New ship photographers?

[off2ctheworld]

I just read on the Image.com photo site that after november 9, they will not have post cruise orders for Holland America Cruiseline. Does anyone know about this or who the new photography studio will be?

[RuthC]

First I've heard of it. Did the report say they won't be doing the photos on the ship anymore? Or just that you can't get photos after the end of the cruise?

[jer_l]

First I've heard of it. Did the report say they won't be doing the photos on the ship anymore? Or just that you can't get photos after the end of the cruise?
The image.com website lists five cruise lines as their partners. HAL is not among them.

[manbehindthecurtain]

New photo company will be Ocean Images.

Transition on all HAL ships will be completed before the end of the year.

[jtl513]

New photo company will be Ocean Images.

Transition on all HAL ships will be completed before the end of the year.Love your username! :):)

[maxout]

Love your username! :) :)


Yeah, I would say it was...

http://www.darrenyamaki.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2007/03/wicked1.jpg

:D ;) :p

[jhannah]

Interesting. Wonder how this will affect our onboard experience? It seemed to me that on my last several cruises the photogs became less aggressive. (Maybe I was just getting used to them. ;) )

[Krazy Kruizers]

Gee -- after spedning a couple of years training the old photographers not to bother us, now we have to train a new bunch.

Will be curious to see if we have the new company on our ship.

[Gsel]

Whoever it is I hope they and better trained to get rid of all my new wrinkles and make me look younger and thinner!

[Gsel]

Whoever it is I hope they are better trained to get rid of all my new wrinkles and make me look younger and thinner!

[Gsel]

Sorry, pre-coffee!

[manbehindthecurtain]

Love your username! :):)


Oz says Thanks!

[jtl513]

Interesting. Wonder how this will affect our onboard experience? It seemed to me that on my last several cruises the photogs became less aggressive. (Maybe I was just getting used to them. ;) )
I thought the same thing on our last two cruises. Maybe they learned that they actually waste less photo paper and make more profit that way. As KK, said, I hope we don't have "train" a new bunch.

[kryos]

Gee -- after spedning a couple of years training the old photographers not to bother us, now we have to train a new bunch.

Will be curious to see if we have the new company on our ship.
Maybe I've just been lucky, but this is something I just don't understand.

I always just put my hand up to my face ... say "no thanks" and go on my way. The photogs have never been a bother after that. They respect my wishes and focus their attention on the next sucker in line behind me. :)

Blue skies ...

--rita

[O2B@C]

New photo company will be Ocean Images. Transition on all HAL ships will be completed before the end of the year.

Thank you, MBTC, for this and all the other info you have provided. You are really generous (and brave ;) ) to participate in this board and dedicate part of your undoubtedly limited free time to share the "inside scoop" with us. Looking forward to hearing more from you as time goes on.

[jtl513]

I always just put my hand up to my face ... say "no thanks" and go on my way.That's fine when there's room to get by, but I really hate it when there's a bottleneck that makes me wait a long time to say no.

I just can't understand why they think that someone who doesn't want their picture taken would later buy prints! Even if they are hoping that some will "change their minds" when they see the pictures, the odds are that the annoyed expression(s) will result in few sales. We go to the display boards just to find and take down our pictures before too many people see them!

BTW - same thing with spam. I will never buy something from somebody that I resent because they were "clever" enough to get around my spam blockers!

[jhannah]

Maybe I've just been lucky, but this is something I just don't understand.Guess you have been lucky, Rita. In times past, some photogs have been quite pushy. Like one of them coming up in a pirate costume during dinner and planting themselves on your shoulder so one of their comrades could shoot a photo. No asking. Just doing it. Those who tried to politely protest were told, "Aw, c'mon! You'll love the picture." Haven't seen that sort of thing in more recent cruises.

[manbehindthecurtain]

Thank you, MBTC, for this and all the other info you have provided. You are really generous (and brave ;) ) to participate in this board and dedicate part of your undoubtedly limited free time to share the "inside scoop" with us. Looking forward to hearing more from you as time goes on.

You're quite welcome! I just believe that if I'm more in tune to what's on the mind of the people who sail with us, I can do my little bit to improve their experience. In exchange I try to provide people with the knowledge I have....

[RuthC]

Now for the $7.95 question---
Will the prices go down? Will we be able to split some of the combination packages so we can purchase only the one we want?

Guess that was $15.90 worth of questions. :rolleyes:

[jhannah]

Well, Ruth, how many changes do we see that SAVE us money? ;)

[OldCodger73]

New photo company will be Ocean Images.

Transition on all HAL ships will be completed before the end of the year.

I was really surprised that HAL still used film rather than digital. Will Ocean Images continue with film?

[off2ctheworld]

Thanks everyone for your answers! I hadn't known about the change until reading one of the posts here about cruise dvds for sale and the post mentioned the Image.com site. I wonder if those dvds will still be for sale, AND if they will be worth the cost?

[lorbis]

I just ordered a post-cruise DVD a few days ago from the company, and it sent me a confirmation notice. I believe I did this right around Nov. 9 or a day after. I hope I get it!

[noblepa]

I was really surprised that HAL still used film rather than digital. Will Ocean Images continue with film?

HAL photographers don't use film. At least they didn't on the three cruises I've been on (2005, 2006 and 2007). The photographers all had Nikon D200 10 MP digital SLR's.

They DO, however, print the pictures on traditional silver based, coated paper, that must be run through chemical developers. They do not (or at least they didn't) use inkjet printers.

[m steve]

Photogs are the most worthless people on a cruise. How vain people must be to buy dozens of pictures of themselves for lots of $$$ and then stiff the waiters and cabin stewards.

[grsnovi]

Photography is purely a numbers game: the more photographs you take the more likely you are going to get a good one. I know that my wife enjoys having photographs to help us remember the times we've spent and the places we've been. I'd rather have a person who takes pictures all day take one of us than try my luck in handing our camera to somebody, explain to them how it works and then hope they get a good shot before we wear out our welcome. As far as the photogs on board, we generally took the attitude: let 'em take as many as they want, we may or may not buy any.

I felt absolutely no guilt wandering past the daily gallery of prints and tossing the ones of us that we really didn't like.

We also purchased some (as well as a themed scrapbook to keep our cruise in).

[OldCodger73]

HAL photographers don't use film. At least they didn't on the three cruises I've been on (2005, 2006 and 2007). The photographers all had Nikon D200 10 MP digital SLR's.

They DO, however, print the pictures on traditional silver based, coated paper, that must be run through chemical developers. They do not (or at least they didn't) use inkjet printers.

Paul, then your experience has been different than mine. On the two cruises I was on this year, one on the Amsterdam, the other the Zaandam, the ships photographers were definitely using film cameras.

[tomc]

As a videographer and broadcaster, I cringe when I see their cruise videos running in the photo sales area. I can't believe people would pay that much for videos which are that bad.

My opinion.

And that of people who have seen what I've done on the ships just for myself and my friends with a common camcorder.

[RevNeal]

On the Volendam this past cruise (November 3-13, 2007) this was the last cruise with the old photo company and equipment. Indeed, there were NO photographs taken during the last formal night of that cruise due to the need for the equipment to be disassembled and ready to off-ship on disembarkation day.

I don't mind the photographers, etc. One isn't twisting anybody's arm to make them buy a photo. If one turns out well, then fine. If not ... oh, well. I must admit, though, that some of the best couple-photos of my parents were taken aboard ship by the ship's photographers. Now that my Dad is gone on to glory, those photos are among my only remaining visual reminders of him. :(

[Boytjie]

I just ordered a post-cruise DVD a few days ago from the company, and it sent me a confirmation notice. I believe I did this right around Nov. 9 or a day after. I hope I get it!

You sure did it it time! On the 8th when I posted the link I did not see that message about HAL on their website.

[rplc882]

We were on the Maasdams latest cruise and were impacted by the swap in where there were no last formal night portraits. Also I believe on the 7th day you could order no more packages. The absolutely worst was we had friends who had photos they were purchasing arrival morning and it was posted the photo gallery would be open, well it wasnt and they had thrown away ALL the leftover photos. My advice is to check when you board and see if they will be changing out or already have. Good luck and great cruising.

[jhannah]

Wow! That's sad for your friends who were looking forward to getting their pictures. If they said they'd be open on the last morning, they should have been, IMO.

[defaultet]

Regarding photographs I think someone did their math wrong.

A good analogy is selling beer at sporting events. You can charge $8 for a 12 oz. cup of domestic beer and I'm not going to buy any. If you charge $3 for a 12 oz. cup of domestic beer, I'm going to order ten. I'm not an expert but in kegs beer probably costs 0.30 a pint. The server is getting paid $10 an hour. So why in the hell are they charging $8 a cup?

Well, I guess enough suckers buy beer, I don't know. Maybe enough suckers buy the photos as well. I know I spent a couple hundred on them on my honeymoon cruise (money well spent).

My rambling point is that I don't feel they're maximizing profit. If they charge $5 for a 5x7, they'll probably get more business...and they'll be making a profit! Just pick a number, though. If they offered to sell you all the photos they take of you for $50 or $75, or even $100, a LOT of people would be tempted to buy.

I think they need to figure out how much the "regular" folks are willing to spend. I think most people are willing to spend up to $100, but maybe for every single photograph and not just a fourth or half of them.

It's just my opinion but photographs do not have the power they once had. If you've got a digital camera and you can print photos on your computer or at Wal-Mart in their photo shop, why do you need to spend $8 a photo on a cruise? Maybe the old folks are still buying the photos, but in general I think the cruise lines need to come up with a better strategy. Again, I think people are willing to spend the bucks on photos, but they need more for their money.

[grsnovi]

It's just my opinion but photographs do not have the power they once had...

This is very true - it's a changing world. I do think that photos are more important to some than to others. I also think that younger folks who have grown up with TiVo, phot-cell phones, PS3, xBox, etc... have an entirely different perspective than folks who remember black and white photos with crinkle-cut edges, blue or pink dot flash bulbs and box cameras.

[jhannah]

Oh, my goodness! I can just smell the charred plastic covering over those flashbulbs right now! Burned my fingers on those old Sylvania Blue Dots many a time, trying to replace them too quickly.

I agree that many cruisers now don't rely on paper photos like we once did. Shoot, we don't! It's all online these days. But we do like to try to get a formal portrait when onboard ship. It makes a nice memento picture that's formally staged and lighted.

[MrsMuir]

Jeez, guys, I guess I'm one of the egotists who LIKE having our photos taken by the ships photographers. We were the first aboard Ryndam last week (not that I was excited or anything), and the photographer wasn't set up at the gangway for the embarkation photos. That was a huge disappointment for me, because that photo always begins our memory book. So I made DH schlep our carry-ons back down the gangway, going against the tide, so we could have that important photo. It turned out great.

I don't know what company our photographers were with, and our photos don't really say, though there is a stamp on the back of each, e.g. #2(C)IMAGE etc. I liked them all, mainly because they were a diverse, friendly, and talented group of people. Except for a few port pix where I looked less than glamorous, we bought most of them. Our cruise pix are among our very best memories, and I treasure them all, esp. the professionally-posed ones with the best lighting in our best clothes. Yes, they are pricey! However, some pax spend $$ in the Casino. To each his own.

As for the DVD, we were pleasantly surprised at ours, which we watched last night. It contained the usual stock footage but much more actual footage of our actual Sea of Cortez cruise. In fact, DH and I are in about six shots! On the minus side, the soundtrack music was pretty lame, and the few fast-motion bits made the pax look ridiculous. But it was very comprehensive, for the most part, and worth the money for once. The last bit was a behind the scenes look at the ship, very recent, and with a voice-over. We're glad we bought it.

In summary, then, we don't equate the photography staff with the "art" auction. No way, Jose!

Mrs Muir

[jhannah]

On the minus side, the soundtrack music was pretty lame, and the few fast-motion bits made the pax look ridiculous. I've noticed this, too. That's why I've never purchased a DVD. Besides, when we watched we didn't see ourselves but a couple of times! I mean, why didn't they follow US around? We don't pick our noses in public! :D

The behind-the-scenes stuff might make it worthwhile, especially for the Eurodam prelude and inaugural. We'll see.

[off2ctheworld]

One of our prized photos is of family members at embarkation time years ago. All in the picture except one have passed away so the picture is priceless to us. Our DD and SIL have pics from their honeymoon cruise and are excellent quality. I like to scrapbook and those who take pictures are seldom in the pictures!

[nchank]

Worst photographer issue I have had was last May on the Dawn Princess. The photographers were just outside the dining room in some ridiculous costumes very loudly trying to get the guests leaving the room to pose with them. They were so loud that they ruined my dinner. I complained to no avail.

[the2ofus]

I am another who does not mind the photographers, unless they block my passage when disembarking in ports and insist that I pose for a picture I probably won't buy anyway.

I have included on my comment cards many times that if the individual 5x7 photos cost less I would buy more instead of throwing most in the waste bin.

[the2ofus]

Quote from Revneal:I must admit, though, that some of the best couple-photos of my parents were taken aboard ship by the ship's photographers. Now that my Dad is gone on to glory, those photos are among my only remaining visual reminders of him.

Greg, I agree that some of those old family photos are precious. Just recently I had another wonderful reminder of my father who died in 1980. I was going through a box of old audiocassettes. I put an unlabeled one in the player to see what it was, and heard my father's speaking and singing voice for the first time in twenty-six years!!!

[May4]

Although it's already been suggested on this thread a time or two, I also have wondered if more pictures would be sold if the price were a couple of dollars cheaper. Would the overall revenue from that cost center increase?
It seems to me that more pax would buy more pictures.

I think that I would although I might be almost maxed out on pictures of me
in front of a life-preserver with the name of a port on it, hair flying in the wind, and squinting from the sun.

:p

[newfarmers]

Having just come home from 25 days on the Rotterdam our biggest complaint was the intrusion into public spaces by the photographers every formal night. The photographers themselves were boarding on aloof and were such a contrast to the graciousness of all of the HAL crew members (from the top all the way down).

I'm sure on Celebrity there was only one formal portrait night on each sector of our cruise (two in total) but on Rotterdam there were seven over the 25 days (also two sectors) so that meant seven nights of saying no and stepping over and around cords taped across the carpet, especially near the sports bar, and other photographic guff. Some of the photos were truly terrible, over exposed, some even slightky out of focus. I'm amazed they had the nerve to put them up in the photo gallery. No wonder it looked like not many were getting sold.

Sat down and watched the first of the two dvds we purchased. We're glad we bought them for our memories but they're not something we'll be showing to everyone - really pretty hopeless, poor image quality, way too much emphasis on filming the taking of the gangway photos of the daily debarking.

Loved our cruise, REALLY LOVED IT, but the photographers were a painful intrusion. Wonder what HAL's cut is of the money they photographic studios charge?

[arzz]

So ... is there a story behind the change? Or did the job just go to the lowest bidder.

I, too, hate the aggressive pushy types. I seldom want my picture taken and they do waste so much paper and developing solution. Why can't we just search a digital database (say one that is available through our cabin TV) and then order the photos that we want?

It would seem to me that would save huge amounts of money and contribute to a green planet.

[djhsolara]

It sounds like I am in the minority here and I know when you read this you might think I'm some kind of silly daft...but I actually loved the photographers.

Last year was my first cruise and it was on the Westerdam, so I don't have the cruise experiences that many of you have to call from, but the photographers made me feel like a celebrity. It reminded me of the "old days of cruising" like (and I almost hesitate to say this) perhaps on the Titanic. There is so much that happens these days that has lost the "it" factor that there used to be...like the fact that society in general has become so much more casual (and I'm only in my 30s but still say "back in the day"). It was such a nice thing to go on the cruise and see things that are still done (for lack of better words) the "old-fashioned way." To go and have formal nights was just awesome (because for me I don't have that many opportunities to wear my tux on land) and then to be photographed while wearing it just made the memories last.

I certainly can understand that these photographers could be considered intrusive, but they really provided an extra special part to the cruise for me. We didn't purchase many of the photos (because in my opinion they are very pricy) but we chose the select few that were special memories. It was fun though to walk to the gallery each night and see what photos were there.

We did also purchase the DVD and that has provided me with many fond memories and the opportunity to relive my cruise any time I want. I must say that as many have said, I am a bit disappointed in the cheesy background music (especially because there were many times that the live sound would have been so much better), but it is what it is and I still love it.

We are cruising again on the Westerdam in just under a month so we'll see what the new company provides and how many purchases we will make from them. :)

[jtl513]

Why can't we just search a digital database (say one that is available through our cabin TV) and then order the photos that we want?

It would seem to me that would save huge amounts of money and contribute to a green planet.Because that just makes waaaaay too much sense! :D :D

If not through the TV, they could be posted for viewing on the Explorations Cafe computers.

[newfarmers]

Why can't we just search a digital database (say one that is available through our cabin TV) and then order the photos that we want?


Great suggestion Arzz. HAL push their own green credentials and rightly so (thye do a very good job). Maybe they should make the businesses on board - photographers, Cruise West etc - follow their lead with lower paper consumption, more enviromentally friendly inks and papers etc?

While they're at it, wonder if/when HAL will have your bill accessible through your TV. Much easier to check your bill daily that way, and find things like the 222 beers we apparently ordered at the sports bar one afternoon!

Keeping on the TV thread... One thing that really surprised us was the poor TV programming. Al was struck down by a cold that appeared to go round most of those on board and when he was marooned in our room he found the shows pretty ordinary. I realise some of it was was to do with satellite reception but even when all channels were up and running, there was little variety. If he hadn't decided to try and keep his cold to himself by staying in our room, maybe we wouldn't have even noticed.

[RSGS315]

Whoever it is I hope they are better trained to get rid of all my new wrinkles and make me look younger and thinner!

I always tell them "I have that photo from 20 years ago, and I looked a lot younger and thinner then."

That usually takes care of it.

Ginnie