Need tips for family photo!

[echoyjeff222]

We're going to be using my camera for family photos tonight, and I was wondering for some tips ... what should I focus on when preparing everyone? What mode? Help! Thanks

 

[arcooke]

Lighting, lighting, and more lighting.

 

[memento]

my tip would be to pay attention to attire.
i just did a family pic and everyone had different clothes on; from t-shirts to slacks.
it looks very impromptu..

 

[eccs19]

Depending on the size of the group, pay close attention to your DOF. You want to make sure everyone is in focus.

 

[Tulsa]

There is no way we can help with the provided info. How many people? Whats the lighting setup? I Would start off with being in M, and just meter the light.

 

[kundalini]

Build a pyramid from the center, tallest person and build out and around from there. Make it dynamic by avoiding a straight line of people.

Have the left side of the group turn their right shoulder ~30° towards the camera. Opposite for the right side of the group.

Avoid having eyes of different people on the same vertical level, but also avoid huge gaps.

Makes sure everybody's face can be clearly seen.

Have everyone slightly squeeze towards the middle.

Have everybody pull a goofy face to drop the tension. Take several shots.

Good luck.

 

[echoyjeff222]

I'm pretty sure there's going to be 17 people in the picture. We're going to be in the first floor of an office building ... lol.

 

[arcooke]

I'm pretty sure there's going to be 17 people in the picture. We're going to be in the first floor of an office building ... lol.

Hope you have a wide angle lens or plenty of room to back up.

 

[Karri]

Wow~! 17 people - good luck with that one! I think that will definitely call for some staggering of the peeps if you don't have the wide angle lens. Do you have a light setup you are going to use? Before you go, draw out a couple of diagrams of how you want people to be set up and then when you get there, you will be able to go faster. If people are holding babies or are sitting in akward positions, you won't have long to compose there so compose before you get there!

 

[echoyjeff222]

if they're standing, should I just focus on half their bodies? if they're sitting, should I just focus on the knees up?

 

[kundalini]

Tier them. Standing, squatting, sitting and on the floor. 31 people

 

[rateeg]

Hi.
Im really quite confused with metering, all i know is it's the center of focus.
Either on the center or the whole frame.

Is there any other use of it?
And any tips on using it?

 

[rateeg]

oooopps sorry that supposed to be a new topic.
sorry please delete