Tips and Techniques for Taking Group Photos

Group photos are extremely frequent; there is always someone with a camera during a party, ceremony or a family gathering. It’s also very frequent that these photos are ruined by mistakes which can be easily avoided. This article will give you some tips and techniques that will help you succeed in taking great group photos, and in making everybody involved happy.

First, you must make the distinction between conventional group photos where everyone in the photo must be clearly visible and recognizable, and group photos where you are free to use your creativity or to go totally crazy. The type of the group photo you are going to take will determine what you will need and how you should proceed to take the photograph.

Use a Tripod:

Using a tripod for group photos is crucial if you are shooting indoors in low light. But it will also be beneficial if you are shooting outdoors, as it is an imposing object that will make it easier to gain the attention of the people you are photographing. Also, it comes in handy if you plan to use the self timer and join the crowd to be included in the photo.

Photo by khairilfz

Opt for Mid Range Lenses:

Wide angle lenses may not be very suitable for taking group photos because when used close to the subject they tend to distort anything in the foreground. So, for more proportioned group photos, it’s best to use a mid range lens. Something between 35mm and 50mm will do the trick perfectly. But, don’t forget to think of how much space you have as this kind of lenses will require you to step back more with larger groups.

Scout first:

This may be more important in the case of the more classic and formal group photos. It’s always better to be prepared for what might happen. So, go out to the place where the photo is planned to take place before everybody shows up and look for interesting spots and search for locations where the light is optimal. Knowing where you are going to shoot beforehand will also help you determine what kind of gear you will need.

Choose The Background:

When choosing a background you should try to find one that won’t overpower the people in the photo. Hence, it’s best to choose a background that is simple and neutral. For example, a wall, a clear sky or some stairs could work as background to group photos. However, sometimes the opposite is true, and choosing a background that is more imposing can be the right thing to do. This is valid, if the background you will include is of relevance to the context of the photo, like a known monument or a beautiful scenery.

Light matters, as always.

Light is the key element in any photographic subject. So, you need to work on getting the best lighting possible for your group photos as well. When taking the group photo outdoors, avoid the direct midday sunlight as it can be unflattering and may cause people to blink and make grimaces. Try to shoot when the sun is at a low level in the sky (late afternoons) or when the sky is slightly overcast. You should also pay attention to the position of the light in relation with the group, as you need everyone to be evenly lit.

In the case you are shooting indoors, you will have to use a tripod to allow for longer exposure. And if the available light is not enough to take clear photos you will have to use a flash unit. Opt for an off camera flash, so that you can place it close to the group when you are obliged to take the photo from far away to include everyone.

Get Everyone in Focus:

In order to be able to get the entire group in focus, you will need to use small aperture values, such as an f/8 or F/11. After setting your aperture, focus on the eyes of someone in the middle of the group. Also, consider arranging everybody in one row, if the group is not too large. That way they will be on the same focal plane and it will be easier to include them all in the focus range.

Be in charge:

When taking a photo of a large number of people, it is not usually easy to get everybody’s attention at the same moment. So don’t be shy, take the situation in hand and impose your authority. Call those who are distracted and ask them to stay focused for a moment, and take the time to put everyone in place for the shot. It’s you who gets blamed in case of failure to get a good photo.

Get their attention:

Because the members of a group appear to be so many in front of the lonely photographer, it can be very hard to get everybody’s attention in one time. But, you can do that by telling a story or by asking the group to sing together. You can think of different attention getters but avoid asking them to look directly into the lens. This will usually produce images devoid of any emotion. Also, don’t forget to tell anyone who is not in the shot to move to the sides. Don’t let anybody behind you, as they usually distract those being photographed and thus will only make your job harder.

Click! Click! Click!

Take several photos; the more you shoot the better. If you are photographing a group of 25 people and there is only one person who blinked in the moment of capture, the photo will be ruined. So, you should take more and more pictures with the bigger groups.

Take Some Photos When Nobody Is Looking:

Group photos aren’t always posed. In fact, candids of groups of people may be more interesting and more revealing of the atmosphere of the occasion. So, take some shots when nobody is looking and surprise everybody with what you captured later.

Go Crazy!

You took the photo with everybody smiling to the camera? Now ask the group to go crazy and be prepared to capture moments of mere spontaneity. Have fun and let your creativity loose. Not only you will get wonderful pictures, but everybody in those shots will go back home with beautiful memories of the event or occasion they attended.

Some Examples of Group Photos:

Photo by azusachan

Photo by FalkPhotoDesign