subject: Group Portrait Photography Tips [print this page] Group Portrait Photography Tips Group Portrait Photography Tips
Shooting pictures of large groups can be very challenging. With group photography, you have the normal photographic challenges as well as a mix of people with different personalities, patience levels and thoughts on how the group photo can be taken so it can often lead to a challenging experience. On the positive side, when everything goes smoothly, group photography can actually be a whole lot of fun.
Here are some tips to help you avoid having your next group photo shoot end in disaster:
Plan Ahead
If you're planning on taking a group photo, always make sure you've considered every element before your subjects arrive. Always have two locations in mind- one primary location and a back up in case something goes wrong. Having one outdoor location and one indoor location is also a good idea in case the weather turns bad. Make sure that your subjects know what time you need them there and always have them come a 5-10 minutes early to keep things on schedule. Make sure your gear is charged, loaded, and ready to go before they show up the key here is to be as ready as possible. If you have any clothing requests, make them early and remind everyone at least once.
Better Safe than Sorry
Take as many pictures as you can in the time that you have. By taking a lot of photographs this will protect you from having to schedule a re-shoot and will also give your group plenty of options for choosing the best picture. Use a tripod to help make it easier to shoot multiples times without any movement and, if available, use a light reflector or studio light to soften any shadows on your subjects. Try to focus on taking flattering pictures while you're shooting the image instead of making changes in the darkroom or using photo editing software.
Don't Be Convinced by the Group
Ultimately, at the end of the shoot, the final image is your responsibility. This means that it is entirely up to you whether or not the photo turns out great or terrible. Since the success of the shoot is riding on your shoulders, you shouldn't hesitate in moving the group around and having them pose the way you want. However, an angry group can quickly turn on a photographer, so try to stay upbeat and focus on the goals of the shoot. If you help the group understand the importance of the photo shoot this will go a long ways in getting everyone relaxed and working towards the same goal. If the group thinks the photographers knows what they're doing and is friendly, the group normally won't mind taking a few orders.
Don't Forget the Fun Shot
While this is by no means a requirement for professional photographers, every group loves taking a "fun" picture where they're allowed to make silly faces or put bunny ears over their friends and family. Get creative with your photos if you've grabbed the one you need of everyone together, let the group work together to create something they see as memorable. Sometimes these pictures can even turn out better than the posed ones.
Group photography is certainly not for the weak of heart. Group photos require great organization, the ability to take great shots quickly and the patience to work with impatient people. If you come prepared, remain positive and let the group have a little bit of freedom, you'll find that taking large group photos isn't as difficult as you may have first thought. All it takes is the right frame of mind and a bit of determination.
