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Category: New Answers

Photography Question 

Sandy Landon 		 

Large group photo


I have been asked to take a portrait of a group of 50 people. I was fine until I started to think about it and worry about DOF and distortion. Also, 25 of the people are under the age of 15! Can anyone offer some advice (what lens, lighting situations, f-stop, pose, etc.) The picture will be outside on some stairs. We will be taking it around 6 p.m. I would really appreciate any help at all.


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August 15, 2005

 

anonymous 		  Ok, make sure you use a small f stop like f16 etc, so that way everything will be in focus, if you are still concerned, focus on the middle part of the group, it means the distance between the middle and back and middle and front isn't as great as if you focused on the front as the back could then loose focus if you know what I mean. ISO 400 should help, some reflectors. use a wide angle lense maybe a 28mm and you may need 2 flashes set up as well if you can't rely on natural light.

I hope this helps, although I haven't photographed a group larger than 9 people (other than a wedding crowd).


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August 15, 2005

 

Sandy Landon 		  Thank you Natalie!! I really appreciate your help. I have some reflectors, its the flash I am short on. I have always used natural light so I am not familiar with the flash. Any recommendations. Sorry to sound stupid I am just not experienced with flash units!


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August 15, 2005

 

anonymous 		  Sandy, it would probably be easier if you could "hire" some. Maybe even two flashs with umbrellas etc. Although a little hard to explain, as I have never used them. But if you hire them, I am sure they will explain how they work and how to get your camera to trigger them.


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August 15, 2005

 

Sandy Landon 		  Thanks Natalie!! I will have to look into that!!


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August 15, 2005

 

anonymous 		  Sandy, just checked out your gallery, you have some amazing shots. You really are a natural at this! Wow, I love the one with the yellow flowers and the white aspens etc. Also love of the pics of the little girls etc.

Absolutely beautiful photos - you should be proud!!!


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August 15, 2005

 

Sandy Landon 		  Natalie you just made my night! Thank you so much. I have admired your gallery for months, so I am pleased that you like my work. This has all been such a fun learning process and it is wonderful to have people more experienced to turn to for advice and inspiration. Thanks again.


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August 15, 2005

 

Debby A. Tabb 		 
 
 
HI SUSAN,
OUTSIDE ON STAIRS SHOULD BE RATHER EASY TO POSE- ALWAYS START WITH THE *GRAND PARENTS FIRST- SEAT THEM IN THE FRONT MIDDLE,ANGLE TOWARDS EACH OTHER.
* THEN POSE THIER ADULT CHILDREN AND SPOUCES TO THE SIDES OR IN THE BACK OF THEM, ANGLED.
*NOW WORK BACK TO THE TALLEST IN THE GROUP.
* REMEMBERING TO ANGLE EACH SIDE TOWARD THE MIDDLE.
* A FEW MOM'S WITH SMALLEST OF CHILDREN ON LAPS AND OTHER SMALLEST CHILDREN CAN BE IN FRONT ON LOWER STAIRS-
REMEMBERING THAT GRANDPARENTS ARE THE CENTER.
I DO HOPE THIS HELPS- I AM ADDING A SMALL GROUP SHOT TO SHOW ANGLE-DON'T WORRY YOU CAN GET THIS DONE EVEN SITTING.
I DO HOPE THIS HELPS,
DEBBY


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August 16, 2005

 

Debby A. Tabb 		 
 
 
HI SUSAN,
OUTSIDE ON STAIRS SHOULD BE RATHER EASY TO POSE- ALWAYS START WITH THE *GRAND PARENTS FIRST- SEAT THEM IN THE FRONT MIDDLE,ANGLE TOWARDS EACH OTHER.
* THEN POSE THIER ADULT CHILDREN AND SPOUCES TO THE SIDES OR IN THE BACK OF THEM, ANGLED.
*NOW WORK BACK TO THE TALLEST IN THE GROUP.
* REMEMBERING TO ANGLE EACH SIDE TOWARD THE MIDDLE.
* A FEW MOM'S WITH SMALLEST OF CHILDREN ON LAPS AND OTHER SMALLEST CHILDREN CAN BE IN FRONT ON LOWER STAIRS-
REMEMBERING THAT GRANDPARENTS ARE THE CENTER.
I DO HOPE THIS HELPS- I AM ADDING A SMALL GROUP SHOT TO SHOW ANGLE-DON'T WORRY YOU CAN GET THIS DONE EVEN SITTING.
I DO HOPE THIS HELPS,
DEBBY


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August 16, 2005

 

Michelle Ross 		  I am also interested in information regarding this . . . I am going to be taking some group sports pictures and it seems they always want to be so WIDE with the group not realizing that camera lenses can't adapt to this without getting yucky foreground and background. .. My group I did on Sunday was about 42 people and we had htem in about 4 rows. . . 5 would have been better to narrow it down . . .but how deep is too deep?? We were outside but it was getting dark . . . I used my accessory flash which worked okay but the width was the worst problem?? I couldn't use f16 with the corresponding shutterspeed without it being too delayed and think I had to settle on f8 or f9. I looked at my son's sports group pics and they are very wide. . . I am considering getting a wide angle lens for this but can anyone recommend one that would be specifically for group people use??


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August 16, 2005

 

Debby A. Tabb 		  TRY TO KEEP IT AS FEW AS POSSIBLE- I ALWAYS TELL PEOPLE " COME ON GET CLOSER , YOU LOVE THESE PEOPLE,LOL"
THEY USUALLY LAUGH AND THEN START PUTTING ARMS AROUND EACH OTHER AND GETTING CLOSER.
DO BECAREFUL OF TAKING ADVANTAGE OF A WIDE ANGLE LENS IT WILL DISTORT THE PEOPLE ON THE ENDS.


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August 16, 2005

 

Sandy Landon 		  Thanks Debby. I hope the stairs are wide enough. The person said they were in her sisters back yard. I really appreciate you taking the time to comment. Now the problem of getting all the kids to look at me at the same time! :)


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August 16, 2005

 

Debby A. Tabb 		  YOU HAVE TO BE "UP" A GOOF BALL.
EXPLAINE TO EVERY ONE- THAT WE'RE GOING TO WORK WITH THE CHILDREN NOW SO-DON'T WATCH YOUR KIDS LOOK RIGHT HERE AT(PICK AK POINT THAT YOU WANT THIER EYES - TRY AT YOU NOT THE CAMERA-WHEN PEOPLE ARE ASKED TO LOOK AT THE CAMERA LENS, THEY GIVE FAKE SMILES AND DERR IN HEADLIGHT EYES)AND THEN WORK WITH THE KIDS- NOW FOR THIS MANY A FEATHER DUSTER CAN COME IN HANDY-PLAY WHO AM I GONNA GET!
OR READ THIS THREAD FOR MANY MORE:
http://www.betterphoto.com/forms/qnaDetail.php?threadID=17534
IT HAS A LOT OF CHILDRENS GAMES.
HOPE THIS HELPS,


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August 16, 2005

 

Sandy Landon 		  Thank you for the link!! I will have to try that feather duster thing! Very clever. I have told parents before to focus on me so that I can snap as soon as their kids are looking, but they just can't seem to stop themselves from looking down. :( Thanks for your help!


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August 16, 2005

 

Tammy L. Odell 		  Sandy,
Take a little bottle of bubbles with you..hope your taking an assistant of some sort, I sometimes take my 8 year old daughter. Kids are great at making the little ones laugh. The bubbles is a great trick. You may not get one of all of them smiling, but they may atleast be looking in the same direction. Good luck!!


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August 16, 2005

 

Deb Brown 		  Sandy..you've already received a lot of helpful responses. Now for my two cents: click, click, click. Have your camera on a tripod if possible so that you can look at the group- instead of through the camera. Can't emphasize enough that you tell the parents/grownups to CONSTANTLY look at you, and NOT their children. Tell them that when you have the kids attention, you are going to click. I always use something that makes noise- like a stuff animal that you can press "on". That always grabs my large groups ( I even makes jokes about to my adults). I did a group of 22 back in May. I used natural light, and it was okay, but NOT enough. Especially since you have to have such a small fstop- f16-f22. REALLY try to get a stobe and umbrella....you won't be sorry! Hope that helps. Good luck...I am sure you will do great!


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August 16, 2005

 

Sandy Landon 		  Tammy and Deb-thanks for taking the time to comment. The bubbles and the squeaky toys are great ideas. I think I will take my neighbor to assist. She is about as goofy as they come! :) That is a compliment!! Can you get strobes and unbrellas pretty cheap? I just bought a TTL-flash for my camera and now I am wondering if I need it!!? I don't even know if it will help!? Any ideas?


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August 16, 2005

 

Elisabeth A. Gay 		  Natalie and Sandy - just browsing the forum and thanks to this thread I got to see your galleries - just beautiful, both of you - goodluck with your group shoot!
Ann


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August 16, 2005

 

Cyndee Wanyonyi 		  I must agree, Sandy. Your most recent shots of the little girl are just breathtaking. You really captured her personality. Beautiful!


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August 16, 2005

 

Sandy Landon 		  Elizabeth and Cynthia, thank you so much for your kindness!!! I really appreciate the support!!


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August 16, 2005

 
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