Group Shots And All The Fun That Comes With Them

This is always a struggle for beginner photographers and with larger parties can be a challenge even for the most experienced photographer. Face it, most of us are amateur photographers who’s main subjects will be family and friends. You’ve been there before, you go to the family reunion and because your family knows you dabble in photography they want you to take the group shots. So you say sure, then you get the knot in your stomach as you realize what a responsibility this is. You’ve never positioned so many people before in such a small space with so many “winning” personalities among them to make your job soooo much easier. You start to sweat a little bit and you lose your train of thought. This can be a daunting task. I know I have been there.

I’ll never forget the first big group shot I did. It was at my family’s reunion in the country. It was July in the South Texas heat and there were probably 50+ people. Me being the brilliant amateur never had any training before photographer that I was knowing that I didn’t have a a great camera with external flashes I set everyone up facing the sun. Man I heard it from everyone, “It’s hot!”, “It’s too bright!”, “Hurry up will yah!”. It was pressure and if I had been a little more educated I would have put them a little farther back in the shade but I worked with what I had. I had everyone about 3 rows deep and it came out decent. But for my first time it was a daunting task. Not to mention I was shooting with film and I had to do like 3 takes on a timer.

You may get nervous but don’t worry, with my simple tips I’ll have you doing this in your sleep.

First things first, relax. Take a deep breath and focus. There are a lot of people around more than willing to put their two cents into the mix for what they think is the best photo.  Don’t let that get to you. Remember your basics and start from there. Find a suitable location for the size of the group you are shooting as best as possible.

This is your family and friends and you know how “helpful” everyone can be. Don’t ignore but gauge the responses. If it’s crazy Uncle Ed who’s giving the great advice you know you can pretty much disregard it however, if it’s your creative Aunt Flo, give it a listen and see if it makes sense. Find a location with adequate lighting and enough space to have everyone feel comfortable. If outdoors it’s everyone’s first instinct to head to the sun but you know better. See if there is a suitable shaded area to take the photo. Remember to watch your backgrounds and edges. Don’t be afraid to move things or people that may be in the way. People usually oblige the guy with the camera in their hand giving direction.

Position your subjects according to relation as well as relative size. I always try and keep families together as much as possible and people that belong to each other close to one another (brothers/sisters, husbands/wives). Layer as much as possible especially with big groups. Put your taller people in the back and shorter persons in the front. Tuck your larger persons slightly behind other people; they will thank you for that later.

Put the kids in front and have parents hold the smaller ones. Everyone wants to help get the baby to look at the camera. If you let everyone help it’s going to take 15 minutes to get a shot. Politely ask everyone to look straight ahead and you will get the babies attention. I find that firing the flash once or twice and whistling gently gets them to turn their head and usually you can get a great shot quickly. If you have everyone help you, you are going to get 3 great pics of the kiddo smiling but 3 awful pics of everyone looking at the kids making funny faces trying to get them to smile rather than looking at the camera. They become the challenge rather than the infant. Take charge and work your shoot like the pro that you are.

Well that’s what I got for right now. Remember your backgrounds and foregrounds and take a few shots for each position. It’s digital so it won’t cost you anything and in the long run it will be worth it. Taking an extra shot or two will ensure you get everyone at flattering angles and facial expressions.

Until next time, Happy Shooting!

-Robert Hillis