DaveO Loc: Northeast CT

Good thoughts,Bob. I'm being tagged as well to do mine. I agree with hiring a pro,but the cheap bastar** won't go for it. I'll do my best and not lose any sleep. I'll make it a fun experience and no one will remember a few poor shoots as long as there are a bunch of inclusive candids.

jim quist Loc: Missouri

There is nothing wrong with your camera, you need to boost your self-confidence

markie1425 Loc: Bryn Mawr, PA

I shoot many of the 45+ year reunions of my high school.

In order to get complete group coverage, I take boys and girls separately and don't allow spouses and guests into the pictures.

Ours was a large city high school that drew from as many as 15 feeder elementary and junior high schools. I find that the "kids" also like to have themselves photographed with their feeder school groups since some of the were together starting in kingergarten. I ask their reunion committees to make paper pennants showing each feeder school name and mount these on a stick. That way, it's relatively easy to gather each smaller group in a crowded and noisy room.

Haydon

If I might add, if you have a set of bleachers, use them to compose rows of people. I'd also recommend following Gene's suggestion. Stitching with a long focal length will give you a higher quality image with more megapixel and less distortion found commonly with a wide angle/ultra-wide angle lens.

Thanks Gene for the tip about everyone closing their eyes and opening on the count of three. Simple but brilliant. I'll remember that tip.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

I would use an eight-foot tripod only if I were eight feet tall.

par4fore Loc: Bay Shore N.Y.

Tokina 11-16mm f/2.8 Pro DX Digital Lens - EOS on the body you have and get closer.

https://www.amazon.com/Tokina-11-16mm-AT-X116-Digital-Cameras/dp/B0014Z3XMC

waegwan Loc: Mae Won Li

Of course everything is based on available finances but I would recommend L series lens like a Canon 24-105 f/4 L before upgrading the body. And even if you upgrade the body you are going to need an L series lens. A couple of inexpensive Youngnuo flashes with Youngnuo flash triggers should handle light requirements. I have a Canon 1000 which is very similar to the 450 and I have a 6D, The 450 with an L series lens is a capable camera for this kind of work.

Mary Kate Loc: NYC

My thought on this event and weddings. You are not going to have another 50th reunion. Pay for a photographer. Who cares if your camera is up to the task. Enjoy your classmates have a spontaneous time. How much can it be if everyone chips in???

Jcmarino

How many is a large group? 20, 50, 300? Indoors or out? Daytime or nighttime? This will decide your lens and lighting, your camera should be fine up to 8x10 photos. Lighting will be your biggest issue. Check out the location if indoors to see how high the ceilings are, color of the walls, floor and ceiling, check for window light, what is the ambient lighting? How will you pose your group? Will there be steps or will they all be on the same level? All of this will come into play.

Instead of a large group photo, if the group is really large, you might suggest a photobooth set up. Popular with large groups and weddings. We did this recently and had everyone take photos with their phones and post it to the class website with their names and tags. They had a blast doing it. Volunteer to take photos for those who do not have a good phone camera or would just rather have someone else take the photo. This seems to be a new trend. You can even provide props to make it fun!

markie1425 Loc: Bryn Mawr, PA

Not a good solution, unfortunately.

Outside photographers are expensive and many 50 year reunion attendees live on fixed incomes. The higher the per/head amount, the fewer will come.

I began volunteering to photograph my school's class reunions after having a bad experience with my own 50th. Our committee hired an outside photographer. He came in, split the class in two alphabetically, stood on a high balcony and took one group picture of each half. He was still so far away that individuals were hard to recognize. Then he walked out and charged each classmate $20 for the two group pictures. We wanted table shots, small groups of friends, those great pictures of recognition when people see each other after a 50 year gap. Nothing.

Fortunately, I had a decent point-and-shoot (Canon PowerShot S95) in my pocket, so I photographed the entire reunion. It wasn't a problem for me since I use my camera as a social tool; I was able to shmooze with everyone while still taking pictures.

Subsequently, I wanted to help other classes reduce their per/head reunion charges, so I began to volunteer. My deal is simple: feed me and I'll give you pictures as good as any for-hire photographer. I've done 23 reunions covering classes from 1950 to 1971. High schools are continuums so there are always people attending who had lived in my childhood neighborhood or whose siblings were in my class. I always know people and have a good time without getting in the way of their own shmoozing.

As far as photographing large groups, I'm surprised that with all the advice about equipment, no one else has suggested trimming the size of each group so that everyone gets his or her moment in the sun. In my earlier post, I recommended splitting the large group by gender and keeping out spouses and guests. Benefit of smaller groups is greater likelihood that people in the rear will not be blocked by those in front. You can see from my list that I use modest equipment—usually my T2i with its zoom lens and a Speedlite with diffuser. Before I acquired the T2i, I used a Canon PowerShot G9, also with a an external Speedlite. Even with such a small sensor, I got good images.
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achesley Loc: SW Louisiana

I did our 55th last Summer with a Canon G16. For the group photo, I instructed the guy using my camera to get a little bit over half in each side. When processing to plano, I found I could of spread them a bit more so no hidden faces.
I have an XS50 , too much camera and a slow lens. And a T3i but more camera than I want to roam with getting those candid, non posing shot. The Class loved them.

markie1425 Loc: Bryn Mawr, PA

Good solution. You are right about the downside of hauling a DSLR around. It's a pain, particularly with an external flash mounted on a bracket.

I have three reunions scheduled for May—one 50th which will require a DSLR, plus a class 70th birthday party and a Choir reunion. For the latter two, I'm tempted to use my smaller four-thirds Lumix LX100 and buy an external Yongnuo or Metz flash to go with it.

My philosophy is to get in close and fill the viewfinder. That closeness unnerves some people, but they're usually satisfied when they see their results.

tgreenhaw

Use a ladder instead of an 8 foot tripod. If you have a tripod with a removable ball head, you can screw that into the top of a wooden ladder, other wise you can hand hold. Be sure to set your aperture to at least f8 so you have adequate depth of field. Invest your money in a strong flash arrangement unless the location is very well lit. Go to the location ahead of time and take some practice shots. If you have a megaphone at your disposal, bring it. The biggest challenge is getting the group arranged and ready to shoot, so preparation and logistics for that are critical - consider marks for indicating where people should stand. Take multiple shots in case you want to swap blinking faces and take some bracketed exposure groups. This is where your Wal Mart flash may let you down if it has a long recycle time. Bring plenty of fresh batteries.

cthahn

You do not mention the size of the group. Buying all new equipment just to take a picture is foolish. You obviously have never done this before and if you do not understand all the problems, you will be in for a big embarrassment, plus you will not be in the picture. It is not expensive equipment that takes the picture, it is the photographer with the necessary experience.

ronichas Loc: Long Island

My meetup group has a party every year with about 70 people. We always take a group photo.
I set up 2 rows of chairs, with space in between. The back row I have people stand on the chairs. Then people stand between the chairs, some people sitting on the first row of chairs and some people on the floor. It always works!