Advice, Tutorials

Tips for better group photos

Professional belly dancer Hadia Habibi needed some pictures with her Al Nar Bellydance Ensemble.
Professional belly dancer Hadia Habibi needed some pictures with her Al Nar Bellydance Ensemble.

Group photos tend to be documentary in nature i.e their primary purpose is to record who was present at some place and time.

For that reason, I take a quick group photo with my point-and-shoot camera as an attendance record whenever I’m teaching. It cures the most camera shy instantly.

What if you are aspire for your group photo to be better? To get past the mentality of lining up everyone up against the wall?

Perhaps these tips will help:

Arrange your people

San Bernardino Peter Phun 100402---San Bernardino Deputy District Attorney Anne Marie Duncan(right) with the some of the members of the prosecution team.The team members are l to r (seated front row):Sonja Gonzales-Metelak and Nancy Alicea. l to r (backrow): Linda Robinson,Janet Hulse and Destiny Campbell.This is part of empower project.
San Bernardino Deputy District Attorney Anne Marie Duncan(right) with the some of the members of the prosecution team.The team members are l to r (seated front row):Sonja Gonzales-Metelak and Nancy Alicea.
l to r (backrow): Linda Robinson,Janet Hulse and Destiny Campbell.

In any group there is usually one person worthy of more prominence either because of their age or because they are the moneybags, the big cheese. Figure that out and arrange the people around them. If you’re lighting the shot, make sure your Big Kahuna is well-lit.

Don’t show everyone from head to toe

If you can help it, don’t shoot to include everyone’s feet. Try this: Grab anyone you can and take a look through your viewfinder. Take a shot from waist up, look at the background. Step back or zoom out and include their feet, take a second picture. Compare the background in both pictures. I dare say you will like the first picture better because it has less clutter.

Try using a big window as a natural frame

I stepped outside the building put on a telephoto lens and braced myself for this pic. Two Speedlites were used, one with a blue gel on the left and another on the right just on the inside of the wall aimed at Hadia's head to provide separation
I stepped outside the building put on a telephoto lens and braced myself for this pic. Two Speedlites were used, one with a blue gel on the left and another on the right just on the inside of the wall aimed at Hadia’s head to provide separation

This only applies obviously to groups of maybe 5 or 6 people. Windows can be a great device to control your clutter.

Design your picture

Fill your frame or viewfinder. Make your subjects big, in this case, it’s their faces.If there are kids, have them stand on something so their faces are now closer to the adult’s faces.

A family unit with their heads closer like this can be cropped even tighter if needed.
A family unit with their heads closer like this can be cropped even tighter if needed.

This is more efficient use of the space in your canvas.If you’re photographing a family, they are already comfortable with one another, so get their heads closer. By doing so, you can compose tighter in your viewfinder.

Pay attention to backgrounds

For this portrait of a pastor at a church, I opted to use the mural where the pulpit was since it was so striking. I used a flash on the left of camera to light my subjects.
For this portrait of a pastor at a church, I opted to use the mural where the pulpit was since it was so striking. I used a flash on the left of camera to light my subjects.

This goes without saying, if 90% of camera owners would only take a look at what’s behind their subject before releasing the shutter, their pictures would improve overnight. So whenever possible, if there are good backgrounds, utilize them. Otherwise bring the people away from the wall and light just the people. Whatever isn’t lit by your lights stops being clutter.

Bring at least 2 flashes with light stands

2 Speedlites raised to about 10 feet and placed properly can be enough. I set the zoom on the flashes at their widest 14mm and placed them equidistant from the group
2 Speedlites raised to about 10 feet and placed properly can be enough. I set the zoom on the flashes at their widest 14mm and placed them equidistant from the group

You may not have to use them if you can move the group outdoors to a good location, but having this combo of lights instantly gives you confidence. It’s your backup plan.

A typical group shot comprising about 30 people done with 2 Speedlites raised to about 10 feet and put 10 feet away from either end of the group.
A typical group shot comprising about 30 people done with 2 Speedlites raised to about 10 feet and put 10 feet away from either end of the group.

You probably want to have some sort of radio remote to trigger your flashes. Lugging lightstands may be a pain but it can give you a way to control clutter in the background.

Personal space considerations

Here's the start of the shoot with 3 goofy brothers. A little too much space between their faces.
Here’s the start of the shoot with 3 goofy brothers. A little too much space between their faces.

A group shot of complete strangers is generally more difficult for obvious reasons unless of course they have all had some shots of tequila.

It is human to not want to be close in proximity to strangers. So if you find yourself in a situation where you need to arrange people,try to figure out clusters of people who are chummy with one another.

The best picture not just in terms of composition but also in their facial expressions. The efficient use of the canvas makes this a better picture.
The best picture not just in terms of composition but also in their facial expressions. The efficient use of the canvas makes this a better picture.

It may take some doing but you can tell if you take the time to notice who places their arms around who in your early shots.
Peter Phun Photography

Promote Your Page Too