Photography package vs Platinum Studio

Hello All,Has anyone used the platinum studio for formal pictures? Worth it? Too expensive? I can't seem to locate a price list so I'm wondering if we should just plan to get a posed family picture during a formal night...

If anyone has a price list or feedback, I'd love to hear it.

The Platinum Studio photos are relatively expensive.

They are black & white portraits which can have touchups applied (such as removing stay hairs), are processed on land, are on high quality photo paper and then are mailed to your home.

I do not have a price list, but when we bought a single 8X10, it was $199 several years ago.

There may be a sitting cost for the Platinum Studio. Check this out when on board.

Formal night pictures. There are several places to have a picture taken. Get pictures take at a couple of these on the formal nights. Then towards the end of the trip, check them out at the photo gallery. Pick out the one you like best and get it, if you want. If there are no good ones, don't get it.

We did casual pictures at the Platinum studio on a cruise a few years ago and even though the price was quite high, we bought them because they were the best pictures we have ever had done. The photographer was great and captured our personalities. I doubt I would do it again, because of the cost, but you are under no obligation to buy any of them. Of course, be prepared for the very intense sales pitch when you go to view them.

Disclaimer: I'm a semi-professional photographer, recently opened a studio that will become my full-time career by 2020.

The Platinum Studio is an excellent experience and worth the price. Photography is an expensive craft to pursue, and it takes so much more than a GWC (guy/gal with camera). So many photographers are "specialists" with natural light, and it takes a lot to master the use of up to five lights as they usually provision in the Platinum Studio. If I remember correctly, there's no sitting fee, so you pay for the session in the print results. I think you can also add on digital downloads at certain price points, so you can more easily share online. We've always spent $600-1200 when we've done the Platinum Studio, and always been thrilled with the results.

The photography package, or photos a la carte via "the ship's photographers", are nowhere near the caliber of what you can get in the Platinum Studio. Posing is rapid-fire, shots are primitive at best, and they're (to me) just good as memories, not keepsakes. I applaud the ship's photographers for grinding it out day after day and cruise after cruise, but the caliber of work just isn't there. I've also found that color is unpredictable with the ship's printing equipment, frequently pink or otherwise off-kilter.

The Platinum Studio does not take formal photographs.

The Platinum Studio does not take formal photographs.

What you're trying to say: on formal night, every "station" where photos are being taken is staffed by one of the ship's photographers, i.e. not the Platinum Studio photographer.

What I'm thinking needs to be said for clarity: if you book a Platinum Studio session on formal day and you've already gotten all done up, they're going to be taking formal photos of you, albeit in the same style as if you showed up any other day in any other outfit. For that matter, you could put on your formal wear any other night and go for a Platinum Studio session.

It's all semantics, but I think the clarity is worth pointing out.

We traveled on the Royal last week with family (including two children) and a friend and we gifted the photo package to daughter. They loved it and the quality of the photos was quite good. We did find photographers who took their time with posing, especially at the casual photos with the white backdrop. I think they take more time posing and multiple shots in the nights that are not formal nights, as they are less busy.

We have Lots of wonderful formal and port photos too. And everyone could have some as they took so many. It was an excellent value for $199.

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The Platinum Studio is a separate Professional Photography studio. You must make an appointment and have a sitting where the photographer will take up to 30 minutes or more and take literally hundreds of photos in multiple poses. You will then come back and systematically view the photos to select the one/ones you like the most. Up to this point there is no charge. When you select the photo(s) you want printed you will get a price quote. When you agree, the cost of the photos will be applied to your onboard account and you will receive the photos shipped to your home in a couple of weeks. It is pricey ($500 - $1,200 if you want several copies or several poses printed). You can also get the photos on memory stick for an additional charge.

This is quite separate from ANY other photo sessions aboard ship - Including the "formal" photo "sittings" at stations set up during formal nights. Those photos are selected and paid for at the ship's photo center the same way the candid photos ad dinner and the end of the gangway are. They can be included in the photo package. While they are not of the quality of the Platinum Studio, you can get them on memory stick and if you're good with PhotoShop you could do quite well and at a much lower cost than Platinum Studio.

YMMV

What you're trying to say: on formal night, every "station" where photos are being taken is staffed by one of the ship's photographers, i.e. not the Platinum Studio photographer.

What I'm thinking needs to be said for clarity: if you book a Platinum Studio session on formal day and you've already gotten all done up, they're going to be taking formal photos of you, albeit in the same style as if you showed up any other day in any other outfit. For that matter, you could put on your formal wear any other night and go for a Platinum Studio session.

 

It's all semantics, but I think the clarity is worth pointing out.

My assumption was that by "formal", the OP was referring to the type of pose, not attire, but I see what you're saying. Regardless of what you're wearing, Platinum Studio does casual poses. Their work is great, but I'd ask about the prices up front.

We attempted platinum studio a couple of times. And when I say attempted, I mean they kept rescheduling our appointments. After the third reschedule, when they called us to AGAIN reschedule, we (I) just told them we'd lost interest due to their incompetence. We carefully chose our times and when we scheduled at the beginning of the cruise, everything was completely open, so we got first choice, or so we thought. I felt inconvenienced, unimportant and completely unrespected. We did receive a follow-up call the last sea day before disembarkment and they did offer us a discount, but who really wants to do it the last day?

I've been very happy with the normal pictures. We normally get the photo package and make it a scavenger hunt to find them all every day. We also don't let them pose us, we have enough of the "prom" pictures and want to have fun. My favorites so far have been me strangling hubby with his tie, sitting on the floor in full formal, legs spread with my face resting in my hands looking completely bored and of course the obligatory hubby boob grabbage (got at least 20 of those).

Whatever you choose, it's up to you. Have fun!

Well worth the price, at least once. I doubt we'll do it again but love the photos we got. There were others we would have liked but had to keep the price "reasonable".

In our case, one of the casual photographers, wld wasn't very busy that night, talked up the Platinum Studio and took us up to the studio to meet the photographer. We liked him and since there was no cost to have the pictures taken, scheduled an appointment for the next day. Well worth it.

Thank you all for the feedback. We did end up in the Platinum Studio, and it was very pricey. It wasn't a good fit for my family, but others may find the style and professional choices an excellent option. Julie was our photographer and she was very patient and talented.

Expect to spend well over $1000 for a single image and digital file.

We did it when we did our Vow Renewal for our 40th Anniversary. It was worth every penny...IMHO.

Very relaxed and no pressure.