Shooting pictures of large groups can be very challenging. With group photography, you have the normal photographic challenges as well as a mix of people with different personalities, patience levels and thoughts on how the group photo can be taken so it can often lead to a challenging experience. On the positive side, when everything goes smoothly, group photography can actually be a whole lot of fun.

Here are some tips to help you avoid having your next group photo shoot end in disaster:

Plan Ahead

If you’re planning on taking a group photo, always make sure you’ve considered every element before your subjects arrive. Always have two locations in mind- one primary location and a back up in case something goes wrong. One outdoor location and one indoor location will work well for this purpose. Make sure that your subjects know what time you need them there and always have them come a 5-10 minutes early to keep things on schedule. Make sure your gear is charged, loaded, and ready to go before they show up – the key here is to be as ready as possible. If you have any clothing requests, make them early and remind everyone at least once.

Better Safe than Sorry

Shoot as many photographs as your allotted time will allow. By taking a lot of photographs this will protect you from having to schedule a re-shoot and will also give your group plenty of options for choosing the best picture. Use a tripod to help make it easier to shoot multiples times without any movement and, if available, use a light reflector or studio light to soften any shadows on your subjects. Flattering pictures will pass muster more quickly than shots where subjects don’t feel they look great, so try to get this done in-camera as opposed to in the darkroom.

Don’t Trust the Group

Ultimately, at the end of the shoot, the final image is your responsibility. This means that it is entirely up to you whether or not the photo turns out great or terrible. Since the success of the shoot is riding on your shoulders, you shouldn’t hesitate in moving the group around and having them pose the way you want. However, watch out for angry groups as the crowd’s temperment can quickly change so stay upbeat and focused. If you help the group understand the importance of the photo shoot this will go a long ways in getting everyone relaxed and working towards the same goal. If the group thinks the photographers knows what they’re doing and is friendly, the group normally won’t mind taking a few orders.

Don’t Forget the Fun Shot

While this is by no means a requirement for professional photographers, every group loves taking a “fun” picture where they’re allowed to make silly faces or put bunny ears over their friends and family. If you’ve gotten enough good group photos, don’t forget to mix in some creativity with your photos like having a shot where you let the group decide how they want to pose. Sometimes these photographs can turn out better than the ones where everyone is carefully posed.

Taking group photos is definitely not for the weak hearted. It requires great organization, an ability to work with people who likely have something better to do, and an innate or learned talent for getting the right shot as quickly as possible. If you come prepared, remain positive and let the group have a little bit of freedom, you’ll find that taking large group photos isn’t as difficult as you may have first thought. All it takes is the right frame of mind and a bit of determination.

Author Bio: Autumn Lockwood is a writer for Your Picture Frames. Visit our website and see our red picture frames in a variety of color, styles and sizes. Shop online and see our special heart picture frames and special red picture frames or call 1-800-780-0699.

Category: Arts and Crafts
Keywords: group photography,photography basics,learning photography,photography 101