Group Shots: I have an up coming gig next week doing portraiture and group shots for an office. I have a 50 mm, and 85 mm, and a 100 mm, along with many others. I'll also be doing...

pdsilen Loc: Roswell, New Mexico

I have an up coming gig next week doing portraiture and group shots for an office. I have a 50 mm, and 85 mm, and a 100 mm, along with many others. I'll also be doing group shots consisting of five to twelve persons. What kind of lens would you recommend for the group shots?

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

For a group of 12 people, none sounds like a good choice. Although, the sensor size of your camera will help determine.

Kmgw9v Loc: Miami, Florida

pdsilen wrote:

I have an up coming gig next week doing portraiture and group shots for an office. I have a 50 mm, and 85 mm, and a 100 mm, along with many others. I'll also be doing group shots consisting of five to twelve persons. What kind of lens would you recommend for the group shots?

Buy a 24-70 2.8.

pdsilen Loc: Roswell, New Mexico

Thank you. I'll use my full frame Canon 6D

LiamRowan Loc: Michigan

If you have the opportunity to visit the location you can test how much "space" you can fit in the frame using the 50mm. A group of 12 will take up a fair amount of area, so unless you can get pretty far back, you will not be able to fit them in the frame even using your 50mm. Recently I shot a group of 9 in two rows, 5 in back standing, 4 in front sitting. I was on the opposite side of the room (15 ft at least) and had to use 35mm to fit them all in.

pdsilen Loc: Roswell, New Mexico

Thank you. That's how I planned on doing it.

Rongnongno Loc: FL

CHG_CANON wrote:

For a group of 12 people, none sounds like a good choice. Although, the sensor size of your camera will help determine.

You mean one needs a big sensor to fit all these folks in the box?

PHRubin Loc: Nashville TN USA

Rongnongno wrote:

You mean one needs a big sensor to fit all these folks in the box?

Of course, the bigger the box....

BebuLamar

But still I wouldn't use anything wider than 35mm on a FF camera because if you use something like a 24mm the people at the edge may be pissed off.

pdsilen Loc: Roswell, New Mexico

yes

LiamRowan Loc: Michigan

pdsilen wrote:

yes

You have to click on "Quote Reply" before responding or readers will not know to whom your response is addressed.

LiamRowan Loc: Michigan

BebuLamar wrote:

But still I wouldn't use anything wider than 35mm on a FF camera because if you use something like a 24mm the people at the edge may be pissed off.

That is a good point. When I shoot a group with 35mm or wider, I use more mm than is necessary in order to leave room on either side of the frame, and then crop. This helps to minimize the edge distortion that leave people annoyed since people are farther from the edge.

steve33 Loc: Yarmouth MA

LiamRowan wrote:

That is a good point. When I shoot a group with 35mm or wider, I use more mm than is necessary in order to leave room on either side of the frame, and then crop. This helps to minimize the edge distortion that leave people annoyed since people are farther from the edge.

nimbushopper Loc: Tampa, FL

Just be careful using a wide angle lens for group shots as anyone close to the edge of the frame will appear distorted(fatter)! Better to use a normal lens and back up, unless that cannot be done.

Gspeed Loc: Rhinebeck, NY

Cannot comment on the lens. Would like, however, to share a tip about photographing groups to get everyone wide-eyed and smiling:

Ask everyone to close their eyes and turn only their head 180 degrees. When you say go, everyone turns back to the camera with a smile and eyes open. Works every time. You get natural smiles and natural face features...

You're welcome.

~ Eileen

pdsilen wrote:

I have an up coming gig next week doing portraiture and group shots for an office. I have a 50 mm, and 85 mm, and a 100 mm, along with many others. I'll also be doing group shots consisting of five to twelve persons. What kind of lens would you recommend for the group shots?