hence the purchase of the 35mm prime. (which I know is a faboulous lens in itself).

    Any general setting guidelines would be most helpful. thanks you in advance. You have some amazing pictures for which you gave me some ideas what I want to shoot this fall besides the stand family with kids pictures.

    with my regards

    Reply

  8. I didn’t see it mentioned above– what kind of camera strap do you use? Any thoughts on cross body straps?

    Reply

  9. Tom, Congratulations on your photos making it to the Disney Parks Photo Project! I’ve just seen them on tumblr and they are absolutely stunning.

    Reply

  10. Excellent info here and love reading it to review or get new tips, thanks! We have a great camera system but sometimes just want to travel light for a day with our iPhones (4 & 5). Do you have any experience with lens for them or any recommendations?

    Reply

  11. Do you have any experience with or have you heard anything about he Nikon Coolpix L820. I want a camera that takes decent pics for family vacations, etc. I cannot afford a DSLR and I think that maybe too much camera/too complicated for me anyway. I only have about $250 to spend on a camera so I was looking for something in that range. I would really appreciate any feedback you could give me as your photos are always so wonderful. PS. I am currently using my Smartphone as a camera and I hate it.

    Reply

  12. Hello Tom,

    I found your site recently and it is really helpful for me, a beginner into photography. I saw your recommendation about the lens filter and it mostly you talked about screw in filter. Did you use any drop in filter or any suggestions to get them?

    I have Canon 50D + below lenses
    50mm F1.8 (prime), 24-70mm F2.8, 10-22mm, 55-250mm

    Looking for adding filter as you mentioned. But still not convinced to get screw in as it requires much time and has less flexibility to switch to multiple lenses.
    Please reply me.

    Reply

    1. Unfortunately, I only have experience with screw-in filters. I’ve considered using a drop-in system for my Nikon 14-24, but have yet to go that route. It’s a lot of extra hassle in a theme park setting.

  13. I was thinking about the Nikkor AF-S DX 35mm f/1.8 G as I can’t find the old Sigma 35mm 1.4 anywhere new and the new one that can zoom is a bit out of my price range right now.

    Reply

    1. Look for the Sigma 30mm f/1.4, not the Sigma 35mm f/1.4. Two different lenses–the latter is full frame and is much more expensive!

  14. I have 2 kit lenses and was wondering what I should pick up or upgrade next. I have a AF-S DX Nikkor 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 and a AF-s DX Nikkor 55-300mm f/4.5-5.6. I am mainly interested in shooting fireworks, fantasmic, world of color, and nighttime and daytime landscape/building shots.

    Reply

  15. Hi! I’m a single mom traveling with my 4 year old to DisneyWorld next month. I have a Nikon D3200, I really want to take it with us in the parks, but I’m not sure the best way to carry it. I really don’t want to have a lot to carry around.

    Thanks,
    Ashley

    Reply

    1. Have you checked out the camera bags mentioned in this post (see the link above)? There are a few small ones that would work with a D3200.

  16. I LOVE your work, but how did and do we get the photos of Disney without anyone in it. Will they let you tag along behind everyone and snap a few before locking up?

    Reply

  17. This might be a silly question, but I have a DSLR and am taking my girlfriend to Disney World in a couple of months. We both would like to ride some of the rides, but how would you recommend handling a camera while going on rides?

    Would it be better to just leave to camera in the room and use it when not in the parks? Any suggestions would help.

    Thanks,
    Matthew

    Reply

  18. Tom, when was the student/teacher edition for CS6 $192? Was this posted a long time ago? I looked on amazon through your link and was $349. I figured this may have changed. Thanks. I would love to use my husbands student ID and purchase for us using his discount.

    Reply

  20. After reading your review, I tried out the Sigma 30mm f/1.4 Art version for couple of weeks after I got it from B&H photo. Sadly, I sent an email requesting a refund. The lens on my D300 Nikon just doesn’t focus very well, really inconsistent results on different days on the same subject in the same location. I requested the Nikon version in the email. At least, Nikon is consistent, and B&H has great customer service.

    Reply

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