Terry in Indiana Loc: rural Indiana

I have been asked by some close family friends to do a group photograph of their entire family at their parents' 70th anniversary celebration...all 80+ family members from newborn to 90 years old!!! YIKES!!! I am happy to do it, but my biggest concern is how to pose them??? They know I'm not a professional and will be happy with whatever we get, but I really want to get a great photo for them. I'm mostly worried about posing so everyone is visible. Weather will determine whether we do them inside or outside. Suggestions please......

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

These links should help.

http://digital-photography-school.com/how-to-take-great-group-photos/
http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/14-tips-better-group-portrait-photographs/
http://www.popphoto.com/how-to/2013/11/tips-pros-posing-subjects-group-portrait-photography
http://improvephotography.com/1959/10-posing-tips-for-group-photos-and-my-cell-phone-number/

ngrea Loc: Sandy Spring, Maryland

can you do a panorama of several shots and stitch them together? If so, to add fun have the family “clown” be at one end and then run around you to the other end- to be in the picture twice.

TBerwick Loc: Houston, Texas

Last time I did a big group was my wife's family at an outdoor event at a lake front cabin. We were able to utilize an outdoor staircase while fanning part of the group out at the bottom to get everyone in the shot. Turned out pretty well. Just be aware that a big family group don't pay as much attention to direction as to, say, a large wedding party where they don't know the photographer.

bpulv Loc: Buena Park, CA

There are a few common ways for an inexperienced person to successfully shoot large groups. You could rent risers so the people are on several levels placing one row of heads above the other. Another way without risers is to have them stand in rows and shoot from a high ladder with everyone looking up at you. Shoot your picture in an area where there is uniform lighting. An overcast day is best. If the sun is shining, avoid backlighting or head on sun over the shoulder lighting. In the absence some type of fill lighting (strobe or reflectors) a LITTLE side lighting would be best. You don't want 80 people squinting. Don't arange people like one of the pictures above in this post where some of the people are in direct sunlight and some are in the shade of a tree.

In any case, you need to have your camera on a tripod or clamped to the ladder and look directly at your subjects with your head close to the lens instead of using the viewfinder and one by one ask people to move as necessary so that no one is blocking the view of another person. When everything is right, quickly (because people are impatient [especially people who don't like to have their picture taken]) shoot several quick exposures while always observing your subjects. Ask them to stay put while you quickly review the pictures on the LCD and reshoot if necessary. It is helpful to have one or two assistants who you have trained in advance to assist you in arranging a group of that size.

It is better to have more rows of people so they will not be spread out. That way you can fit them into the frame in a way that each person's head will be large enough to be recognizable in an 8 x 10 or similar size print. A normal to slightly wide angle lens (not too wide) is best. Be sure to shoot in RAW, keep the ISO setting as low as possible with priority on stopping motion and depth of field and take a grey card photo so you can later tweak the color balance in Lightroom if necessary.

rgrenaderphoto Loc: Hollywood, CA

Look on The Slanted Lens you tube site for a tutorial on photographing large groups. It at app possible, bring a step ladder to get your focal point above the ground. Be cognizant of were the light is coming from, Light behind you will illuminated them, but you’ll get a lot of squinting. Better off to one side or the other. If there is shade, be aware that somebody may be lost in the shadows.

NJFrank Loc: New Jersey

Don't forget with a large group some one will have their eyes closed at the wrong time. Have everyone close their eyes then tell them the open all at once. Take your shot.

mikegreenwald Loc: Illinois

Good advice in this post.
Shooting in direct sunlight is a formula for failure - lots of squinters..
Tell everyone they must be able to see the camera easily, at all times.
Take lots of shots - big groups rarely have everyone “just right,’ but many shots improves thr odds.
I try for butterfly lighting in big groups, with two or more fill strobes lateral to the edges of the group and at least several feet in front of the group - best is close to the same distance from the group as the camera, for even lighting across the group.

gwilliams6

Thanks jerryc41 you always have informative posts. As a pro and photo educator I appreciate your posts. Cheers

buldog216 Loc: Boynton Beach, Florida

I helped to a group of over 100 about 6 years ago. We placed most of them on the stair case and seated the older on chairs on the landing.
Good luck

ggenova64

Check out Hanson Fong! Great poser.

Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)

I use that even with small groups, especially kids. Without explanation, I tell them to close their eyes, and wait until I count to three to open them - the result is everyone is looking at me (and the camera), natural smiles on their faces, and eyes wide open.

mThomas

Having just registered on this site, I hope this response is appropriate. As a semi-retired professional, I have photographed many large groups with medium format film and DSLRs over the last 28 years...And agree with most of what has been suggested. Open shade without sun spots coming thru the leaves, and good light (I prefer Lumedyne lighting systems for location work). One thing I do not see addressed is the depth of field component of the shot. Remember, the area of focus is 1/3 in front and 2/3's behind the focal point...and the the size of that are is determined by the aperture...f8 at that distance should be enough. Focus on those about 1/3 of the way back to make sure everyone is in focus.

peterjoseph

Using a timer say 2 seconds help in 2 ways one the slight shake when you press the shutter will not be there and after you press the shutter look at the group that is not thru the viewfinder,the group
Will think the photo is taken and you will get a relaxed natural expression. All the best