Last week my family and I went on a Norwegian Cruise out of New Orleans. We had a really nice time, but one of the things we did on the cruise that I generally put off doing any other time of the year, was getting some family photos done.
I am not talking about the random ones set up in the evenings on your way to dinner or the embarking and disembarking shots outside the boat. Instead we booked with Perspective Photography, which hosts its own studio, to get full photos done.
Perspectives Photography: Setting up and Shoot
It was easy to book on the ship. I honestly just stopped by when I saw them in there and picked out a time and showed up. The shoot itself is free and is 30 minutes long. We didn’t make it 30 minutes because Phoenyx, as you can see, wasn’t really “into” structured photography.
The photographer was really easy going with the kids. She did not let his drama or behavior get in the way of taking the shot and some of the outtakes ended up being my favorite. Around the 20 min mark Phoenyx announced to us all that he was “Done” so we packed it up. During the shoot the photographer presented us with some fun ideas to test out and were not phased by us suggesting our own. As the kids started to wander and do their own thing, she just took photos around them.
Perspectives Photography: Preview and Pickup
All in all we took 97 photos and we set a time for me to come back and review them later that night. When I came in they had a drop down screen and showed me a slow playing preview set to music. It was honestly so funny looking at all the shots, I laughed so hard that I had tears in my eyes.
I also thought many of them were remarkable beautiful.
Now you want to know…
How much did Perspectives Photography cost??
Costs: Now down to the nitty gritty. I didn’t bother asking them when I set up the shoot the costs. I didn’t want to be deterred and I knew there was no obligation to buy so I figured even if I got one good shot, Id be happy. On our ship, the Norwegian Jewel, the costs were set up several ways.
- Canvas Sets: The Canvas sets started around $799
- Canvas + Photo CD w/ Rights: If you bought a set and the CD with all the shots, it came to around a grand
- Photo CD + Rights: Set up in packages from 5, 10, or 20 photos. I bought the 20 photos that came on CD with hi res images and rights to print for $400
Before you say anything…yes. It’s pricey. But in the age online social media, camera phones and digital prints, I really wanted something tangible. Something I could put on my mantle some day, print for the grandparents, something we were all looking in the same direction…and something I was actually in. And when you boil down the other costs that we spent on the ship, it was one of the more minor ones.
Perspectives Photography Quality
My husband said it best when he said he didn’t expect the quality to be so good. It really was. That is what ultimately made me push the purchase button. The printed photos they gave me (3 8x10s) and the pictures on the CD were all just beautiful. The white background was seamless and the coloring perfect. Oh sure, some of the shots caught my hair in the wrong spot, or us blinking, but the shots, overall, were beautiful.
After contacting Norwegian Cruise Line, they were nice enough to send me the entire shoot (even the mess ups) so you can judge for yourself.
Feel free to click to make larger.
To book the studio for yourself on Norwegian Cruise line, you can call from your stateroom or just head to the studio on board the ship. There were several offers during our stay for “free” 8×10’s just for booking, so keep a look out for those offers.
Would I do it again?
Yes! I have had a blast showing them to family and friends. And if we do not hit a cruise line next year (for shame, for shame!) seeing these reminded me how important it is to get photos done as a family. Not just shots of the kids, not just school pictures, but family photos to pass down for generations to come.
When was the last time you had a family picture done?
~Trisha
Would not recommend using the portrait studio at all. Just received my order from our anniversary cruise to Alaska 2 weeks ago and it was totally WRONG! Don’t waste your time on the ship having them taken in the portrait studio. Sending them back on Monday and will look for a reputable photographer here in town to have them retaken.
Beautiful! And I love the idea of doing a family photo shoot as part of a vacation! Everyone looks relaxed and happy…the perfect time to snap some photos!
What AMAZING shots. We just had family photos done last month to test out our friend who will be taking the pictures for our wedding. We just rolled with the kids and have pictures of the rest of us watching the 2 year old or calling him etc. and they are some of my favourites.
You guys are seriously adorable!!
I think https://www.momdot.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/IMG_7916-Medium.jpg is my favorite!
Those photos are soo good of your family. Well worth the time and money to have them done.
I LOVE the candid ones!
We have never gotten a family picture done professionally.
And all the photos look great!!
I say it was so worth it!!
These all came out so great. Love all the candid shots. Those are always the best one’s!
We have never actually had family photos done…ever. I took the kids in two years ago and got individual photos of each of them and one group shot but we’ve never done one with all five of us.
Isn’t it a shame that we dont do them every year?? I really love looking back at my old school photos so I have to get better at structured photos and printing. By the time my kids are 16 they will probably ban it all but selfies.
It really is. My mom was borderline obsessive about family photos. We got them done yearly and I always love looking back at them. But what I lack in family photos I make up for in my paparazzi style photos of the kids.
These are all so great and well worth the money. There is no way I could choose just a few I would have to have them all too. Just beautiful.
I know, I was sad to only choose 20!! I was really happy to get the rest to show off here.
I just got off the Norwegian Cruise PEARL today and we LOVED our photo shoot but after the costs we decided not to buy. I have been regretting eversince and I am trying to find a way to contact that to go ahead and order, hoping they did not already deleted. Do you have a direct number? I can’t seem to find a site. I already emailed them twice at two different email addresses.
Rosemary, I have a PR firm number but maybe they can direct you to the right person. Email me at [email protected] and ill give it to you.