RichBarnes

Just a few suggestions... Since you have a great Barn and Pond background... Why don't you get 4 or 5 bales of hay and set them in a semi-circle around a camp fire in the middle... with quite a bit of space... and have adults and/or kids sitting on various positions on the hay bales... with a few kids and adults roasting marsh mellows over a fire. Arrange a pretty tight arrangement, with the Barn and pond in the near background, but have a very informal/relaxed setting for everyone... all happy, smiling, and enjoying each other. Set up camera on a tripod, with two flashes, on both sides (also on tripods), fired from trigger or flash on your camera. Even though you're outside... the flash will still give you a good resolution on your faces... and will stop any movements made by your family. Make sure you have a good "depth of field" setting to get a sharp image from front to back... and a good sharp lens that will handle the width of the shot. Use a remote trigger to activate your camera... or use a timer on your camera to fire the camera and flash. Take several pictures... then you can go and replace faces from one photo to another, where needed, in Photoshop to adjust closed eyes, etc...

rdmesser2 Loc: Central Florida

I took photos for Disney for 8 years and the general rule for a group of 4 or more would be full body. Placement of your subjects is everything be sure all faces are looking at the camera and take multiple shots.

Paul Buckhiester Loc: Columbus, GA USA

Yes. Leaves some room at the frame edges for cropping.

dsmeltz Loc: Philadelphia

My correction was on the first page. Now you are just embarrassing yourself.

leftj Loc: Texas

umm hmm

NBBPH Loc: Indiana

I was asked to do something similar and said no, hire someone. I wanted to enjoy the reunion and not be bothered with having to worry and fuss over photos. They did hire a photographer and everything worked out beautifully - and I had a good time.

al13

Thanks to all, I will give them my best shot. Not quite the same as Street or landscape photography. I plan on giving then one flash drive with what I think or the best photos.

al13

How would you like to take over my project,ha. Beautiful photos

Gspeed Loc: Rhinebeck, NY

My only advice (have not tried this myself, yet): have everyone close their eyes. Then, instruct them to open their eyes and snap the photo then. Brilliant, right? ~ Eileen

Newsbob Loc: SF Bay Area

My standard line when shooting group shots is to “get uncomfortably close.” It usually works and gets folks to smile.

burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

Compose to maximize face sizes. Form a pyramid with the composition, with the tallest person at center, rear. Have six in the rear, five in front of them, seated on stools. Have kids stand or kneel in front, or some variation of that.

Use a tripod. Use continuous shutter mode and hold the button down for a buffer load full. At least one frame ought to have reasonable expressions and smiles and open eyes.

al13

Kozan Loc: Trenton Tennessee

Use a flash, whether outdoors or indoors. Bounce the flash into a white card and have the flash head at a 45 degree angle. I usually use TTL on flash at about -1 EV. To me showing feet is wasted space. If you have a fantastic venue, then yes you might show the feet and the scenery.

What I would do for family reunions is get someone in the group to keep up with collecting money. I would have a minimum of sales and only provide 11 x 14 prints. I would not sell downloads. Ask the contact to collect the money before you take the picture. Then you can produce 11x14 prints and send them to the customers. I would charge about $15.00 plus $4.00 shipping and as I said, have a minimum order.

That's my thoughts on it.

Good luck.
Kozan

aellman Loc: Boston MA

Do what you can to avoid direct sunlight on your subjects. Experienced shooters use
fill flash in these situations, but it takes experience to get the balance just right. Look for shade. >Alan

hassighedgehog Loc: Corona, CA

Went to a family reunion in June 2013. It was held in a pavilion in a local park. There were many more than yours will be. My Dad had seven brothers and two sisters. There were 20 first cousins alone. The other people were grouped by brother and sister families. There were at least 74 people. They were grouped on a grass lawn with two to 3 chairs for the oldest and the rest standing around them. There was a picture of the surviving brothers and a sister, the twenty first cousins. Then the family groups that included wives, husbands and children. There were some that did not come.