A set of tip and tricks related to taking group and family portraits. Prepared as part of a photographic workshop I was giving to several students.

1. Group Portraits How to - Tips & Tricks By Mike Giovinazzo © All rights Reserved

2. Getting Started

3. 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 make sure your camera and flash are ready and on, plus batteries are charged … make sure everyone you want in the shot knows you want them a few minutes ahead of time Prepare

4. Location provides context Eg shot of a sporting team on their playing field Consider distractions Choose a position where your group will fit, Where there is enough light for the shot Few distractions in the background Avoid setting up in front of a window: flash might reflect back Location Selection

5. Avoid the problems of not everyone looking just right Consider continuous shooting mode Find 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. Mix up the framing of your shots a little Zoom: use wide focal length and some tighter Take Multiple Shots

6. Fill the frame Try to get as close as you can (without cutting some members 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. BUT … allow for standard crop ratios 4 x 6 or 5 x 7 or 8 x 10 Get in Close 4 x 65 x 7.5 8 x 12

7. Tripods communicate you’re serious Can help you get their attention Gives you more freedom to be involved in the creation of the posing of your subjects. Permits for a cable release … less closed eyes Use a Tripod

8. Especially with large groups an assistant can be very handy to get the group organized Also incredibly handy if you are taking multiple group shots Can ensure you have everyone needed in each shot. Can intervene to place hair, straighten ties, adjust a gown … Consider an Assistant

9. PosingDetails

10. Photographers can lose control by not communicating with their subjects let them know what you want them to do tell them that they look great and how much longer you’ll need them motivate them to smile and be engaged keep people feeling relaxed and having fun ‘If you can see the camera it can see you’. Very useful for mirrors Take Control

11. The first simple step toward improving your family portraits is to have people TURN. They say “Cameras add 10 pounds” … where the subject's body is straight on One shoulder closer to the camera than the other, creates a more interesting image, and makes your subjects look slimmer. the subject's head is no longer squared off with the shoulders. With the subject's body is angled, they must turn their head to look at the camera result is a more appealing Make Angles

12. When you're posing a group for a family portrait, try to arrange the heads of your subjects so that they form triangles. Geometric shapes like triangles create photos that have more visual appeal. Placing your family into a tight-knit triangle also brings the group together, which creates less empty "dead" space between each person's body. Have more than three family members? Just create sub-groups of triangles until you've got everyone properly arranged. Think Triangles

13. Start with one person/couple as the base or middle of the pyramid Arrange the rest around the base to form a large triangular shape. Use chairs, step stools or other props to help you naturally create a triangular shape. Direct contact such as hands on shoulders conveys closeness. With on camera flash, people in the back rows need to be a FULL head taller than people in front Consider a Pyramid

14. So simple … have them tilt their heads together. The mere act of tilting heads ensures that every person's body is not straight up and down. It also creates an immediate feeling of intimacy. Helps make them part of the group Heads just a fraction of an inch closer, makes family portrait comes together doesn't look like a group of strangers all standing next to each other Tilt Heads

15. Make your family portraits more engaging and interesting by having some people sit and others stand Keeping in mind the triangles find natural locations - park bench, large boulder Works well for photos of grandparents and kids Grandparents can sit down and be comfortable while the children can be wrangled into position around them Should offer a nice juxtaposition of age and youth Sit and Stand

16. Hands create all sorts of problems when you're trying to pose for family portraits. Most people can't decide what to do with them Hands can add a lot of visual clutter The simplest solution then is to have people put their hands in positions that effectively hide them from view. Have men fold their arms Women can place them in their laps Pockets are a great solution for kids of all ages If showing: just see the edge; fingers extended Hide Those Hands

17. Another way of reflecting the closeness of a parent and child is to have them look at each other or a common point Direct eye contact conveys familiarity and bonding Both looking at some common point conveys a shared interest Infants: schedule the shot for when the baby is normally sleeping. Have one adult hold the baby below chest level and look down at the baby in a caring manner. Take shots at several different angles. Posing One Adult and One Child

18. Groups may pose themselves naturally we’ve all done it before - Tall people will go to the back … If event is centered around one or two people (wedding, birthday) make them the central focal point by putting them right in the middle of the group Variation: everyone looking at the camera at the person/couple Larger Groups Put taller members not only towards the back of the group but centered with shorter people on the edges of the group Do not make the group too ‘deep’ (keep everyone in focus) Tell everyone to raise their chins a little – avoids double chins Posing a Larger Groups

19. Lighting and Props

20. To get detail you need sufficient light varies from situation to situation consider using a flash especially if the main source of light is coming from behind the group. On bright sunny day with the sun low:avoid positioning it directly behind you or you’ll end up with a collection of squinting faces in your shot. Think about Lighting

21. Avoid having one person’s shadow fall onto important details of another person Easiest option is to get the light to shine or bounce onto the faces of your subjects If indoors using ambient or natural light, make sure the light is hitting everyone evenly “Butterfly Lighting” is attractive Keep studio lights a bit further away Help to make the light fall off is more even Light the Whole Group Evenly

22. Aim for “Storybook Portraits.” A shared activity which can incorporate a book, a favorite toy, etc. Have them all look at each other. For babies, have one family member get the baby’s attention and everyone else look at the baby. Plan an event E.g. Take families to the beach and bring along some bread. Feeding the ducks becomes the perfect storybook alternative. Let Them Tell You a Story

23. Props help subjects use their hands They add a visual element Can be used to tell a story Useful ideas for families Balloons, balls Dolls, Toys, Books Scarfs, blankets Stuffed animals Bubbles “Prop” up your images

24. Yes YOU should smile! Have fun and enjoy the process of getting your shots Relax

25. Thank You