The Art of Taking Great Group Photos

Photography encompasses a number of different subjects and one of the most common is a group photo. Groups of people are probably very common sight anywhere in the World and can be seen in places of worship, schools, workplaces, weddings, sports events, camps, parties and thousands of other settings.

Some of the common problems, pertaining to group photographs normally involve the subjects of the group like someone in the group looking away, someone blinking, someone missing, everyone bearing a different expression and the group not fitting into the setting of the shot. These problems should be accepted as challenges by the photographers, which challenges can be overcome by bearing in mind a few simple tips.

The most important requisite while attempting a group shot is to figure out all the details like acquiring an idea of the location prior to the shoot, framing of the shot, positioning of people and deciding on their pose. It is natural that the group members should be informed about the timing of the shot and asked to assemble a few minutes beforehand while the cameraman checks on the batteries of the digital camera and switches it on.

The location of the shot plays an important role as it should be in context to the theme reflected by the group - the best possible location and background setting for shooting the picture of a sporting team would be their field of play. Choice of location depends on some other factors as well like the available light and the level of distractions. One could also improve the quality of the photograph by trying to get as close a shot as possible, using a variety of techniques without cutting any of the members.

One of the main problems in group shots is that not everyone in the group is looking at the camera at the same time. One of the most effective ways of overcoming this problem is to take a number of shots in quick succession as even if the first shot is not as good the successive shots might be better. In this case, variations like shooting frames before everyone is ready or making use of zoom while taking the photos could be experimented with.

In a group photo, it is the pose that is most important and while the most conventional pose is where tall people stand behind and short people stand in front, it is up to the photographer to experiment with other arrangements. The timing of the shoot and the available light in the surroundings are some of the other factors, which need to be taken into consideration in order to acquire the best possible results.

During a group shoot, it is essential for the photographer to take stock of the situation as well as the group members and remain in control, as this would enable him to communicate with each individual subject of the group and give them a reason to pose for him. Sometimes it is advisable to use a tripod and use the services of an assistant as well, particularly while organizing very large groups.

Source : Ezinearticles