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Educational Series - Capturing Successful Group Photographs

Group shots are very challenging because all the same rules apply for a single business portrait, but you're dealing with more people. For example, if we use a minimum of 3 lights to shape a good business portrait, does that mean 12 lights for a group of 4? If not, how then do you make everyone look good at the same time when it's best they're lit independently? Another major client concern we hear is what happens when people on the team come and go? We have a solution for these and many other challenges when creating dynamic group shots, but below are some guidelines that shed some light on the basics.

Individually Lit Group Portrait

Group Photography Guidelines

Consultation - among the regular details of any shoot,  the group consult needs to address how many people will be in the group, how will they interact, how long does the image need to be used and accurate? There are many possibilities now, and it creates value for clients when they have options.

Lighting - this is a huge issue when shooting groups as you must make sure there's proper lighting on each person. Concessions are usually made because it's not sensible to use 3-4 lights on each person like a regular portrait. However, there's options now where we produce perfect portrait lighting on every person no matter how large the group.

Camera/Lens - the right camera/lens combination will flatter a subject as opposed to distorting and highlighting features not so desirable. The amount of someone's body in the picture often determines camera angle as well. What happens now when you need different light, a certain lens/camera combo, and camera angle for each person? Yikes! New methods allow for all possibilities here.

Composition/Exposure - the very basics of a group photograph are to ensure that everyone gets the same amount of light and they're in focus. Next is the composition, where everyone is placed in the photograph in relation to other people and subjects. Camera angle, a part of composition, changes pictures dramatically. You see, it's already getting complicated. There's much more flexibility and latitude when we can address these issues individually rather than as a group. Otherwise, we make compromises.

Photoshop - retouching and other Photoshop work is a part of any portrait, and now multiplied by the number of subjects in a group portrait.

Delivery Options - clients should expect quality high and low resolution digital files for uses from web to billboard delivered quickly by FTP and/or DVD.

100% Guarantee - why should you pay for images that don't look great? Don't settle for less if you want to generate real interest and convert those leads to sales.