Amongst the numerous pictures taken every day, the most common types happen to be the Group Photo. You can see them being clicked everywhere from get-togethers and weddings to school camps and sporting teams. Sadly enough, many of the group photos we see posted on today’s social media seem quite disappointing. A professional portrait photographer can give better results by knowing what specific issues, especially for group portraits, need to be addressed during a shoot.
- Focal Length: A mid-range lens like 24-70mm is perfect for group shots as using long focal lengths at short distances will require a lot of depth of field, especially for multi-row group portraits. Try not to go too wide when using a wide-angle lens as it tends to distort the subjects, particularly the ones near the corner of the frame. The focal length needs to get adjusted depending on the size of the group, type of shot and camera to group distance.
- Group Setting: It’s best to keep the group within a defined line instead of circular arrangements thus avoiding more depth of field to cover the distance. If the group is in a single row, everyone should be on the same line right across from the camera, which ensures that everyone in your shot is in focus. Also, avoid significant gaps in your shots by getting people to stay close to each other.
- Shutter Speed: Monitoring your shutter speed is critical, as the shutter speed will suffer if the aperture is too small, risking motion blur and camera shake. Generally, your shutter speed should be equal to or faster than your focal length. Nowadays, DSLRs and mirror-less cameras automatically take the focal length into account, thus controlling your shutter speed by using Auto ISO.
- ISO Speed: If the ISO speed is too high, it might introduce too much noise to the group photos. An ISO 100 for base value and 1600-3200 for max ISO on full-frame digital cameras works effectively.
- Perfect Eyes: In a group photo, making sure that everyone’s eyes stay open is essential. Techniques like asking everyone to close their eyes and the open them at the count of three work best for a group snap.
If these tips seem like too much to handle, it’s best to hire a photographer in LA like Nona Photography. Visit www.nonaphotographyca.com.com, to get the best group portrait photographs at personal and professional events.
