How to Take Great Group Photos
One of the most common types of digital photographs is the ‘group photo‘. They happen everywhere from weddings, to camps, to parties, to sporting teams, to school etc.
Thousands of group photos must be taken each day around the world - but unfortunately many of them leave those taking them disappointed with the results. Common problems include:
- one or more subjects always seem to be looking away or in different directions (ie at different photographers)
- subjects blinking (there’s always one)
- someone being missing from the photo
- different moods in the group (some smiling, some serious, some playing up to the camera etc)
- the group being too far away or not all fitting into the shot
While there will always be such challenges with Group Photos there are a number of things you can do to help improve your chances of getting the shot you’re after:
1. Prepare
There is nothing that will make of people posing for a photograph turn upon you faster than you not being prepared. People don’t like to be kept waiting so think ahead about some of the following aspects of your photo:
- scope out the location of your shot before hand
- think ahead about how you will pose people and frame your shot
- one of the group’s head hiding behind another person
- make sure everyone you want in the shot knows you want them a few minutes ahead of time
- make your your camera is on and has charged batteries
2. Location
The place that you have your group stand is important to group shots for a number of reasons. For starters it can give the photo context - for example a shot of a sporting team on their playing field means more than a shot of them in front of a brick wall. The other reason that choosing locations carefully is important is that it can have distractions in it.
Get Free Weekly Digital Camera Tips via Email
Choose a position where your group will fit, where there is enough light for the shot and where there is no distractions in the background. Also avoid setting up a group shot directly in front of a window where the light from your flash might reflect back in a way that destroys your shot.
3. Take Multiple Shots
One of the best ways to avoid the problems of not everyone looking just right in a shot is to take multiple photos quickly. I often switch my camera into continuous shooting mode when taking group shots and shoot in short bursts of shots. I find that the first shot is often no good but that the one or two directly after it often give a group that looks a little less posed and more relaxed.
Similarly - shoot some frames off before everyone is ready - sometimes the organization of a group shot can be quite comical with people tell each other where to go and jostling for position.
Also mix up the framing of your shots a little if you have a zoom lens by taking some shots that are at a wide focal length and some that are more tightly framed.
4. Get in Close
Try to get as close as you can to the group you’re photographing (without cutting some members of it out of course). The closer you can get the more detail you’ll have in their faces - something that really lifts a shot a lot.
If your group is a smaller one get right in close to them and take some head and shoulder shots. One effective technique for this is to get your small group to all lean their heads in close to enable you to get in even closer. Another way to get in closer is to move people out of a one line formation and stagger them but putting some people in front and behind.
5. Pose the group
In most cases your group will pose itself pretty naturally (we’ve all done it before). Tall people will go to the back, short people to the front. But there are other things you can do to add to the photo’s composition:
- If the event is centered around one or two people (like a wedding or a birthday) make them the central focal point by putting them right in the middle of the group (you can add variation to your shots by taking some of everyone looking at the camera and then everyone looking at the person/couple).
- For formal group photos put taller members in the group not only towards the back of the group but centered with shorter people on the edges of the group.
- Try not to make the group too ‘deep’ (ie keep the distance between the front line of people and the back line as small as you can). This will help to keep everyone in focus. If the group is ‘deep’ use a narrower aperture.
- Tell everyone to raise their chins a little - they’ll thank you later when they see the shot without any double chins!
6. Timing Your Shoot Well
Pick the moment for your shot carefully. Try to choose a time that works with what is happening at the gathering that you’re at. I find it best to do a group shot when the group is already close together if possible and when there is a lull in proceedings.
Also towards the start of events can be a good time as everyone is all together, they all look their best and if there is alcohol involved no one is too under the weather yet.
7. Think about Light
In order to get enough detail in your subjects you need to have sufficient light. The way you get this varies from situation to situation but consider using a flash if the group is small enough and you are close enough for it to take effect - especially if the main source of light is coming from behind the group.
If it’s a bright sunny day and the sun is low in the sky try not to position it directly behind you or you’ll end up with a collection of squinting faces in your shot.
8. Take Control
I’ve been in a number of group photos where the photographer almost lost control of his subjects by not being quick enough but also by not communicating well with their group of subjects. It is important to keep talking to the group, let them know what you want them to do, motivate them to smile, tell them that they look great and communicate how much longer you’ll need them for.
Also important is to give your subjects a reason to pose for the photograph. For example at a wedding you might motivate people to pose by saying ‘((insert name of couple being married here)) have asked me to get some group shots’ or at a sporting event ‘lets take a group photo to celebrate our win’. When you give people a reason to pose for you you’ll find they are much more willing to take a few minutes to pose for you.
Another very useful line to use with group is - ‘If you can see the camera it can see you’. This one is key if you want to be able to see each person’s face in the shot.
If there are more photographers than just you then wait until others have finished their shots and then get the attention of the full group otherwise you’ll have everyone looking in different directions.
Of course you don’t want to be a dictator when posing your group or you could end up with lots of group shots of very angry people. The best photographers know how to get people’s attention, communicate what they want but also keep people feeling relaxed and like they are having fun.
9. For large groups
Large groups of people can be very difficult to photograph as even with staggering people and tiering to make the back people higher you can end up being a long way back to fit everyone in.
One solution to this is to find a way to elevate yourself as the photographer. If I’m photographing a wedding and the couple wants one big group shot I’ll arrange for a ladder to be present (I’ve even climbed up onto church roofs) to take a shot looking down on the group. In doing this you can fit a lot more people in and still remain quite close to the group (you end up with a shot of lots of faces in focus and less bodies). It also gives an interesting perspective to your shots - especially if you have a nice wide focal length.
10. Use a Tripod
There are a number of reasons why using a tripod when taking photographs of groups can be useful. Firstly a tripod communicates that you’re serious about what you’re doing and can help you get their attention (it’s amazing what a professional looking set up can make people do). Secondly it gives you as the photographer more freedom to be involved in the creation of the posing of your subjects. Set your camera up on your tripod so that’s ready to take the shot in terms of framing, settings and focus and then it will be ready at an instant when you get the group looking just right to capture the moment.
11. Use an Assistant
If you have a very large group and assistant can be very handy to get the group organized well.
An assistant is also incredibly handy if you are taking multiple group shots (like at a wedding when you’re photographing different configurations of a family). In these cases I often ask the couple to provide me with a family or friend member who has a running sheet of the different groups of people to be photographed. I then get this person to ensure we have everyone we need in each shot. Having a family member do this helps to make sure you don’t miss anyone out but also is good because the group is familiar with them and will generally respond well when they order them around.
12. Smile
Yes YOU should smile! There’s nothing worse than a grumpy stressed out photographer. Have fun and enjoy the process of getting your shots and you’ll find the group will too. I usually come home from a wedding which I’ve photographed with an incredibly sore jaw-line from all the smiling because I find the best way to get the couple and their family to relax and smile is to smile at them. It really does work.
Enjoying this post - Digg it here
PS:
One more quick tip. Get a little Creative. Check out the shot below which is one of the more unique group photos that I’ve ever seen!
This post has been updated from its original form - originally posted in June 2006.
Read more posts like 'How to Take Great Group Photos'
June 21st, 2007 at 2:39 am
Great tips! I especially like the ideas/examples with unique angles or post techniques (such as the spherical one at the end)… these are some great ways to improve a boring group photo and make it visually interesting.
June 21st, 2007 at 6:24 am
Great story! For my sister’s wedding we had a firetruck come and the photographer went up on the ladder and took pictures from way up into the sky. (The Groom’s brother-in-law is a fire fighter.)
June 21st, 2007 at 6:28 am
Group shots is an area I’m really weak in, but I totally agree that you have to take loads of shots. I usually have to warn the group that I’ll be doing that because they’ll have dispersed and everyone will start talking and sitting down.
I love catching the interaction between people when they think that the photos are finished however! :)
June 21st, 2007 at 8:13 am
Great tips… although I know they are read than performed. Curiosity has me with the last shot… how was that taken?
June 21st, 2007 at 9:22 am
One trick I got from one of Scott Kelby’s books is to get everyone to close their eyes and open them when you count to three. This way everyone will have their eyes open when you take the shot.
June 21st, 2007 at 9:27 am
Whoa! The last photo is way cool. For the most part, I use a tripod for group snaps - specially when I want to be in the snap ^_^.
If I am taking the snap, I generally wait till everyone is relaxed and ready before taking the snap.
June 21st, 2007 at 10:28 am
Yup, tripod’s the way forward. Once everything is framed up, it means you can get out from behind the camera - pop your head up (not too far away otherwise everyone will be looking in an odd direction) and say ‘Big smile’! Works every time. When the person you’ve identified as the most reticent is smiling, that’s when you click.
June 21st, 2007 at 4:35 pm
Cool tips. I really like that picure at the bottom where they go around all 360. That was very clever. I also like your tip about getting high up. I was at a wedding, and the photographer got as high up as she could but the room wasn’t tall enough. It might be best to take them outside cause they look so very cool.
June 21st, 2007 at 10:27 pm
Here’s a “Little Planet” panorama tutorial:
http://photojojo.com/content/tutorials/create-your-own-panorama-planets/
June 21st, 2007 at 11:41 pm
Nice article. In the past I’ve used Microsoft Group shot -http://research.microsoft.com/projects/GroupShot/ to easily combine multiple photos into one good one. For those of us w/kids, it’s a must.
June 21st, 2007 at 11:50 pm
I like the idea of giving them a reason to take a picture.
“For example at a wedding you might motivate people to pose by saying ‘((insert name of couple being married here)) have asked me to get some group shots’ or at a sporting event ‘lets take a group photo to celebrate our win’. “
June 21st, 2007 at 11:52 pm
I applaud you for the excellent tips for large group pictures. I will be using some of these tips for an upcoming wedding and family day,including some close friends. Thanks a million. I would like to find more tips regarding lighting the subjects for that really special picture.
June 21st, 2007 at 11:59 pm
that ‘high up’ thinge reminds me the fish-eye effect so popular in 90s..
June 22nd, 2007 at 12:11 am
That last photo is amazing (assuming PS doesn’t stand for Photoshop)!
June 22nd, 2007 at 12:40 am
Check out how to make the Planet Shaped Amazing Circle photo
http://flickr.com/photos/snarfo/119870372/
June 22nd, 2007 at 2:18 am
Groups are very tough to deal with, but making sure they know who is in charge is very important and ideal for the situation.
June 22nd, 2007 at 2:25 am
LOVE that last photo.
June 22nd, 2007 at 2:53 am
Getting up high is incredibly helpful in these shots. I also find people like groups shots of themselves taken from high up more often, because it’s a bit more of a unique angle.
June 22nd, 2007 at 7:30 am
Thanks for the tips. I like the pics of what not to do as well.
http://caymanjuice.blogspot.com
June 22nd, 2007 at 8:12 am
These are great tips. And beautiful example photos as well.
June 22nd, 2007 at 12:09 pm
Group photos are one of my favourites. Thanks for the fantastic tips and great insights.
June 22nd, 2007 at 5:28 pm
Welll! these sounds more or less pretty much basic! and nothign about the light has been specified. Well the focus of light gives more impact on the picture than the ppl. May be may be im wrong. Anyways would like to know more about photography as i hike to capture my dream snaps.
June 23rd, 2007 at 3:58 am
One of the great tips that I got for group pictures is to ask the group to close their eyes and open them at the count of 3. 3…2…1… open.. wait a second and shoot you will avoid the problem of blinking subjects.
June 23rd, 2007 at 9:14 am
Great advice - from all of you. I don’t focus much on group shots, but these are indeed wonderful tips. I love the staggering example, it looks so good, but relaxed.
June 24th, 2007 at 5:30 am
I love this site
I have lots of group photo jobs this summer and this was perfect for me.. lots of great tips
thanks
July 4th, 2007 at 3:14 pm
I really needed to hear all this. I’m bringing my new camera to a big birthday party in a couple weeks and I’ve been wondering how I’m going to get good shots. I’ve seen so many party photos of the backs of people’s heads, etc. I feel more confident about doing this for my friend. Thanks so much.
July 5th, 2007 at 1:50 pm
nice! thanks for all these.. ^_^
July 6th, 2007 at 12:18 pm
These tips are awesome! Thanks for sharing all of this great info. The group stuff rocks!
July 21st, 2007 at 12:51 pm
These are nice tips!
Thanks for the insight.
http://www.11amdesign.com/faq
July 22nd, 2007 at 6:54 pm
how was the last picture taken? i love it :)
July 28th, 2007 at 1:29 pm
I, too, have discovered Microsoft Research’s “Group Shot” and LOVE it. What a timesaver! When I do a group shot now, I ask everyone in advance to ‘hold’ their pose once I start clicking for at least 3 seconds or so. I put my camera on continuous shooting and take a burst of shots. It never fails that there are always closed eyes, strange expressions, etc. and with Group Shot, these are very quickly and effectively eliminated and I have gotten fantastic composites in minutes. I highly recommend it–and the best part is that it is FREE!
July 28th, 2007 at 10:35 pm
Everyone says the last shot is cool….creative yes….a goog group photo…no. Unless the photo was supposed to be of the dirt and grass center. Would you hang it on the wall as a family portrait?…you can see more of the dirt center, which is where your eye is drawn than of the people. Creativeness is key, but the focus should always remain on the people…not dirt.
Not to mention that some of the faces are darker than the others, so the photographer put little thought into the lighting.
This shot was done similar to how real estate photographers take 360 shots to show in ‘video’ form on mls/realestate web sites. Its done in multiple overlapping shots after which its all software. Boring.
August 3rd, 2007 at 2:51 am
Hmm, I guess that must be why they call it DIGITAL Photography School.
Awesome tips in this post! I’m definitely going to try the “group shot from above” trick at an upcoming family wedding. Thanks for the ideas!
August 21st, 2007 at 11:55 am
Awesome photos. I didn’t read your story, but the pics ae very cool.
BeachBum
October 9th, 2007 at 7:43 am
Hi, thanks I have picked up some good tips from the information you have given, could you tell me what is the best setting to use when performing a group shot, i have been using f11 iso 400 speed set at 125, i get a good shot but would like it to be better. Thanks
October 13th, 2007 at 12:44 am
those pictures are so cool
October 18th, 2007 at 5:51 pm
Thanks for the great tips. One can never learn enough.
October 29th, 2007 at 4:05 am
Thanks for the tips. Great photos.
December 10th, 2007 at 3:58 am
Thanks for the tips. Very helpful for this newbie wanting to learn.
December 17th, 2007 at 7:02 am
Hello,
My mother just recently passed away(Dec. 5th). My father had taken quite a lot of photographs of us as children(he was a photographer). I need to make copies of them all and I had in mind digital photographs to copy them all and then download them to cds so we don’t all argue over who gets what picture)since more than one of us is in the photos). I’ll be making about 6 copies of the photos once downloaded onto cds, in fact I may have to make more because there are so many photos. I plan to let them print what ever picture they decide to do(because there are so many). Thing is I need some tips on making great copies of the original photos in order to do this, so if they want they can do an 8×10 picture(which alot of them are). I have an Olympus digital camera. Any help/tips would be greatly appreciated.
Sincerely,
Judy
February 26th, 2008 at 3:47 pm
That last shot really is the highlight of the article. I think one of the commenters is right though with all the grass and dirt as the focal point. A creative work-around could be a unique circular mat in the middle.
It’s nice to see someone giving some thought to one of the more mundane and “not-so-fun” shots at the wedding.
April 30th, 2008 at 4:59 am
thanks for all the great suggestions! I have to take photos at my high school reunion, and they have to be good enough for those present (40 middle aged women!) to want to purchase copies from me. I take pictures all the time of places and things, and occasionally people, but never large groups, so all these good ideas are sincerely appreciately.
I am also using my new Olympus E-410 and I’m still learning new things about what it can and cannot do ;-)
btw…just discovered your site, and will come back often, I’m sure!
May 13th, 2008 at 7:08 am
I am a beginner and I am really learning a lot from these tips. hoping for more tips with tutorials. :)