Easy tips to shoot great group photos
October 7, 2009 by Eastmon Admin
Filed under Beginners Tips, Featured Tips, Home Highlights, Photography Tips, Portrait Photography
We’ve all seen them, and we’ve all probably taken one or more of them — the group photograph that didn’t quite work.
The kids look great; all happy, smiling faces.
But Grannie looks as if her favourite pet just died, and Uncle Joe … well, he is in the shot, but the bottom of his face has become lost behind Aunty Flo’s healthy crop of hair.
Group photos are among the most common. They’re taken at family gatherings, parties, weddings, at school, at work, in the sporting arena.
They are a vital part of photography, and that family shot taken at a 21st birthday party, or of young Billy’s first junior sporting team, can become a family heirloom — a treasured piece of family history.
So how can you get that great shot at the party — and as quickly as possible (keeping in mind that your subjects are there primarily to party, and not to hang around for half an hour while the happy snaps are taken)?
Here’s a few tips:
Be Prepared
Be prepared. Work out where you’ll take the photo, and let the group know when you’ll be wanting them to gather.
Make sure you have everybody there. Avoid the frustration of taking some really nice pictures, only to realise that someone is missing.
If, for example, it’s a celebration – someone’s 21st – use the the party decorations as a backdrop. Make the birthday person or the wedding couple central to the photo.
What is the photo about?
Make the photo explain what it’s about. If it’s a sports team, take the shot on the field (don’t line them up against the wall of the dressing sheds). If it’s a work shot, use the company logo or sign as part of the background.
Keep it tight
Keep the shot tight — get in close — but don’t cram the subjects. Make sure that, as we mentioned above, Uncle Joe’s face isn’t lost in Aunty Flo’s hair. Check your first couple of shots, and if someone’s partly obscured, rearrange the shot.
Take the photograph according to the occasion. If it’s a party, a celebration, get them smiling together, even if it means telling a silly joke or clowning around. There’s nothing worse than a grumpy face among a sea of happiness. Alternatively, if it’s a solemn occasion, even a slight grin can look awkwardly out of place.
Keep shooting
Take as many shots as you can within the short space of time you’ll be able to have the group together. Use continuous shooting mode if possible.
Vary the framing of your shots to suit the occasion. If it’s a ‘happy snap’ of a group of revelers, focus on their faces. If it’s a wedding or fancy dress occasion, what people are wearing is important, so zoom out.
Think about ‘dead space’ when posing the group: tall people to the rear or centre, shorter ones to the front or edges. If it’s a large family shot, don’t be afraid to use chairs for the senior or shorter people, with the taller ones standing in formation around those seated.
Light is everything
Lighting is important. Group portraits are all about faces, and you need to see them. In harsh sunlight, look for a shaded area to take shot in. Always try to use the flash.
Vary the height
Don’t be afraid to vary the height from which you take the picture. If it’s a group of children, get down to their level, rather than looking down on them. Alternatively, a group shot taken from height, using a ladder or a chair, and getting the subjects looking up at the camera, can provide a great effect.
Practice
Finally, as with just about everything, practice makes perfect.
Don’t be afraid to round up the family or some friends before the big party, and fire off some practice shots. Take note of what worked and what didn’t work — you’ll be all the better prepared when the real moment arrives!
Related posts:
Comments
Feel free to leave a comment...
and oh, if you want a pic to show with your comment, go get a gravatar!