tips for group shots: I have been asked to photograph a family gathering of 10 people. The ages range from 10 to 90. I would appreciate any tips on how to manage posing so they all...

aphelps Loc: Central Ohio

I have been asked to photograph a family gathering of 10 people. The ages range from 10 to 90. I would appreciate any tips on how to manage posing so they all look at the camera with eyes open for the shot. Thanks for any ideas that have worked for you.

Quixdraw Loc: x

Old trick - get them all positioned, tell them to close their eyes and open on count of 3 and smile. Do it a couple of times, hold positions, chimp, repeat if necessary. Works.

aphelps Loc: Central Ohio

quixdraw wrote:

Old trick - get them all positioned, tell them to close their eyes and open on count of 3 and smile. Do it a couple of times, hold positions, chimp, repeat if necessary. Works.

Thank you, quixdraw. Sounds like a great idea. I'll give a try!
-Al

Strodav Loc: Houston, Tx

When you have very senior citizens, you will want to provide them a place to sit. After that I look at family groupings like children with parents and grandparents, sisters, brothers, ... , and height is a consideration especially with shorter folks and kids. Some people like to hide from the camera, so you need to make sure they can be seen. You didn't say indoor or outdoors, but mind the sun, HDR situations, and your background. You want to avoid things seemingly popping out of peoples heads. Watch your DOF. I usually start at f/8 at 1/125 sec and see where my ISO is at and adjust from there. Take a test shot and look at your histograms, I put the shutter on continuous low, get them to smile (quixdraw has a good idea for that) and hold the shutter button down for a few shots and do that 2 or 3 times. Much better chance of catching everybody with their eyes open.

DWU2 Loc: Phoenix Arizona area

You can take several shots in quick succession and then, for those who blink or otherwise don't look good, switch heads in Photoshop or other editor.

CO

UHH members have given great information. Here's one thing I could add. If you're using a wide angle lens, look out for volume deformation at the sides of the frame. People and objects can be stretched horizontally. I use DxO Viewpoint3 to correct it. I took the photo of the capital building below with a 16mm focal length. The wings of the building are stretched horizontally. The corrected photo is below it.

(Download)

billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont

aphelps wrote:

I have been asked to photograph a family gathering of 10 people. The ages range from 10 to 90. I would appreciate any tips on how to manage posing so they all look at the camera with eyes open for the shot. Thanks for any ideas that have worked for you.

When I used to photograph weddings, I used to tell my subjects I was going to count to three, on two a nice smile and on three, "they were responsible for what they looked like".

waymond Loc: Pflugerville, Texas

Works well for me.

Stay well.

ClarkJohnson Loc: Fort Myers, FL and Cohasset, MA

Try to equalize as best as possible the distance of each subject to the camera, to prevent the distortion of relative size (e.g., nearest ones looking huge). If your subjects are in rows, shooting from an elevated viewpoint can be useful for this.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

aphelps wrote:

I have been asked to photograph a family gathering of 10 people. The ages range from 10 to 90. I would appreciate any tips on how to manage posing so they all look at the camera with eyes open for the shot. Thanks for any ideas that have worked for you.

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/

aphelps Loc: Central Ohio

Strodav wrote:

When you have very senior citizens, you will want ... (show quote)

Thanks for the tips.

aphelps Loc: Central Ohio

DWU2 wrote:

You can take several shots in quick succession and then, for those who blink or otherwise don't look good, switch heads in Photoshop or other editor.

Thanks for your suggestions.

aphelps Loc: Central Ohio

MrBumps2U wrote:

Try to equalize as best as possible the distance of each subject to the camera, to prevent the distortion of relative size (e.g., nearest ones looking huge). If your subjects are in rows, shooting from an elevated viewpoint can be useful for this.

Thanks for your help.

aphelps Loc: Central Ohio

jerryc41 wrote:

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/

Thanks, Jerry.
--Al

jbk224 Loc: Long Island, NY

I read somewhere; could have been here....ask them all to say 'Whiskey' at the count of three. Should make them all smile...and their smiles/expressions will be as good as it can get. Not a bad idea to have some ready for the group! (Not for the underage!)