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Jun 24, 2016 15:12:58   #
snoops
 
I will be taking pictures of our family and wonder what is the best way to get all the faces in focus ? I only use auto focus at the present time .I will be using my nikon D750 . Thank You all in advance

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Jun 24, 2016 15:40:17   #
ecobin Loc: Paoli, PA
 
You'll need to use an aperture that will give you the needed depth of field (dof). With a few people you might be able to get all heads on the same plane and then 1/2 foot dof would be sufficient. But with a large group in two or more rows the dof needed could be several feet. DOF depends on distance to subject, the focal length of the lens, and the aperture used. Put a DOF calculator on your smart phone and learn how to use it and experiment before your photo shoot. The smart phone app that I use is called F-Stop and it's free. Also, read about dof on any of many websites.

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Jun 24, 2016 15:59:23   #
big-guy Loc: Peterborough Ontario Canada
 
Reading between the lines I would surmise that ecobin is talking Greek as far as you're concerned. To be a happy camper continue to use auto-focus but choose aperture priority and choose f8, f11 or f16 while using a focal length of maybe 50 to 85 mm. This will get all the faces in focus providing you don't have 100 rows of people. More often than not you will have 3 to 5 rows of people and the trick is to focus on row 2 or 3. Make sure your corresponding shutter speed is 1/125 sec or higher if hand held and 1/60 or higher if using a tripod. ISO at 100 or push it higher if you can't get the prerequisite shutter speeds. Good luck and looking forward to seeing the results.

Oops, just realized you might be Greek. If so transpose Mandarin in its place.

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Jun 24, 2016 16:22:10   #
jim quist Loc: Missouri
 
Take a ladder. People look better when looking up a little bit. It will also allow you to get all the faces. Manual, iso 100. f 22-36, higher if you have it. Put the lens on manual and focus toward the middle of the group.

If you are outside put the sun behind the group so you are shooting into the sun. This will prevent people from squinting, it will also give you a wonderful hair light for everyone.

If there is a background, such as a building. Then expose the background properly. Then adjust your flash to get the amount of light you need from it to properly expose your group. This will balance the light of the scenery with your group.

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Jun 24, 2016 16:34:46   #
Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)
 
Arrange your group in sets of three -

Not knowing how many people puts me at a disadvantage, but you might look at this posing guide

http://digital-photography-school.com/posing-guide-21-sample-poses-to-get-you-started-with-photographing-groups-of-people/

Forget about apertures any smaller than F16. You are better off moving back a bit and cropping, which will give you deeper focus depth.

This site will give you everything you need to figure out how wide a picture you can take with a given lens and camera, and how deep your zone of focus (depth of field) will be. Bear in mind that you might want to interpret the fore/aft focus a little conservatively, eg if it says you will be in focus from 8 ft to 13 ft when you focus on something that is 10 ft away, then use 8.5 and 12.5 for more critical focus.

http://www.tawbaware.com/maxlyons/calc.htm

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Jun 24, 2016 18:14:49   #
SharpShooter Loc: NorCal
 
At the f-stops 16-32 and iso100 being talked about here, he'll need an exposure of about 5 minutes!! LoL
OR use a couple of Profotos!!!
Maybe the OP should give us a little more info first?!
The info he did provide is useless.
Well, not useless, at least we know he uses a Nikon..., but almost useless. LoL
SS

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Jun 24, 2016 18:19:51   #
rpavich Loc: West Virginia
 
We'll, that was thoroughly confusing and contradictory. :)

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Jun 25, 2016 00:25:01   #
MtnMan Loc: ID
 
snoops wrote:
I will be taking pictures of our family and wonder what is the best way to get all the faces in focus ? I only use auto focus at the present time .I will be using my nikon D750 . Thank You all in advance


Use f22 and focus at six feet.

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Jun 25, 2016 06:03:52   #
Skeeter41 Loc: Bonita Springs, FL
 
Another tip: set your camera for rapid fire and shoot 5-6 images so that you can pick out one where everyone (hopefully) has his/her eyes open.

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Jun 25, 2016 07:15:26   #
NormanTheGr8 Loc: Racine, Wisconsin
 
Oops, just realized you might be Greek. If so transpose Mandarin in its place. [/quote]

😃👍👍

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Jun 25, 2016 08:34:28   #
tshift Loc: Overland Park, KS.
 
I
rpavich wrote:
We'll, that was thoroughly confusing and contradictory. :)


rpavich you are the voice of wisdom!!

Tom

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Jun 25, 2016 08:46:31   #
mas24 Loc: Southern CA
 
Gene51 wrote:
Arrange your group in sets of three -

Not knowing how many people puts me at a disadvantage, but you might look at this posing guide

http://digital-photography-school.com/posing-guide-21-sample-poses-to-get-you-started-with-photographing-groups-of-people/

Forget about apertures any smaller than F16. You are better off moving back a bit and cropping, which will give you deeper focus depth.

This site will give you everything you need to figure out how wide a picture you can take with a given lens and camera, and how deep your zone of focus (depth of field) will be. Bear in mind that you might want to interpret the fore/aft focus a little conservatively, eg if it says you will be in focus from 8 ft to 13 ft when you focus on something that is 10 ft away, then use 8.5 and 12.5 for more critical focus.

http://www.tawbaware.com/maxlyons/calc.htm
Arrange your group in sets of three - br br Not ... (show quote)


The 21sample poses link offered good tips. Thanks for sharing.

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Jun 25, 2016 09:51:00   #
camerapapi Loc: Miami, Fl.
 
In general terms, if there are going to be people in different positions use a small aperture for more depth of field.
Looking through the viewfinder while pushing in the DOF button also gives you a very good idea of your depth of field.

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Jun 25, 2016 11:19:05   #
boberic Loc: Quiet Corner, Connecticut. Ex long Islander
 
snoops wrote:
I will be taking pictures of our family and wonder what is the best way to get all the faces in focus ? I only use auto focus at the present time .I will be using my nikon D750 . Thank You all in advance


Not enough info in your post, so we are all guessing here. Indoors- or outside. Off camera flash, if inside? (camera flashes are useless, in thiss situation). Background? What lens? Etc, etc

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Jun 25, 2016 13:14:08   #
snoops
 
You are right I am pretty much a dunce with camera settings - and no I am not Greek but if I were I would not be offended - Some more info since I think I finnaly manage to conect to the internet ( the service is really bad here so forgive me if I dont respond ) there will be 25 people in the group with 10 being below the age of 9 so wish me luck . Also someone told me to shoot in landscape mode and everything would be in focus so I will try a few like that as well Thank you all for the help

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