Group Photography – A Guide to Posing Groups

When taking a photo of an individual, you have to take in to consideration which angle will show your subject’s best asset, you have to check if their clothes look good, and pose them in a way that will make the photo appealing to the eye.

There are many factors to consider when posing a couple or a larger group of people. You have to make your subjects pose in a way that will make them look good individually and as part of a group at the same time.

One important thing to consider when taking group photos is the clothing. No matter how creatively you make your subjects pose, if their clothes are not coordinated, the outcome of the photo will not look good, unless you want to draw attention to a particular subject. What you should do is tell your clients prior to the date of shoot to wear clothes that have similar colors.

Photo by makelessnoise

The photo above shows a family with matching color of clothes. This helps the viewer focus on the faces of the family members and helps them avoid getting distracted by what the subjects are wearing.

As for the composition, the objective should be to lead the eyes of the viewer across the frame, looking at every face in the photo. Always remember that when posing groups there should not be too much space between the subjects.  Most portrait photographers pose groups in a way that forms triangular shape, while others try to pose groups in a circular shape, which leads the viewer’s eyes to every face in the photo. You don’t want to make your subjects pose in a firing squad position, because it will make them look stiff and uncomfortable.  Your objective is to pose them in a way that will give the photo a dynamic feel and will make your subjects feel comfortable.

Photo by PhilipPoon

Notice that the pose of the family in the image above forms a triangular shape. The viewer’s eyes will enter the frame at the left part of the image (brother wearing blue socks) then to the mother’s face, the daughter, the dad and finally the little boy at the left.  This is a good example of giving a dynamic feel to the photo.

The best way to direct your subject is to demonstrate the poses you want them to make, because this will help your subject to see what pose you want them to make. This will also help you know if the pose will be comfortable for your subject.

When you’re posing groups, you can use different props, such as chairs or stools to give your photo a better composition. If you are taking the group shot outdoors, you can make use of the elements in your location, like a staircase, a bridge, sloping terrain or a landscaping rock.

Photo by makelessnoise

In this photo the family was asked to sit on the carousel and everyone was positioned in a circular shape.

One of the most challenging factors when taking a group photo is when the group or family has kids.  You can’t make them pose for a long time, because most kids have a short attention span, and they do not have enough patience to sit and pose for a long time. In this case you might want to try doing freestyle posing.  This is a less formal and less traditional way of posing your subjects.

Photo by Seth Lemmons

Photo by Seth Lemmons

The photos above are examples of freestyle posing, less traditional, but they still look pleasing to the eyes. This way the kids will have fun without even noticing that they’re having a photo session.

Lastly, when you think you have taken enough group photos, do not forget to ask the clients if they have some poses in mind that they want to do. You should be open for suggestions. Who knows, they might have something brilliant in mind!