Large group of kids! 'O'

[sarah_19_nz]

Hi guys,

Sooooo I am going to be taking a 'class photo' of sorts, of 45 under 5 year olds. I've never taken a photograph of more than 8 people before so I need tips on settings and anything else that I might need to know to get everyone in, and in focus! Thanks!

F-stop of? If its outside on a dull day can it still work or should I bring my lights and make them go inside? Ideally it really needs to be an outside shot!

Thanks in advance!

 

[bratkinson]

The biggest issue is to keep everybody in focus. I'm guessing perhaps 3 rows of kids, the last 2 rows on steps, like in front of a school. Where I went to grade school had that arrangement in front and that's where we stood every year for our class photos.

So, figuring you'll need about 6-8 feet DOF, you will want to figure out what f-stop at what distance from the kids will be needed for your camera and lens. Play with the online DOF calculator below, starting at perhaps f5.6 or f8.
Online Depth of Field Calculator

Then you need to get your shutter speed fast enough to stop subject motion...say 1/125th or faster. Depending on the lighting situation, you may end up with an ISO speed that produces too much noise for your camera. That's when the exposure triangle 'battle' begins. What can you compromise slightly to get a good exposure. I'd even consider putting a flash on the camera to light up the kids better if it's a cloudy day, and definitely use a flash if forced indoors by the weather.

You'll also want to take perhaps 20 shots or more as fast as possible...perhaps even in continuous mode (but the flash won't recharge fast enough). The next problem won't be 'discovered' until post processing. I do various indoor church events and getting 5-10 adults with their eyes open in one shot is usually problematic. Perhaps 1 in 5-10 shots have everyones' eyes open. 45 young kids? Good luck! And if it's too bright and sunny outside, the kids will all be squinting! You may have to move to another location so the sun isn't directly in their faces to reduce their squinting.

 

[tirediron]

Bring your lights and use them OUTSIDE. As mentioned; in rows with a maximum DoF; make sure you have your tape measure! The biggest issue I suspect is likely to be getting the little hellions arranged and "holding the pose". Tallest children in the back, standing, middle row kneeling and front row sitting cross-legged (if you don't have convenient steps - if you do, USE THEM!). Watch for reflections on glasses and be prepared to move children as necessary. Take 1-2 shots and then examine them to make sure that no one's face is blocking anyone else's, glasses are clear, etc and then shoot the money shots. Make sure you have your highlight warning turned on!

 

[Big Mike]

I would personally try to do it without the lights. Outdoors (not it direct sunlight) would be ideal.

The most important thing likely that you can clearly see all the faces in the photo. DOF probably won't be a problem because you'll likely be using a wider angle (short focal length) or you will be further away from them. Either of those things will increase your DOF. You can use a DOF calculator to confirm.

The harder part may be arranging them so that the camera can actually see their faces. A very common way to do this, is to get them onto a large stair case, like you might find at the front of a large school or public building. You probably don't want to go any deeper than 3 or 4 rows, so you would need to spread them out.

If you don't have stairs, you could use bleachers (stands for sporting events etc.) Heck, you could even use a hill, as long as you can arrange them so that the heads in front aren't blocking faces behind them.

Another way to do a shot like this, would be to put yourself into an elevated position and have all the kids look up at you. In this setup, you wouldn't need stairs or a slope. If you can find a spot where you can shoot out of a 2nd or 3rd story window, or maybe off the roof of a building, that would work well.
An advantage to this, is that it would take less work setting them up, they could just gather into one spot. Also, they are more likely to be interested and looking at a person on a roof than a person just standing in front of them.

Being the father of a 5 year old, I can guess that your biggest issue probably won't be a technical photography problem, but getting the attention of 45 of them. So you should be pretty much ready to go when the kids are gathered. Catch their interest and take the photo(s) quickly. They will likely get distracted pretty soon and then it will be hard to get them all looking your way.

With older kids/people, it's easier to line them up in rows etc. But kids that age (especially in a group of 45) can get pretty rowdy. Maybe bring a big funny hat and put it on just when you are taking the photos.

 

[Derrel]

Don't worry too much about it. You'll need about eight feet of depth of field, and you live in a bright place this time of year.

Forget the lights...the sun is plenty bright. You will be far enough back, in order to get the group into the image, that at f/11 there will be AMPLE depth of field.

The biggest mistake I often see on group shots is the photographer using too short of a focal length lens, which makes the FRONT people look clearly and obviously larger than those in the back, so....do NOT shoot this from super-close ranger with a 28mm lens...

Stand back a ways. Use a tripod as a way to command more attention. A few really silly, loudy "Woooop-Wooop-Woooop!" calls as you prepare to trip off the first three shots makes sense. Shoot this in high-speed continuous mode and fire off blasts of three or four frames. Silly hat is a good technique also. I like Big Mike's elevated camera idea also: I once shot an entire high school class, 585 people or so, from the roof of a high school football stadium as the group spelled out D H S. The angle down was pretty steep, like 75%. I think for just 45 kids, a ladder or stairs would do fine.

 

[TCampbell]

Simple... you need a tall step ladder, a view camera (with drape and bellows), and a working knowledge of the Scheimpflug principle - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

-or-

Just use f/11

Although for a hard group, it is hard to catch all their heads because they'll be in multiple rows... even accounting for "tall" kids in back, etc. So I probably would drag along a step-ladder if you have one.

 

[sarah_19_nz]

Brilliant advice as always, thank you people

Would my 35mm be the best choice of lens do you think. (I have a 50mm and a 70-200mm otherwise)

I wont have steps to use BUT it is in a Kindergarten setting so I may be able to find chairs,boxes, climbing stuff to work with... UGH hahaha... all else fails I climb up onto the monkey bars and shoot down!

Our weather is DISMAL at the mo, cloudy, raining days forecast so I may be in the sh1t with an outdoor shot BUT we can cross fingers, toes and any other appendages that may be able to be crossed I guess.

Thanks again!

 

[vintagesnaps]

If you don't know what f stop to use I'd get out someplace similar and do some test shots ahead of time - I doubt those kids are going to wait while you figure out how to set your camera (I agree a smaller f stop to get them all in focus). Go early and do test shots that day so you can get set up before they bring the kids. I'd talk to the school staff about where you want them to be standing or sitting so they can direct them.

I've been a teacher and I think it will take using your personality to get them looking at you and to keep their attention directed at you and the camera. Maybe get one of their teachers to help direct their attention towards the camera.

 

[sarah_19_nz]

Thanks, as an ex teacher and childcare worker myself, surely that will help!! i shall practice and get my settings sorted before the shot most definitely, I'd be stupid not to!

 

[vintagesnaps]

Then you shouldn't have a problem with the kids, even 40+ of them! lol

 

[sarah_19_nz]

haha... im a bit out of practice! haha after having my own kids my patience is gone!

 

[ndancona]

get some simple props. Have an 'assistant' bang you on the head with a toy squeaky hammer, the ones clowns carry. Don't show the hammer until the last moment before you're about to take the shot. This will grab their attention and you'll capture smiles too!

 

[table1349]

 

[sarah_19_nz]

Lol

 

[cynicaster]

Geeze... 45 little kids? I can't even imagine.

Forget the technical nitty gritty, the biggest challenge is going to be getting a shot where none of them are staring up at the sky or picking their nose with a dandelion.