Large group (18) posing & Am I on the right track?

[MOREGONE]

Hello,

I am going to be taking family photos this weekend. There will be 3 individual households and they would like a large group photo together.

I would love some help with the posing. If anyone has some tips, videos, tutorials on large group posing, I would love if you could share.

We are doing this at a popular park locally for family photos and I went and scouted the location this past weekend. The picture below is where I plan to get the picture. We are planning to meet at 3pm, sundown is 530ish and the sun will be directly at their backs as pictured. I have chosen this spot because of the bench and I believe I can use the sun at their back to my benefit. I intend to have some people seated on the bench and am thinking I will be wise to bring 2-3 stools for some to stand on to make sure everybody is seen. I expect to have a steep stool for myself so I can get up and look down a little on them.

I have two speedlights, with Umbrella Softboxes and stands that I am planning to use wirelessly. I just got my second speedlight in today and the Umbrella Softboxes are stills in the mail so I have not practiced with this equipment yet. My thoughts are to set the lights 45 degrees from the right and left and shoot through the middle. I plan to meter on the background and use the lights to light the family. I have a 70-200 Tamron and plan to get back a decent bit to get some background compression / DOF. I am thinking I will start at f11 and ½ power on the lights.



Does this sound about right? Am I missing, forgetting anything? I feel this is a big/ important shoot for me and want to NAIL it. Any feedback is appreciated.

Thanks in advance

~Moregone

 

[12sndsgood]

im not great at big groups. but one thing i will suggest is some sand bags or something else to weight your lights down. iv'e had way to many pop up winds take down a lightstand. and with a group that big you dont want to get them all set then have then wait while you go pick up your light and make sure its still working.

 

[sactown024]

One thing I noticed right away was the distracting background, i guess if your using flash you can darken it up. I am doing a 12 person shoot this weekend also, not looking forward to it, I personally think big group shots look better when sitting/kneeling instead of the average standing pic, I think you can be more creative when people are sitting.

 

[MOREGONE]

im not great at big groups. but one thing i will suggest is some sand bags or something else to weight your lights down. iv'e had way to many pop up winds take down a lightstand. and with a group that big you dont want to get them all set then have then wait while you go pick up your light and make sure its still working.

I have been considering what I will use. I have some camelbacks I was thinking to fill with water and misc stuff to weight them down until I have some true sand bags. Thanks for the tip!

One thing I noticed right away was the distracting background, i guess if your using flash you can darken it up. I am doing a 12 person shoot this weekend also, not looking forward to it, I personally think big group shots look better when sitting/kneeling instead of the average standing pic, I think you can be more creative when people are sitting.

I actually intend to move to the right as pictured and get more of the lake in the background. But what I love about this location is the options. There are plenty of small hills I could position them on and facing in any direction I would want.

Do you have any sitting pics that standout to you?

 

[kathyt]

For posing families, I like to break them into groups and then stagger them a bit. Kind of like this. Family Photo Ideas / large group family photos - Bing Images I like the real casual type poses and nothing too formal.

 

[Big Mike]

I'd consider a different location...or at least a different angle etc. If the sun is at their back, you will have a heck of a time keeping the exposure of the sky under control...that is especially true if you are going to be limited by your maximum flash sync speed, which is probably 1/200 or 1/250. That will mean that you'll end up using a smaller aperture (which you may need anyway, to get everyone in focus). The result of having to use a smaller aperture, is that you will put a lot of demand on your speedlights...maybe too much and they won't be enough...especially if you want to use umbrellas and/or have them at a distance that will evenly light a large group.

A better option, IMO would be to get up higher so that the sun/sky isn't in the background at all. Then you don't have to worry about controlling it's exposure so much. Ideally, I'd suggest a shady spot that also allows you to get higher above them but it's certainly a good idea if you can bring a ladder of some type.

With a large group, you'll likely have to have the lights farther away, which means less light gets onto (reflected off of) them. This may mean that you won't be able to use the flashes for your main light source, but a bare flash can give you some nice fill and put catch lights into their eyes.

If/when you break into smaller groups, you can get the flash closer and that gives you more ability to use it as a key light and alter the exposure of the background in comparison to your subjects.

 

[sactown024]

I like this style


http://digital-photography-school.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/family-portraits-tips.jpg

 

[Big Mike]

As for posing. Have a look at this page. It's one chapter of a very good 'book' on classic portrait posing.

Zeltsman Apporach to Traditionla Classic Portraiture

 

[MOREGONE]

Great replies everyone, I appreciate this forum very much.


I do intend to be parallel with the bench which I was not in the picture. I would have to be over about 15 feet to the right to do so and would shoot at them which has a different backdrop. Using the Photographers Ephemeris, I determined that the way I took the picture is where the sun would be, but I would not be taking the picture at the sun, but with it clocked at about 2:30 in relation to the bench.

I do have some other areas I can try and there are lots of hills and nice grass, but shade, shade in Arizona is not easy to come by haha. I will keep that in mind. I was trying to keep them from having to look at the sun since I don't want a group a squinty eyed people.

 

[kathyt]

As for posing. Have a look at this page. It's one chapter of a very good 'book' on classic portrait posing.

Zeltsman Apporach to Traditionla Classic Portraiture

Ummm.. Mike, holy 1970's poses on that first link!!! Are you going to recommend they wear matching Christmas sweaters too such as these?



















I hope you know I am just teasing you.
P.S. Can we still be friends? circle yes or no
(I am such a smart a..)

 

[Big Mike]

Haven't you ever read "The Zeltzman Approach" before? It's a 'must read' IMO.
The images are certainly dated, but they don't call it traditional and classic for nothing.

I recommend that MOREGONE wear one of those sweaters while photographing though.

 

[kathyt]

Haven't you ever read "The Zeltzman Approach" before? It's a 'must read' IMO.
The images are certainly dated, but they don't call it traditional and classic for nothing.

I recommend that MOREGONE wear one of those sweaters while photographing though.

No, I must have passed right by that book at B&N. I am getting a Christmas sweater shipped out to MOREGONE ASAP! Oh...I crack myself up.

 

[bunny99123]

I took family pics at my family reunion. My main problem was trying to get people organized and having one group getting ready to be posed while I took the pictures of the family before it. An assistance would have been so nice or assigning a family member with the responsibility to help gather the group while you are shooting one family. Children and the elderly have difficulty waiting...children want to play, and the elderly tire quickly, so shoot the families with elderly and children first.

 

[MOREGONE]

As for posing. Have a look at this page. It's one chapter of a very good 'book' on classic portrait posing.

Zeltsman Apporach to Traditionla Classic Portraiture

Ummm.. Mike, holy 1970's poses on that first link!!! Are you going to recommend they wear matching Christmas sweaters too such as these?

View attachment 25160View attachment 25159

I was thinking the same thing...

 

[Big Mike]

Oh, another (really big) point is that the success of a family/group portrait is largely dependent on the attire of the group. Ideally, you want colors & tones that work well together and that aren't too loud or busy. Even better if you can 'key' (match) the clothing to the background so that the faces are where the strongest contrast happens. When I'm shooting a family group, I have a good talk with them about what they are going to wear.

That's all well and good, but when you're dealing with 18 people and the photo isn't their primary concern...you will likely have a lot of different outfits. Do what you can.