Universal Studios

Question

We are going to be at Universal Studios in March. I have a question about the pictures. We were thinking about getting the Universal Photo Pass. However, does that typically include the specialty photos at Shutterbuttons and "Amazing Photos" (where they put you in a movie poster). The Universal Photo Pass doesn't say anything about that so I'm assuming "no." Is that correct?

Answer

When visiting Universal Studios and considering the Universal Photo Pass, it’s important to understand what is included and what is not. The standard Universal Photo Pass generally covers photos taken by the official photographers at rides, character meet-and-greets, and some designated park locations. These photos are typically linked to your pass and can be downloaded or printed depending on the package you purchase.

However, specialty or interactive photos—like those at Shutterbuttons or the "Amazing Photos" experiences where your image is incorporated into a movie poster or other creative backgrounds—are usually considered separate. These often require an additional purchase at the location itself.

Here’s a breakdown for clarity:

Included in Universal Photo Pass: Ride photos, character meet-and-greet photos, selected park location shots, and some on-ride videos if included in your package.
Not included: Specialty photos that require a themed or interactive experience (e.g., Shutterbuttons, "Amazing Photos" poster experiences, some props or green-screen photo setups).
These specialty photos often have individual pricing and may be purchased at the time you have the photo taken. Even with a Photo Pass, the system usually treats them as separate because they require extra editing or special backgrounds.

Additional tips:

If you plan on getting many of the specialty photos, you may want to budget for those separately since the Photo Pass will not cover them.
Always ask the photographer on-site if a particular photo is included in your pass or requires an extra purchase to avoid surprises.
Some guests find it convenient to buy the basic Photo Pass for standard photos and then pick a few special experiences individually.

In summary, your assumption is correct: the Universal Photo Pass generally does not include specialty photos like Shutterbuttons or "Amazing Photos." They are separate experiences that require additional payment.