Formal Group Photographs

How to Take Great Group Photos

Formal group photos are notoriously difficult to take. You need to remain calm and cheerful, but at the same time, stay business like, give clear directions, and be speedy.

You need to be prepared:

  • Camera (and tripod) with you and charged.
  • Check out a location before the shoot.
  • Warn the people involved a few minutes before you want them, that they will be required for a photo

Managing the Group; The Challenges:

  • A mixture of moods
  • Getting them to face the same way
  • Staging heads, so all can be seen by the camera
  • There is always one who blinks
  • People who are absent

Managing the Group; Some Solutions:

  • Do not shoot with the sun behind you; people will squint.
  • Do not shoot in front of a glass window. Flash reflection will ruin your shot.
  • You could put your camera on multi shot. Usually one in the middle is more relaxed.
  • Take several shots in quick succession, to capture the moment.
  • Choose a position where your group will fit, where there is enough light for the shot and where there are no distractions in the background.
  • Use a location which reflects the interests of the group. Eg. On the green for a cricket team.
  • Use a tripod
  • Get in as close as you can without leaving people out.
  • Chins up.
  • Smile. Your subjects will smile back. Have a few silly quick jokes up your sleve.

    • Candid Photos of People in Groups

    Candid Photography

    A Candid photograph is one which is not posed. Candid photos are often taken without the subject’s awareness.
    Candid photography of people is about capturing a moment in time where your subjects are involved in some occupation or happening.

    • Take your camera everywhere. Have it with you, and charged.
    • Shoot lots.
    • Photograph people doing things.
    • If you are photographing children, get down to their level.
    • Photograph people interactions. It brings relationships into your images.
    • Kill the flash, and if you can, turn the sound off.
    • As an experiment shoot from the hip, ie dont lift your camera and attact attention.


    Adding To A Group


    Adding To A Group

    Add A Missing Person - Using a Layer Mask
    Add A Missing Person - Using Scissors Select
    Chanelles Franklin News - Gimp and Publisher



    Restoration

    Retouching with the GIMP

    Cosmetic Touchups
    Portrait Touch-ups
    Gimp

    Adjustment layers in GIMP (pseudo adjustment layers)

    This Weeks Focus Task:     Focus4:  People Groups