Large Group Photo: I have been asked to take a photo of a very large group of people. Over 50 people. They have asked that I get on a ladder to take the photo downward to get the shot.

faygo Loc: Tucson, AZ

I have been asked to take a photo of a very large group of people. Over 50 people. They have asked that I get on a ladder to take the photo downward to get the shot. My question is, should I use a standard wide angle lens, a fish-eye lens, or something else? Also should I take several shots and splice them together? Any suggestions would be very helpful. I have a canon t6s.

Kmgw9v Loc: Miami, Florida

What is a "standard" wide angle lens?

rgrenaderphoto Loc: Hollywood, CA

Something like a 24 mm far enough back to get everybody in the photo. A fisheye will distort, and you don't want that. Doint a panorama of a large group of people depends on them keeping perfectly still, which you know will not happen.

BHC Loc: Strawberry Valley, JF, USA

Kmgw9v wrote:

What is a "standard" wide angle lens?

Rectilinear

sloscheider Loc: Minnesota

They don't have to be arranged in a wide formation - Try different groupings - 10 wide by 5 deep or maybe 7 x 7 - get really high and try a nearly straight down shot from a balcony. Have fun with it, you might do just fine with the kit 18-55 lens

Apaflo Loc: Anchorage, Alaska

faygo wrote:

Over 50 people. They have asked that I get on a ladder to take the photo downward to get the shot. My question is, should I use a standard wide angle lens, a fish-eye lens, or something else? Also should I take several shots and splice them together?

You can do that from a ladder, but if possible seems better to have the group standing on steps, for example on bleachers in a gym or in a stadium, or in front of a large building. You still need a ladder, but just to be even with them rather than looking down.

A standard wide angle lens is fine. You don't need to stitch multiple images, but if they want to print this as a murial on a wall it might be a good idea!

Leicaflex Loc: Cymru

24mm on a full frame camera (not crop factor) will be quite adequate.
A good suggestion by Apaflo above, steps, if you can find tiered steps to fit
the group onto, I am not convinced about the ladder.

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

faygo wrote:

I have been asked to take a photo of a very large group of people. Over 50 people. They have asked that I get on a ladder to take the photo downward to get the shot. My question is, should I use a standard wide angle lens, a fish-eye lens, or something else? Also should I take several shots and splice them together? Any suggestions would be very helpful. I have a canon t6s.

I've done it with both an ultrawide lens and a shorter lens and a multi-shot pano. The pano is always the winner, unless the client wants the edgy look from an ultra wide or fisheye. You could always rent a drone pilot if you want to get higher than the ladder.

John N Loc: HP14 3QF Stokenchurch, UK

I do something like this at a family get together each year (perhaps 15 - 20 people) and prefer to go further away and use a slight telephoto.

achesley Loc: SW Louisiana

Something else you may want to consider. Learned something at our last class reunion I could do and wish I had another chance at it. Spread the group out to where each face is plainly in view. Take 2 or 3 shots from one edge of the group to the other. Join them together with some panorama software. Makes for a great picture. I really didn't see the effects till I got home and loaded the work into LR6 for processing. Course I was in the picture and had someone's spouse taking the pictures with my directions. Still had a few faces barely or partly visible. Even with just two pictures I cropped the sides. Lost chance there, but learned lots for a future group shot.

lngroller

not being familiar with your camera I would go no wider than a 35mm on full frame and 24mm on a crop frame. be early measure out where you want everyone. If exactly 50 in the group do something like 13-12-13-12 going odd even in rows allows you to place everyone in the rows to be between the heads of the row in front. also at the distance you would be shooting a group that size a normal 6 or 7' step ladder does not give you a lot of down angle. so take your time arranging. Also you may want to string your front row and work from there. this means actually tieing a string to the center post of your tripod start at the center of your group and walk it to each end. you will end up with a big arc. if you don't do this the ends of the group will be considerably further than the folks in the center. this makes the back corners a huge difference. and will be much sharper, DOF may not cover it even with a 35mm or 24mm (on crop frame)

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

faygo wrote:

I have been asked to take a photo of a very large group of people. Over 50 people. They have asked that I get on a ladder to take the photo downward to get the shot. My question is, should I use a standard wide angle lens, a fish-eye lens, or something else? Also should I take several shots and splice them together? Any suggestions would be very helpful. I have a canon t6s.

Yes, 24mm should be fine. Just be careful on the ladder. Most recommendations for group photos suggest taking at least three shots in a row. Someone will have eyes closed, be yawning, etc. If you're good with PS, it's easy enough to replace a yawning head with a smiling one.

Group ideas -
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/

Swapping heads
http://digital-photography-school.com/two-quick-easy-photoshop-head-swapping-techniques/
https://helpx.adobe.com/photoshop/how-to/swap-heads-family-portrait.html
http://www.kristendukephotography.com/photoshop-head-swap-tutorial/

canon Lee

some good advice here... in addition i would add that you make your rows, starting first row at an even amount, and the next row an odd amount & so on.. good luck

Gpa-15 Loc: Tinton Falls, NJ

jerryc41 wrote:

Yes, 24mm should be fine. Just be careful on the ... (show quote)

--------------------
Hi 'jerry41'... As always, very Complete (re: References).
--- Do you have Recommendations about 'Time of Day' // 'Position of Sun' // 'Lighting when Group includes some Dark-skinned members' // 'RENTAL of 14mm equivalent' (to effect a Landscape).?
--- Thanks.!

mwsilvers Loc: Central New Jersey

rgrenaderphoto wrote:

Something like a 24 mm far enough back to get everybody in the photo. A fisheye will distort, and you don't want that. Doint a panorama of a large group of people depends on them keeping perfectly still, which you know will not happen.

Depending on the space being used, the available distance, and how the 50 people will be grouped, 24mm may or may not be wide enough. We also have no idea what camera the OP is using. On a FF body 24mm may be perfect, on a crop body 24mm may be way too narrow. We just don't have enough information to answer the OP's question.