Problem with group photos

[Ambrosia76]

Ok I did a photo shoot for a friend yesterday and while I got some great individual photo most of my group shots look like crap. What am I doing wrong?




Camera Canon EOS 60D
Exposure 0.008 sec (1/125)
Aperture f/7.1
Focal Length 90 mm
ISO Speed 160
Exposure Bias 0 EV
Flash Off, Did not fire

[Mark Engelhart]

1st- Where and how you have them set up on the low wall isn't very flattering for any of them. With the wall being so low and you having them straight at the camera ot is putting their knees up by their chest making them all look uncomfortable and awkward. You could have put the parents at angles with their legs out and crossed and the kids plugged in around them either in front or behind.sitting or kneeling at angles to camera.

2nd- Sun is too high to use as rim/hair light it is hitting them directly on top of the head. I see shade in the background. even without the wall you may have been better served to use the grassy/shady area to shoot.

Hope this helps.

[karen_s]

Originally Posted by Mark Engelhart

1st- Where and how you have them set up on the low wall isn't very flattering for any of them. With the wall being so low and you having them straight at the camera ot is putting their knees up by their chest making them all look uncomfortable and awkward. You could have put the parents at angles with their legs out and crossed and the kids plugged in around them either in front or behind.sitting or kneeling at angles to camera.

I agree, I think the posing could be better. The girls in dresses just look like they weren't expecting to have to sit so low. Mom seems to have sacrificed her toes to cover up and the uncomfortableness just shows on all their faces. Dads got the squinties too so maybe the sun was getting to them too.

I don't think the shot is crap though. It could be better but I have seen far worse.

[Ambrosia76]

The low wall was our only option, even the photos I took of them standing and in the shade don't seem right. I think we picked a bad location. there was lots of shade but it wasn't total shade and the shots were filled wish harsh shadow and light coming through the trees. I wanted to take the shots later between 6 and 7:30 but the only time they had available was 4:30 to 6. The thing is I got good individual shots in some of the same places that I got bad group shots. I will post some others once I am done editing.


Oh and as for the squintys apparently my friends and his kids suffer from the same ailment as my hubby and younger 2 kids,cause they even do that in low light. I need to find some practice models that have normal eyes and know how to smile. I must attract beady eye sour pusses.

[Ambrosia76]

Her is an example of another group shot, I got individual of each of them that look great and a couple of dad and Girlfriend in the same place as this shot,but I am not happy with the group photo.




Camera Canon EOS 60D
Exposure 0.01 sec (1/100)
Aperture f/5.6
Focal Length 24 mm
ISO Speed 400
Exposure Bias 0 EV

I would say I am not good at managing more than one person at a time,but considering I manage 7 people at work, and a husband and 4 teens and a 2 yr old at home with no problem I don't think that is the issue. I think I need to keep practicing cause I am no where near there at least with group shots yet.

[Mark Engelhart]

We all create our own way of doing things, such as group set ups. I prefer to start with the largest of the subjects as my anchor. If I had these 5 and the park bench The father and girlfriend would have been sitting in the bench, Father straight at but girlfriend angled knees away leaning on fathers shoulder. Then you could have the kids standing around the back of the bench displaying more of their personality. Remember triangles with the heads. This would have brought them closer together as well. The key to group shots is practice, practice and more practice. The reason why they seem so tight in the shots could be that they are transfering your uncertainty. Even if you are looking for a fomal image, put them in a zone and let them be themselves. Maybe have them do something goofy in a shot to loosen them up and then get serious about the next one. Don't be affraid to tell the subjects to take a deep breath and straighten up. The kids have a tendency to hunch over.

[Ambrosia76]

Thank you. I see what you are saying! Apparently I will have lots of practice I have had 5 phone calls just today about people wanting pics and I just put a few of the photos up last night.

[Mark Engelhart]

In that case. I need you to teach me your marketing strategy.

[Ambrosia76]

All I did was post a few of my favs that I have edited so far on facebook for the couple to see and I now have 2 sessions booked with friends of mine and 4 with friends and family of the couple. Lots of Practice it is what I wanted. Be careful what you wish for...LOL

[JFSanders]

You need fill flash badly. Go wide as your lens will let you and open it enough to get background blur. Get close to fill the frame and and learn how to tell jokes. Don't need a bunch of them but they do need to be delivered well and be funny. Also, these look kind of like a perp lineup. Get them closer together. They are family make it look like it. Jim