The art of group photography: 3 basic recommendations and 3 interesting ideas

How to take a group portrait?

Camera technique and settings

Perhaps this article should start with the questions, what equipment is needed and how to photograph a group portrait? It may seem that some special equipment is needed to take such a portrait. This is not true at all - you will need special equipment much later, when you get better at it and want to shoot something like that!

To take good photographs of a group of people, the most ordinary DSLR camera with a standard kit lens will do. However, the better your technique, the better your photos! But the settings and nuances during shooting are somewhat different.

Light and group photo, how to take photos?

Light is the most important component of any photograph, and a group portrait is no exception. When photographing on the street, you just need to figure out the shooting time. The midday sun, with its harsh light and heightened features of people, is absolutely not suitable. The best time to shoot outdoors is evening or morning, that is, soft light. If the situation is hopeless, try to find a nice shadow.

You must understand, here and in general, that the rule stops working when you need it for a specific task.

When creating a group portrait indoors, you can use a flash, tripod or reflector.

The flash should be external, not built-in. The beam should hit the ceiling or one of the walls. Light directly into your face will give the same effect as the built-in flash, that is, a flat image.

When using a camera tripod, be careful as well. The use of this accessory itself requires long shutter speeds, close to 130, and sometimes even longer. Once the camera is fixed, it is very difficult to “stop” people, especially a group. As a result, some models in the picture may be blurry, which looks very bad and spoils the whole picture.

You can only use the reflector with an assistant. It would be better if he was a smart person who knows at least a little about photography. When taking a group photo indoors using a reflector, you should beware of hard shadows or uneven illumination. Considering that there are several, and sometimes many, people, the light from a window or from a reflector simply may not be enough for everyone and it will turn out to be a light on one side, and on the other, people will go into darkness. Therefore, before taking a group photo, you should think a little and draw up an action plan - this will increase your effectiveness by an order of magnitude!

Lens and its characteristics when photographing a group shot

It is best to use so-called portrait lenses, that is, lenses with a focal length of 35-70 mm. Thanks to this lens, all people in a group photo, throughout its entire area, will maintain their proportions. That is, faces will be smooth and beautiful, both in the center of the photo and near its edges.

Do not forget that the properties of the focal length of a lens in photography can also change due to the size of the matrix. For example, a “lens” with a focal length of 28 mm will work fine on a camera with a crop sensor and will turn into a wide-angle lens that stretches faces on a camera with a full-size sensor.

It is worth saying that it is these effects that sometimes add interest and charm to a group photo, especially if it is a youth or children’s photo! When shooting outdoors, using long distances, it is very beautiful and effective to take group portraits with long telephoto lenses, that is, lenses with a focal length of more than 100 mm.

DOF or depth of field in a group photo

Depth of field in any group photography is of great importance, almost the most important! There are several recommendations:

1. Try to shoot with a closed aperture, that is, its value should be greater than f4. When shooting with an open aperture (f/1.4-2.8), often someone does not fall into the sharpness zone and this can ruin not only the photo, but also the mood of the “blurry” person.
2. If, due to shooting conditions, you cannot close the aperture too much and you know for sure that not everyone will fall into the depth of field, then focus on the people in the front rows. This recommendation is the rule, since a blurred foreground in a group photo spoils the entire picture and the photo completely loses its meaning.
3. Try not to close the aperture too much; you should not use values ​​much larger than f/11. A too closed aperture on the vast majority of lenses results in a decrease in the quality and clarity of a group portrait.

Thus, it turns out that the ideal aperture values ​​for photographing a group portrait are f/4-11. But, in certain conditions, when choosing between a large aperture value or loss of portraits out of focus, it is recommended to opt for closing the aperture.

All of the above recommendations also answer the question of how to photograph a group of people in a studio? Understand that if you know how to shoot outside in daylight, then the studio will seem like heaven to you, since there you control everything yourself.

Group portrait style

There are not so many styles of group photography; the variety, which has no end, begins during the creativity of each individual photographer. Let’s take a closer look at the most common options for interesting group photographs, and also figure out how to photograph them.

Family portrait

Not very many people are photographed for a family group portrait. It is very unlikely that a family of at least nine people will come to you. Therefore, people can be arranged in two rows.

When photographing weddings, where there may be many more people, you will have to arrange your subjects in three rows.

In both cases, the classic rule applies: the furthest row of people stands, the second row sits on chairs, and the third lies or sits on the floor. This staging is due to several factors: the formality of the shooting, the desire of everyone to be in the frame, as well as the calmness of such people.

It's worth remembering that you can play with the composition within your group of models, for example, the people in the second seating row would be great to have different heights and different types of chairs. And the people in the third row can take different positions, as well as the models in the first row. It is very important to pay attention to everything that will give a good performance on camera. But don’t delay the arrangement, otherwise the models may get bored and then the process will drag out even more. Having exposed the models, take 10-20 frames, slightly changing the angle and shooting point, and possibly the people themselves. Use continuous shooting.

When taking group portraits of children, try to allow the children to be relaxed and free, as much as possible, of course. And allowing them to be free, just have time to press the trigger! If you manage to create a beautiful dynamic group photo of children, then you will bring real delight and gratitude to the parents of the kids.

Imitation group photos

This group portrait style is perfect for photographing fun groups, friends, and possibly corporate shoots. However, it requires a lot of experience, dexterity, and most importantly the desire to make something beautiful! By imitation we mean copying famous paintings or photographs of classic artists. For example, the picture is constructed like a masterpiece by Henri Cartier-Bresson.

This type of group photo can also be called a genre photo, since here each person plays a role, and in order for the photo to turn out beautiful and of high quality, the role must be played realistically. Most likely, the roles will have to be assigned to you. You will monitor the quality of execution. If suddenly people behave tensely, then it is in your interests to cheer them up and relax them. To do this, you can use various mini-games or exercises. Every photographer is a little and a psychologist, understanding this, you will achieve a lot!

Photo in the style of “Reservoir Dogs”

This style has become very popular recently, namely after the release of the film of the same name by Quentin Tarantino. Similar productions began to be used in other films; it is not at all surprising that photographers copied this idea, and it took root among the masses.

This type of photography is perfect for both the street and the studio. However, it is best suited for photographing a group of people in a studio. It also does not require much effort on the part of the models. Guys need to look decent and perform their original role well. For such a photograph, it is better to take the lower angle, that is, sit down on the floor, and possibly lie down.

Dear friends, you must understand that the negligible material presented in this article cannot give an absolute and complete description of such a complex and diverse genre of photography as a group portrait. However, I hope that I still managed to convey the basics and some useful points to you. Take the best from this article and develop yourself. As you know, the best teacher is practice. Happy shooting!

Group photography: traditions or experiments?

Group photographs of people are always stressful, even for a professional photographer. It happens that the photo is perfect in terms of light and composition, everyone turned out great, but one person doesn’t like, for example, the nose in the photo. At best, this “someone” is a little capricious, but after much persuasion and compliments from the photographer and all the participants in the photo shoot, we agree that the shot is not so bad. And in the worst case, he will start making speeches that call into question the professionalism of the photographer or ask for a re-shoot for free. Nightmare? Not that word!

And therefore, it is important to approach such work with all seriousness: set the lights correctly and choose the room (if you are taking group photographs in the studio), think about the details, choose the right angle for each person, and so on.

A short excursion: types of group photography

There are three types of shooting a group of people:

1. Formal photos with a large number of people (corporate photo shoot).
2. Informal photos with a friendly company.
3. Family photo session.

Each type requires an individual approach when choosing poses and topics for a photo shoot. This will be discussed in our article. And just a piece of advice: when working with a large group, you will not be able to control the facial expressions and posture of each participant in the shooting. Therefore, it will be easier to correctly set the light, pay attention to the composition as a whole, and correct the shortcomings later, in the editor. Imagine that all these people are a single object, as if it were a transformer. All people in the group should be clearly visible - do not forget about this.

Poses for group photos

1. It often happens that it is not possible to experiment with poses and the only option is to take full-length photographs. Such photographs are not original, but are perfect for a formal photo shoot. Here your only task is to ensure that each participant is clearly visible. The subject of the shooting primarily depends on the general age of the group. If you have to photograph a team of respectable colleagues, then creative crazy ideas will have to be put aside. The motto for such a shoot is “Maximum modesty and more restraint!” Remember those crazy ideas put off until better times? Take them out of the palace of the mind, they are perfect for students or a creative young team. It can be anything: from a bright photo shoot on the street to a costume “party” in the studio. Any experiments are appropriate (and even encouraged) here. Here are some inspiring photographs:

Perhaps group photography has become something ordinary for you, or you are bored with formal photographs of groups of people, then this article is for you. There are creative techniques you can use to add interest to your photos. First we'll cover the basics of traditional photography, and then you'll learn some tricks about group photography.

Any photographer who has ever tried to capture an image of a group of people can attest that it is a much more challenging endeavor than taking individual portraits. First you need to group the people. Then get the desired facial expression from everyone and, of course, decide on the composition of the frame so that it does not look mediocre and boring.

There may be a themed shoot timed to coincide with a family celebration, or an award ceremony and a prize, and so on. But sometimes you want to take a casual approach, to capture the subject in a relaxed atmosphere. Or maybe you've been asked to get creative with a group shoot, for example to work on a music album cover.

Then you expand the shooting format, experiment with viewing angles, lens choice and camera settings. And, despite the fact that all this will have a significant impact on your photo, you can not be limited and go further. Use doorways in the frame, include steps, railings and other elements of the surrounding space into the composition.

The main thing is that all this is harmoniously combined with the object and theme. And also use group dynamics when working within a large team.

Professional models are well aware of how to pose, but most people will feel awkward. So explain to them what you are trying to do and what result you are trying to achieve. It's best to involve everyone involved and get more expression.

Tip #1: Tripod and remote release

For formal images, you'll find it helpful to mount your camera on a tripod and release the shutter using a remote control. This is necessary not only to minimize the risk of camera shake. This way, while you take a series of photos, you will maintain a constant angle. And your hands will remain free so that you can guide the participants in the photo shoot and move props.

Tip #2: Best Camera Settings

Set the camera to aperture priority mode (A), then select the lens aperture to f/11.

It's good to shoot with an 18-200mm lens so that you can control the background and produce a better perspective for portraits.

Tip #3: Classic composition

When photographing people standing straight in a line, place the tallest person in the center and the shorter people on the sides.

This is useful even when objects are almost the same height.

Take a few minutes to line up everyone in the correct order and at the correct distance to ensure an even line.

Tip #4: Shooting handheld

For less formal shots, you'll want to shoot handheld, so adjust your settings to avoid the effects of camera shake.

Use the Auto ISO function to set the maximum sensitivity you are willing to use and the minimum shutter speed. 1/125 sec will come in handy here.

Tip #5: Change your perspective

You don't have to take all the shots while standing directly in front of those taking pictures.

In the example below you can see how the photographer climbed up the wall. This positioning gives an unusual angle of view. You can use a 10-24mm super wide-angle lens to achieve an exaggerated perspective effect and a more striking composition.

Tip #6: Wide Angle Perspective

With wide-angle shots, you need to be especially vigilant about the background. Simply because there will be much more of him in the frame.

You will have to spend some time deciding on the frame and preventing unwanted elements from being included in it.

Tip #7: Extra Flash

Flash can make a big difference, especially when you're shooting in low-light conditions.

It brightens the object and helps to highlight it against the general background.

Perhaps the built-in flash in the camera will be enough. But an external flash gives you more flexibility and you can control the direction of the light.

Tip #8: Relieve tension

At some point in time, you begin to realize that asking models to say “cheese” in front of the camera is not enough. With your input, the subjects can behave relaxed and at ease, and fool around a little.

The "Synchronized Mid-Air Jump" is a classic trick that works brilliantly in nature, as you can see in this photo.
This technique will help “melt the ice” and add confidence to your subjects. And you can explain exactly what images you are trying to get. If you can properly involve the photo shoot participants in the process, they will be able to come up with their own ideas for new photos.

Tip #9: Natural shots

This old doorway turned out to be a great backdrop for standard group photography. The experiment determined that in this case, the door being opened slightly inward held the potential to add interest in a frame with a natural door frame.

Tip #10: An animated ruler

This old brick wall turned out to be the perfect support for the models to rest their elbows on. They were asked to interact with each other to give the photo an informal, candid feel.

There is also experimentation with different shooting angles here. Try photographing from below or from the side.

Tip #11: Create an Intriguing Sky

The low angle of the super wide angle lens helped exaggerate the perspective. A remote flash made the lighting more dramatic, and a graduated filter effect darkened the sky.

This is a simple and effective way to transform an ordinary background into a gothic scene.

Tip #12: Add some mood

Here you see footage of members of the Electric Jesters. The photos could be suitable for a poster or album cover.

The composition of the image creates a good impression, but here I wanted to add a changeable mood to the photo in the digital darkroom.

For this, the Adobe Camera Raw application in Photoshop CS6 came in handy. These methods are quite simple and can be used in almost any image editing program.

To achieve high contrast and a desaturated look, I had to increase the contrast, then adjust the color and saturation, and finally add a vignetting effect to darken the corners.

Adobe Camera Raw has a Clarity slider that, when moved to the right, makes objects and outlines clearer. To increase midtone contrast, move it as far as possible. Then use a significant increase in contrast using the Contrast slider and reduce the setting for the Exposure slider so that the data does not burn out.

Retro faded colors come from two settings. First, move the Temperature slider to the right. This will give the image a warmer color balance. Then reduce the saturation level and mute the colors.

Adobe Camera Raw has its own vignetting tool, which you'll find in the panel behind the "FX" icon. However, you can achieve the same effect by darkening the edges of the image manually. This way you focus attention on the main subject and enhance the image.

For more great ideas for group photography, check out this article:
21 Poses for Group Shots

Group and family portraits - professional tricks and difficulties of shooting

We will begin this photography lesson with an important initial condition: when photographing a group of people, the photographer must pay attention to the fact that each individual is visually connected to the other person in the photograph. In this case, you should follow the rule for photographing a group of people: faces should be located fairly evenly from each other, but people are connected to each other by overlapping bodies.

Notice the lack of "spaces" between individual family members in this family portrait.

Another popular method for group portraits is to photograph people in a so-called pyramid, where the posing people are positioned in such a way that a wider base is formed at the bottom of the photo, and the entire composition seems to tend to a single peak. This is, of course, not the actual shape of an Egyptian pyramid, but you can see that the wide base, the base part of the photo, balances and supports the top.

Try positioning people so that the objects in the photo interact with each other, rather than just looking straight into the camera.

But we should not forget that when using this method, in addition, you must ensure that all faces that are turned away from the camera are still clearly visible and distinguishable. Ask to always turn your heads slightly towards the lens.

Another great suggestion is to use geometric shapes to place significant points in your group or family photos.

For example, you can create your family portrait using triangles. These do not have to be visual equilateral triangles, they can vary in shape and size, but create such an opportunity for the viewers' eyes to move from one face to another.

Hands are one of the most important parts in portrait photography. You should never forget about them - not when you create a single image, or even when you photograph a group portrait. It is considered a big mistake if all the people in your photographs place their hands in the same way. Vary the position of your subjects' hands to improve their overall pose.

The best mood for a family portrait is when the love and affection of family members for each other is shown. Build your composition so that your subjects' faces are close to each other. Very often, this arrangement leads to family members naturally smiling because they see loved ones in front of them and enjoy the closeness and feel a closer connection than ever before.

And you, as a photographer, will definitely feel how the family shares the joy of communicating with each other, and this will certainly affect the overall mood of the photo.

Try to evaluate photographs from the point of view of a professional photographer - a critical approach always helps to focus on the advantages and disadvantages of a particular portrait. Gain experience and a “critical mass of perception” when looking at the photographs of other photographers in order to automatically catch the most successful spontaneous moments at photo shoots, because your photographs should delight people for more than one day.

And about the technical details of group photography.

Of course, ideally it is necessary to take a creative and individual approach to each photo shoot. But the effective and already accumulated experience of other photographers will never hurt. For example, a family portrait with two children may be “circular”. Position your models head to head on the grass in a circle so they are holding hands.

The group portrait is different in that it allows the use of a standard wide-angle lens. The photographer may well be tall enough to capture the entire family in the frame; otherwise, he will have to use a ladder or some kind of accessory.

Select the focus in the center of the image and use an average depth of field (We remind you that using an aperture of 2.8 and wider is not suitable for shooting group portraits, since all faces should be in the sharpness zone and if there is no idea to blur or blur someone, then outside competition will be opening the aperture from f/8 to f/16.)

When working with large families, try to arrange people together so that they form groups: older and younger people in the background, older people in the center and children in the front. Also remember the nuance - the tallest people are located at the edges of the photographs, as if closing the entire group composition.

Don't rely on chance and random placement of people in the frame, and avoid the "high-low-high-low" distribution.

Don't be afraid to use an off-camera flash to highlight shadows and freeze faces for greater depth of field to ensure everyone is absolutely in focus in the frame.

A great idea is to prompt the models to hug. This will show the emotional closeness of the family. A good photo can be obtained by clearly demonstrating obvious age differences, for example, grandmothers and granddaughters.

The correct camera settings for such moments in portrait photo shoots would be short shutter speeds. You can’t force models to “keep a smile”; it will turn out artificial and give an unnatural effect to the photo.

Remind your subjects before the shoot to choose clothes of similar colors and style. Don't be afraid to experiment with colors, but avoid bright red, it can ruin your shots.

Recommended settings for photographing a group of people

Exposure options for family portraits vary. A photographer should always strive to achieve a balanced and clear image, so use flash when necessary to obtain the optimal shutter speed (at least 1/125). A working aperture should be f/11-f/22 if you are dealing with a large group so that everyone is in focus. However, if there are three models or fewer in the photo shoot, use a shallow depth of field (f/2-f/5.6) to keep the background blurred.

Another little trick of the trade is that any group portrait should be shot using burst shooting. Take several shots at once, so later it will be easier to choose a photo where no one blinks. When a photographer shoots one model, the probability of blinking is small, and if she blinks, you can immediately notice and reshoot. The larger the group of people, the higher the likelihood that someone will close their eyes at the wrong time.

In the case when you are shooting against the sun, one of the practical tips that we wrote about in the article “How not to squint in the sun” . Ask everyone to close their eyes and open them only on your command. At first, people will not see anything, since their eyes are already accustomed to the darkness, and until they adapt, they will not squint.

Don't be afraid to get creative. The key issue in family photography sessions is the number of people you will be photographing. A large number of people can always be divided into small groups, and then even edited into one frame during post-processing. The most important thing is that the photo conveys an atmosphere of unity between people. Then the photo shoot can be considered a success.

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