Should I buy an iPhone 8 through Apple or Virgin? Also, how to transfer pictures?

I currently have an iPhone 5c and I'm going to buy the 8. My current carrier is Virgin and I will be staying with them when I get the 8. Should I preorder it through apple and then activate the phone or preorder it (when its available for preorder) through virgin? What are pros and cons on doing it either way?

Also, is there an external way to transfer photos from the 5c to the 8? I will be creating a new Apple ID when I get the 8 so things like my contacts won't transfer when I sign into my ID on the 8 because I will be creating a new one. I have a Mac, is there a way I can do it using the Mac? Like, if there was a cord that went from one iPhone to the other and transferred that would be great!

Get it with Verizon

There's an external thing that will let you attach a microsdcard to an iphone. So you can probably move your images to the microsd then reload them at the 8. Link to adaptor

Doesn't matter who you get the phone from. Apple sets prices for all retailers.

You can either use iCloud or another cloud service or use iTunes transfer pictures.

I would choose the Apple Store if paying in full because it is easier to what they call SIM-Free that works with almost every US phone company and you don't have to deal with getting it unlocked later.
Couldn't you save your pictures to your Gmail/Drive account?
My nephew works for an apple store but too bad for him my wife is the only one in our house who wants an iPhone which she already bought from him.

Get the iphone 8 on a contract if you can don't go pay and talk cause you gotta buy the phone plus your pay and talk etc if your thinking of switching cell company try Koodo when you switch the phone you don't gotta give up the phone you already have to get a new one plus the have decent contracts and its not like bell or telus rogers contracts either

There's an external thing

Survey: What is your favorite ethnic food?

Oh cool

Yes

Verizon really